Then one day, here i was
Like any profession, the inevitable question often arises: how did I find myself immersed in a career centered around the lens of a camera? The journey leading me to this point was unexpected, a trajectory I couldn't have foreseen, especially in my early twenties. The past six years have been a whirlwind, catapulting me to where I stand today, culminating in a profound realization over the course of two remarkable days to in the mountains.
An invitation from Marcus Catlett to join him for two days of shooting in the backcountry didn't initially strike me as monumental, I must admit. Don't get me wrong; I was thrilled at the prospect of connecting with fellow creatives and spending time in the great outdoors alongside an exceptionally talented group. However, the gravity of the situation didn't fully register at first.
It all clicked into place during a break between shots, as we prepared for a jump and set up our cameras at the third location on the second day. I gazed down at my camera bag, a repository of dreams realized and sacrifices made. My trusty a7iii, unwavering in its reliability. The f-stop bag I once aspired to own. My backcountry setup, including the coveted Atomic Bent Chentlers I had yearned for since high school, equipped with all the accessories and gear that made this day possible. Each item, a tangible testament to my journey, for better or worse.
In a rush of emotion, it all came crashing down on me at once. Years of self-doubt and disbelief that had plagued me over the past five years, unraveling in a single, profound moment. To be candid, I wish I could claim that this day obliterated all those doubts and insecurities, but alas, they persist, albeit less frequently.
Glancing around at my companions that day was surreal. Each was a professional in their own right, with unique paths that had led them to this juncture. Over the course of those two beautiful days, we united our skills to create something extraordinary. A carefully choreographed production involving cameras, drones, skiers, tricks, lighting, weather, and seamless communication. It felt as though we held each other in mutual respect, a collective trust that yielded an outstanding day of work.
So, returning to that perennial question: "How did you get into photography?" As far as I can recall, it all started back in high school, watching ski edits that showcased cinematography and images capable of eliciting raw emotion. Simultaneously, other forms of art began to influence my life. It was around this time that I first heard 'Best Day Ever' by Mac Miller and turned to various forms of media to convey the emotions stirring within me. As these relationships developed, certain still images began to evoke those same feelings in me.
Skipping past the years of trials, lessons, stories, failures, and triumphs, I began creating my own images capable of stirring similar emotions in myself and those who beheld them. A younger version of me harbored a dream: to craft images that provoked emotion, to capture moments profoundly meaningful to those within them, and for those who chanced upon them. Frozen moments in time, seized when others couldn't, wouldn't, or simply didn't. That was the budding dream that gradually took shape and blossomed over the years – the dream to be present anywhere, equipped to seize those moments with the skills, fitness, gear, and tools to get the job done.
And then, one day, here I stood.
