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Behind the Scenes: From Simple Creative Expression to Stories that Change Perspectives
 When I first picked up a camera, I simply took infrared images to do something creative for myself, rather than my job being the only recipient of my creativity and problem solving. Then I came to realize that others appreciated the images for their beauty. For me, making the images then became more than just creative expression but an escape from the rational and busyness of business to something more contemplative, something beautiful that others might also enjoy.
Today, both of those ideas still inform my image making, but the projects, both Roadside America and Scarred Places, add a further element of meaning to the image making. Both of these photographic projects seek to tell stories that explore the roots of political, economic, and cultural histories.
Scarred Places focuses on difficult histories and explores who we are and how and what we remember. Roadside America explores memories of the past, and also looks at social and economic changes. Both projects reach beyond beauty or creativity to explore how we remember, who we are and maybe even what we want for our future and where we choose to go.
In the image and story below, simple as it is, about motels and pools, it is also about a past; it's about economics and business; it's about travel; it's about mass consumption and service standardization. And, when thought about in today’s world, it is also about a cycle society goes through -- as people increasingly look for customization through things like AirBNB, boutique hotels and Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO).
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