1. How did you get into photography?

“High school photo class. I took a picture of my cat on a couch in my room, and my photo teacher put it on the wall in the class. It just excited me more than anything. Dan, Sharmon and the rest of the staff have kept me going; there’s a great atmosphere in the department.”

2. Who’s your favorite artist?

“I’ve gone from Irving Penn to Richard Avedon to Jim Goldberg to Eggleston to Sternfeld? I’ve been open to suggestion. I’m looking a lot at Hiroshi Sugimoto and amateur photographers.”

3. Where do you get your inspiration from for your work?

“Having a camera ? I dunno ? I think the more I see what contemporary photographers are doing, and the old masters before? I want to join that conversation. I’m trying to get down to who I am. I’m in no rush. It’s exciting to be young but I feel ‘old.’ It’s nonsense in words – luckily for me I make images.”

4. Do you have a specific message you are trying to convey through your work?

“Not yet. I’m trying to challenge myself. I’m hoping better will come from that.”

5. What are your goals for the future?

“Not to be freaked out by time or age. There are ways to do what I want to do – they all take a long time. I think I’ll be happiest if I secure the ability to support myself, but continue to grow as a photographer. After awhile I decided the teaching route would fulfill a lot for me. I’ve been helped so much; I’d like to help some kids out later.”

6. What, if anything, do you feel is different about your work compared to that of other photographers?

“Simply that it’s mine. I’m proud of what I’ve done, not so worried about comparison right now. I need to see more, shoot more, grow? all that.”