I do two kinds of photography. I've done more, but right now, I do two. Because it is what I love to do. Because they intertwine my passions besides photography. A contrast in my body of work, between fine art and editorial. Decampment and Concert work. Both taking in a little bit of each other.

DECAMPMENT:
My series, Decampment, is heavily influenced by music. In 2006, when I was 14 and 15, my mom, my best friend, and I hit the road all across Illinois to find abandoned buildings. We had a lot of adventures, and even more awesome playlists. I had a collection of music I played any time I was editing, shooting, or driving, songs about abandonment.... songs about people being abandoned, relationships, these things all tied in with my series. The relationships between people (or lack there of) in my photos are just as strong as the relationships between the people and the houses...not there, empty, gone, abandoned. People can relate to this. Having an artist statement isn't a huge priority for me, I like the fact that my photos can speak for themselves. Whenever someone tells me what they feel or think when they see my photos, they are spot on. The feeling of being abandoned, rejected, empty, deserted, it's something people can relate to. It doesn't matter how happy you are, it's happened at least once in your life, no matter how small it seems... like the time when you were five, on the playground, and the other kids didn't like you. The time the girl/boy you liked, didn't like you back. The time someone you trusted let you down. You moved on and got new friends, you ended up liking someone else, you learned to stop trusting that person... you weren't stuck there by boards, nails, vines, and forgotten about though.

MUSIC:
My concert work is heavily influenced by art. I'm not someone who goes into a show, not caring about the music, shooting for a pay check. I'm a fan, and I shoot like one. I'm down there with you, not in the barricade. I clap along, and I know the music. I know when the lead singer hits the high notes or when the bass player strips into his underpants and dances around the stage.....story for another day. Anyway, who are the people that are going to care about the photos the most? Who are the people that sang their hearts out, got psyched when the band played their favorite song, and had the night of their lives? Who are the people that express their gratitude when they see pictures of those moments, and can remember it all over again? Now that's art.

Having two main pieces of work like this, is what I'd think is much like having two children. All I can hope for is that they grow up well, that people like them equally, and that when they turn 16 they don't crash their new car into a lake after binge drinking, coke snorting, and promiscuous unprotected sex like they do in those damn teen television shows. Make me proud, children.