My curiosity to learn about others is what initially drew me to photography. It’s not so much about me expressing myself but about seeking a way to understand others. Photography is my tool to explore the world and people I share it with.
I picked up my first manual camera when my father, an avid photography hobbyist, took me out to teach me about aperture and shutter speed by photographing the San Diego sunset. I loved the challenges involved in grasping lighting. But it wasn’t until I took the Olympus OM2 that my father gave me and started experimenting with portraits that I really fell in love with the medium.
My love for photography led me to pursue degrees in Photography and Sociology and to photograph in several parts of the world, including South Africa, the Dominican Republic, Europe and Colombia. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my life than by working with Rick, my best friend and husband, doing something that we both feel incredibly passionate about and brings us so much joy.
Two other things I love…learning about other cultures and teaching. These interests intersect in my work with The AjA Project. I have worked for four years with this non-profit organization teaching photography to recently resettled refugee youth in San Diego. Teaching these kids how to express an emotion, share a story or explore their new neighborhoods through photography and writing enables them to heal wounded memories and to become socially active artists in their new communities. Work created during these after-school projects has been exhibited all over San Diego as well as nationally and across the globe. This project demonstrates power of the medium and it’s ability to reach people. So many things can be communicated through photography.
*To read more about the AjA Project, please view our ‘Giving Back’ section under ‘Your Investment’