“Desiderium”

Desiderium : A feeling of loss or grief for something lost. The inspiration for this series of images started during the height of the pandemic. I watched my hometown and so many other familiar places become deserted and almost unrecognizable. Shops closed down, places were abandoned and bustling city streets were devoid of people. As the days went by, this overwhelming sense of isolation continued to grow. As the project progressed, it became a means to focus all of my energy into and I knew it needed to be bigger. I planned a cross country road trip with my partner (who can be seen in every image). I decided I would document my first road trip across the country using this series of images to visualize the exploration and beauty I found along the way, which in return helped me deal with the feelings of loneliness and isolation that created this project in the first place. Each of the images in this collection we're shot entirely on various 35mm and 120mm film, with a suit that i made myself. These images are a visual documentary of many first times in my life and each one has a unique story to tell. This is one of the first times in my career as a photographer that art has been something that helped me through what seemed like a never ending nightmare. This is an ode to the ones who take the risk to explore the unknown and the beauty and growth that can be found through it. I’m proud to say this body of work was also selected to be showcased with its own billboard in Los Angeles, California through a non profit called “The Billboard Creative” who partnered with Obscura.io to represent 20+ up-and-coming photographers through public billboards across LA.