Private Story
Finding the Joy
Summary
My experience as a once undocumented migrant, waterman, and veteran inspires my photographic work. Generally, I document coastal regions drawing attention to the environment and people's everyday lives. I was introduced to surfing when I was 12 years old; that's all I cared about when I was a teenager. In my mid-twenties, I enlisted in the military and started a family. Ten years after my initial enlistment, I bought a used digital camera and began making photographs of my friends who also surf; I fell in love with it, so I decided to apply to college to major in photography.
My images illustrate my state of mind. Since I became a photographer, I've tried hard to fit into one identity. I'm a surfer, veteran, male, son, brother, husband, and father...
The thing about art is that it's supposed to reflect your identity even if it's not intentional. But, I want my work to live outside of my identity. I don't always have to be a veteran, a father, a surfer, etc... I want to create work that stands on its own - without my identity always shining through. Is that possible?
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