Artist Statement

I’m most comfortable as a quiet observer. I let things happen in front of me, and press the button. Most of my work is dependent upon chance, resulting in offbeat photos in which the content and composition are ultimately unpredictable. I like to be surprised when I see the resulting images. 

Most of my work centers around two places that have been formative to me: the New Jersey shore, where I grew up and currently reside, and New York City, where, since 2000, I have at various times lived, worked, and studied. Not only are the places themselves emotionally resonant to me, but each is a kaleidoscope of intriguing characters that present me with unlimited subjects. My images are grounded in documentary practice (with occasional technical experimentation, particularly motion blur), yet feel deeply personal and idiosyncratic, characterized by oddity, humor, and imagination. 

Shooting in places to which I have emotional ties keeps my focus on the personal experience - the way a place or situation can be perceived as both real and imagined at the same time, heavily colored by emotions and remembrance. My work is grounded in such subjective perception. However, I often include cues intended to suggest the individual’s significance in the wider world - in particular, with reference to human social behavior, our relationship with nature, and our role as citizens of our societies and of history.