“The reason for creating is almost more important than the product itself. Why shoot large format photographs and make darkroom prints? It’s expensive, time consuming, and requires a certain level of skill to execute well. The challenge alone is alluring to me, but there is a greater reason. The process of taking a thirty-five pound rail camera into the field, then printing late into the night under the red safelights is a much more physical experience than working digitally. This physicality and experience tie directly to the body of work I sought to produce. There has been a lot of turmoil over the past few years, encapsulating the majority of my college journey. From the political sphere to a global pandemic, everyone has experienced a heightened level of anxiety and loneliness. My drive is to capture the shared experience of loneliness and anxiety in a way that everyone can understand, despite individual experiences. Looking at these images, you will see the world as I have experienced it. But I encourage you to look past these faces and see your own experiences reflected back. Times of anxiety and loneliness aren’t experiences unique to my generation. These emotions will persist as long as there are people. But just as slowing down for the large format workflow was a learning experience for me, slowing down to reflect on the human condition was just as enriching.” – Artist Statement for “The Long Bright Dark” 2022