insurgent photo's photostream  

My interest in photography began at Sacramento City College under the guidance of Andy Delucia and John Klycinski. It was there that I learned the technical skills that enabled me to translate my ideas into art. As I developed and refined my abilities and vision, I increasingly focused my work on social documentation and photojournalism. Holding internships at two darkrooms and assisting in teaching a community college photography course helped me broaden my knowledge of the field.

In 2002 I moved to Santa Cruz to further my education. The nature of my work became more personal and intimate as the relationships in my life deepened. My work at this point increasingly focused on local anti-authoritarian communities and a group of people who had rejected the trappings of modern civilization and were living close to the land. I decided to take leave from my studies at UC Santa Cruz to more fully devote myself to my work, and for the past several years have done so. I have recently re-enrolled with the hopes of utilizing academic resources to nourish my growth as an artist.

Projects I have undertaken include an in-depth examination of the anti-war movement in Northern California, specifically focusing on police repression and the use of direct action, life among tree sitting communities of people who were willing to put their lives on the line to prevent deforestation in Northern California and Southern Oregon, documenting several Food Not Bombs chapters, and intimate glimpses into the daily lives of activists in Sacramento.

Regardless of subject matter, my style is highly personal and dramatizes the subjects to which I devote my work. I rely on strong compositions, a dark, high-contrast style of printing, and the traditional full-frame approach to both embolden the image and invigorate the viewer's bond with the themes. Although it was not my original intent, my photographs have become reflections of myself; every image is in a sense autobiographical. This can be explained by my affinity for and intimacy with the subjects of my photography; the closeness of my personal relationships is expressed through my work.

I am proud of the work I have completed thus far, and I intend to continue in the same vein as I strengthen my understanding of the art of photography. To this end, I am dedicated to involve myself further with work in the studio. I will also continue travel to communities in struggle to document and promote the causes of oppressed peoples who take a stand. In a world of unmitigated government domination, these photographs document a growing trend of resistance and show glimpses into a world that is worth striving for.