An astronaut, drummer, and photographer. I'm still interested in all three.
My mother was diligent in documenting our childhood. Her home is filled with thousands of pictures of my sister and I growing up and highlight quirky intimate details of rather standard family scenes. Though not a photographer, she always emphasized the importance of the static image and the profound effect that pictures can supply in understanding our own lives. Perhaps that's where my love for photography came from. I'm not sure. What I do know is that there was never a time in my life when a camera wasn't around -- some of my fondest memories lay behind the plastic viewfinder of a disposable Kodak.
Indonesia is a particularly fascinating country and my experiences there never failed to amaze my senses. Its the largest growing democracy in the world, the physical environment is constantly evolving, and the underwater life is some of the most impressive I've ever seen. Living in Bhutan particularly impressed me as well. The Himalayan kingdom is still emerging from historically isolationist policies and has developed a "Gross National Happiness" index to measure the welfare of its people. It was a fascinating study to explore the nation's idea of traditional culture and how it is rapidly changing.
Exciting, frustrating and a myriad of emotions all through the spectrum. But normally life feels either completely mundane, or overwhelmingly extreme, depending on the day.
A sense of place, time, space.
This interview was originally published on BehindTheCamera.co.
