Artist Statement

I'm a fine art photographer from Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, deeply immersed in the nuances of black documentary aesthetics. My photography journey began in 2016, inspired by the impact of gentrification and witnessing my resilient 80-year-old aunt forced to start anew, a feeling of cultural dislocation that still reverberates in my neighborhood.

Before I started my photographic journey, I had a vivid dream. In this dream, four black boys with royal blue eyes emerged from the historic black community of Barry Farms in Washington, DC. They spoke in an unfamiliar language and entrusted me with a camera before vanishing back into the earth.

This dream became a divine call to use my camera to explore adolescence and my unique experience as a native of Washington, DC. My work is rooted in the tradition of grand photographic realism, informed by 'critical compassion'—discerning and addressing issues while infusing every frame with compassion and love.

I draw inspiration from legendary photographers like Roy DeCarava, Gordon Parks, Diane Arbus, Ming Smith, Berenice Abbott, Wendy Ewald, and others. Through my lens, I aim to capture not just moments but also the profound narratives and emotions that shape life's ever-evolving tapestry