Code Red

My Code Red photography series responds to the global climate crisis and puts a spotlight on earth’s mass species extinction. The images reflect humanity’s impact on nature and serve as a call to action to help save our planet’s biodiversity. The series also examines how climate change has altered ecosystems to create imbalances in nature.

The rate of species extinction is accelerating due to climate change, pollution, habitat loss, and poaching. I utilize the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List to determine which plants and animals are considered vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered.

My art process illustrates our deteriorating and polluted environment through experimental techniques applied to my own photographs. The series also emphasizes conservation efforts and our interrelationship with nature. I hope there will be transformative changes through collective action to ensure a sustainable world for present and future generations.

A portion of all print sales will be donated to non-profit groups making a positive difference in nature conservation and preservation.

Scorched

My Scorched series documents the devastating wildfire burn scars in Colorado. 2020 saw the three most destructive wildfires in the state’s history, fueled by drought and exacerbated by climate change. As temperatures rise, Colorado’s forests are becoming drier and more susceptible to mega wildfires. The series also illuminates nature's resilience by documenting the burnt landscape's post-fire regeneration.

After a wildfire, burned soils, char, and ash flow downstream and into waters which causes contamination. Chemicals that firefighters spray on fires can pollute nearby lands and waters. Inhaling toxic smoke can cause respiratory problems. The Canadian and Hawaiian wildfires in 2023 are also tragic reminders of the devastation that wildfires can cause to humans and nature.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, 85% of wildfires in the United States have been caused by human negligence and arson. The processing of my images is meant to mimic the destruction of nature by humans and I purposefully destroy film negatives to reflect this wreckage.

In ecological succession, the land, plants, and wildlife move through ecological stages in order to return to a balanced state. During wildfires, the nutrients from dead trees are returned to the soil. The forest floor is open to more sunlight, allowing seedlings to grow. I have revisited wildfire burn scar areas years later to document the regenerating earth and have witnessed super blooms of wildflowers scattered throughout the scorched forests. I am reminded of nature's endurance and beauty and hope that our forests will become more resilient with additional resources and better fire management practices.

Truth Effect

My Truth Effect series responds to the deep divisions in the US and abroad caused by conspiracy theories and disinformation and also examines our ever-increasing reliance on the internet for information and social engagement. The series also reflects on AI-generated deepfakes and the possible consequences of being unable to separate truth from fiction.

Fueled by the digital world, alternate realities are so pervasive that countless families have been fractured by them. I am reminded of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and the Matrix where separating what is real from what is illusory is key to achieving peace and unity.

The collages are created with my own photographs and include shadow self-portraits that capture some of the collective anxiety felt during the pandemic, January 6th insurrection, and the Russian-Ukrainian war. The color palette is inspired by auras believed to be the unseen energy field around all living beings.

Scientific studies show that disinformation on the internet spreads faster and broader than the truth. The Illusory Truth Effect is the tendency to believe false information to be correct after repeated exposure. Researchers state that critical thinking, fact-checking, and forewarning people about how the Truth Effect is used to manipulate audiences can reduce its power.

Stay-at Home Order

The photographs in my Stay-at-Home Order series were taken at our suburban home in Colorado during the COVID-19 Stay-at-Home and Safer-at-Home orders issued by our Governor. My daughter Sophie is an only child so I encouraged imaginative play to fill her social void. Taking photos was a way for us to work together on a creative endeavor and for her to learn about photography. The images also display the march of time through subtle changes in Sophie as she grows up during the pandemic.

The photographs reflect some of the angst felt during this historic time but also offer brief escapes from reality through creativity and imagination. Trees are a common theme throughout the series and symbolize growth, endurance, and strength. They also show the passage of time through the changing seasons.

American Mosaic

My American Mosaic portrait series celebrates America’s rich multicultural heritage and traditions. The photographs illustrate the beauty of a diverse society and explore identity and self-expression.

I have attended many multicultural celebrations and festivals in Colorado to find the individuals in this series, all of whom are proudly wearing their own traditional dress. It has been an amazing photographic journey that has enabled me to meet so many remarkable people whose ancestry spans the globe. All the photos in this series were taken on location at the celebrations and then digitally processed afterward for cohesiveness.

My goals for the project are to help preserve ancient traditions passed down through the generations and to encourage cross-cultural understanding, intercultural dialogue, and harmony.

Crop Circles

My Crop Circles series explores human impact on the environment and symbolize a connection to the cosmos that fosters an examination of our place and significance in the universe.

The collage images were created with my own aerial cropland images in combination with found images of mysterious crop circles. The color pallet was inspired by images produced by a NASA satellite instrument used in crop forecasting.

Sixty years of intensive farming practices using pivot-center irrigation crop circles have depleted parts of the Ogallala Aquifer causing once-fertile lands to turn arid. New farming innovation that also restores Earth's critical imbalances is crucial to ensure a healthy planet. There has been an astonishing amount of technological and scientific progress over the past century but the need to evolve in harmony with nature is key to our survival.

NYC Days

My 'NYC Days' series was photographed during the years I lived in Manhattan from 2000 to 2011 and captures a whimsical side of the Big Apple. There is a strong focus on the elements of art and some of the images also challenge perception through fragmentation or reflections. The work was inspired by many legendary New York City photographers including Saul Leiter, Lee Friedlander, and Lisette Model.

With the city as my backdrop, I photographed performers, street scenes, and events throughout the five boroughs. The photographs reveal the creativity, energy, and occasionally, the absurdity of my New York City encounters.