I am a photographer and adventurer who uses my camera to amplify social and cultural narratives, sharing stories of strength, resilience, and hope. My visual journey began with a 15,000-mile solo bicycle expedition through China, Tibet, and Central Asia, which became the foundation for my photojournalism career.
From 2008 to 2020, I was based in China, focusing primarily on the lives and resistance of the Tibetan and Uyghur peoples. My dedication to these regions led to a total immersion—learning languages, understanding cultural nuances, and building relationships that transcended the traditional photographer-subject dynamic. Through years of patient presence in politically sensitive areas, I earned trust that endures today; many subjects remain in contact despite ongoing risks. I continue this work among diasporic communities in the United States and India.
My working-class Appalachian background has given me a deep appreciation for stories of resilience and the strength required to navigate circumstances beyond one's control. This perspective naturally connects me to my documentary subjects, from Tibetan nomads to young Muslim women driving changes among their local communities.
Now expanding into video, I finished a story about young Muslim women conquering both physical and metaphysical mountains in their lives. Exploring how they navigate cultural expectations while pursuing independence and adventure in the high peaks of Ladakh.
Currently, I'm developing a deeply personal body of work that began as a reportage project about my father and his alcohol-induced dementia, but has evolved into something conceptual. There was a deep realization that people carry parts of our identity within their own memories. Moments that are absent from our consciousness. This has compelled me to recreate moments from my own past, as well as my father’s, although they often do not coincide.
I am also a commercial architecture and interior photographer, which has taken me around Asia and North America. www.architecturedesignphoto.com
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS: The Guardian, The Atlantic, PBS NewsHour, LA Times, Nikon: Learn & Explore, Bust, Zeke Magazine, Forbes Life China
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the British Museum, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
SELECTED RECOGNITIONS: NY Times Portfolio Review 2026, Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award 2019
SELECTED WORKSHOPS: Anderson Ranch Mentorship with James Estrin & Ed Kashi 2026-2028, VII Academy, Missouri Photojournalism Workshop, Expanding Your Vision with Ed Kashi, Photodocumentarians with Sebastian Liste, PhotoVoice
LANGUAGES: English, Conversational Mandarin Chinese, Beginner Tibetan
CURRENTLY BASED IN BEND, OREGON