Many photographers find their passion young and I could say the same, sneaking the family camera to school for some photo ops or taking control over the camcorder during Christmas day. But I didn’t truly understand this passion and need to express my thoughts visually until high school. With a camera, the viewfinder opened up my perspective and curiosity of the environment around me. I was born in Indiana but lived most of my life in Bentonville, Arkansas where I’ve witnessed the growing changes. Bentonville was a little town where everyone knew each other's names, the traffic was nonexistent, and the county fair was a big deal. With not much to do, I had to find the beauty within the ordinary. Even now in a more bustling environment where traffic is very much existent, everyday life can become repetitive, but there are hidden gems everywhere, even in the backyard. My photographic practice engages in the mundane with observations that coincide with researched ecological topics. Photography for me is to bridge the gap between scientific research and the mundane in a series of observations, research, notetaking, and documenting. Your small town or big city is filled with beauty, even if you don’t see it yet.