I began taking photos when I was 11 as a school elective. I remember my teacher always emphasizing the “why” in a photograph, highlighting the importance of creating with intention. This focus on “why” now grounds my conceptual storytelling. 

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I am a storyteller. Whether real, fantasy, or somewhere in between, I love the way a good story can strike emotion. 

I am deeply touched by Roland Barthe’s concept of punctum–the tender, unique detail (existing only in photographs) that unexpectedly pierces the viewer’s heart. The curl of someone’s vulnerable bare back, glassy eyes between breaths, delicate fingers braiding waves; these are the words in my stories. In my photographs, the soft curl of my jiujitsu partner’s feminine hand folded over her rough, textured gi isn’t just that–but a symbol of femininity coexisting within the masculine martial arts space I grew up in. 

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This detail has recently led to my exploration of the Feminine Experience in Martial Arts through photographs, interviews, and creative writing. This photobook illuminates female martial artists and their stories. This creates female role models and an approachable space for viewers to imagine themselves in–inspiring community growth and empowerment. Additionally, I reframe the martial arts space from stereotypically masculine to inherently feminine by highlighting its presence. 

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To add a sensory essence to my narratives, I often experiment with multi-media processes such as pinning, freezing, ripping, and sewing my prints. For instance, In my piece “Infantile Amnesia”, I use colorful pins to cover my face in a childhood photograph to represent my lacking childhood memory. 

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To me, a photograph–whether to create one or view one–is to feel.