My body of work observes, validates if you will, the activities of "ordinary folks" as they live their lives. For most of these so called "unexceptional human beings" are the ones that make this world go round with their hearts and souls-i.e.-suburbanites living in a mundane environment eking out an existence to attain their dreams, laborers busting theirs back to support their families, mothers guiding and protecting their children, damaged souls grieving a loss so severe it feels like death would be a welcome reprieve...
Somewhere along the way the heart has gone out of some of these people. This populaces souls having been diminished so greatly they've lost their way. This society of human beings has become part of an invisible population, even while surrounded by thousands of people at once, no one truly sees them. At times these individuals have merged in to a particular life style, merely from unforeseeable circumstances through no fault of their own. Sadly, us so called "good people”, w/o even realizing what we're doing, tend to look past them. Unbeknownst to us their choices make us feel too uncomfortable to really allow us to associate with them.
The next time you pass another person don’t look around them or past them because they’re different from you, whether it be by lifestyle choices, race, age difference or a mental/physical challenge, look AT them and acknowledge their presence. Don’t miss an opportunity to validate another persons’ importance, it only takes a nanosecond. It will help open your eyes to really SEE other people. No one truly wants to be ignored or thought of as invisible.
My years of working and living experiences have enhanced my connection with a diverse population. I started my career as a tech at St Vincent's Psychiatric Hospital in the 70's, leading to my becoming a paramedic. I've worked both for St Louis City and St Charles County as a medic. My lifestyle changed and once again I evolved and became an RN. Working for years in the emergency room till 2010, then escaping the hospital setting to the jail system. I started practicing nursing at the jail in the summer of 2010. Currently I have decided to take a step back from the medical field, to focus on photography.
Photography has always been a passion of mine but like many things in your life it gets put on the back burner when life's responsibilities become more demanding. Like an old love it has always been at the back of my mind through the years, with me thinking at times "wouldn't that be a great image to capture".
Well I have once again evolved and my old love for photography has been reignited. its awesome to have this renewed passion in my life. The return of my old love has allowed me to capture on camera the images my brain and heart has been recording all these years.
As a photographer and person I feel all human beings are connected to each other. The connection may be a thousand people away from the person sitting next to you in class but it does exist. Our behavior as a photographer has more far more reaching effects then we can ever fathom. I always try (mostly always try) to reach people with my photography in a respectful manner, never treading on my distinguished subjects hearts and souls. This done, so as I may not disrupt but rather will enhance the connection all human beings share in this life on Earth and in the reincarnation of life.
So you see, my body of work is about the connection I feel towards the "common people". Which in reality, I am part of, as we all are, sharing a commonality amongst each other. For the entire population on Earth belongs to this most "extraordinary community" the human race.
