PHOTOGRAPHY

A series of photo collections used as creative expression, educational insight, and moral advocacy.

FLUID CONCRETE

The title "FLUID CONCRETE", while arguably oxymoronic, describes the idea and research for this collection of photographs. This study uses concrete construction as a metaphor for the planning and designing of metropolitan cities on a macro and micro scale context, in this case New York City. To anyone who does not know the composition of concrete, a designer will usually select fine aggregates, coarse aggregates, sand, cement, and any preferred admixtures or coloring agents. The proportioned recipe is then mixed with water, or "FLUID", and settled to create the form. Put simply, the different elements of concrete work together in unison to create one strong structural element: a city.

COARSE AGGREGATE: The overall city plan and layout

FINE AGGREGATE: The required necessities to survive - access to food, water, housing, healthcare, education

SAND: The public spaces and parks essential to a happy life

STEEL REINFORCING: The other component binding the structure - interconnectivity, streets, sidewalks, subways

CEMENT: The primary bonding agent - the architecture of the buildings themselves

WATER: The most crucial component - the melting pot of international cultures and people

This research intends to determine the fluidity of designing with different architectural motifs so long as a building references its microscale context. Essentially, can any two or more completely different styles still relate and correspond with each other through color coordination, scale, alignments, textures, fenestrations or other detailing?

Scattered across Manhattan, from Wall Street to the Upper East Side, these photographs consist of two or more buildings that display and justify the aforementioned theory. Suddenly, buildings constructed 10 years apart or 150 years apart share elements and relationships to create one cohesive whole.

Obviously, the structure has imperfections and outliers, but so does concrete. Sometimes there are nails, shards of glass, and even footprints in the structure, both metaphorically and literally.

Haven't you ever wondered why it is called the concrete jungle when so much is glass and steel?

LE BAS, LE HAUT

This collection was created for advocacy and a means to inform the effects of various forms of abuse on victims. The project has faced some criticism since most of the subjects are female; however, most victims of abuse are predominately female, so to use a male subject would be inaccurate to the majority.

While an incredibly difficult topic to capture and study for emotional reasons, physical abuse, emotional abuse, violent abuse, drug abuse, political abuse, and sexual abuse are topics that desperately need advocacy and conversation. Therefore, these photos are for the uninformed and for the people who have not experienced abuse before as a way to visually interpret the effects, without being specific to one individual.

To someone who has not experienced abuse before, much of the topic is surprising. The amount of people affected. The boundless types of people affected. The numerous forms of abuse. To someone on the outside, the vastness is overwhelming and disheartening.

THE RURAL 'SIP

This project works as a visual timeline, telling the story of a young woman freed from the bonds of work, school, and urban life to a free, rural life of comfort. Through the collection, her behavior becomes visually softer and, in the case of postproduction, literally more colorful. However, the story under closer observation is much darker than just a glance will notice. Look closely at each photo to capture the real story.

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