Can we take a moment to acknowledge how time seems to have hit the fast-forward button since the pandemic? It’s wild to think that we’re already cruising into May of 2024. Mentally, I’m still thawing out from winter, feeling like I’m clearing out the cobwebs from hibernation. But hey, here we are, bravely stepping into the second half of the year!

Lately, my mind has been buzzing with thoughts about the future of the photography industry. There are some important conversations happening around the sustainability of photography as a career for many reasons including compensation but also the impact that AI may have for image makers. In a recent chat with a friend who’s a rep, we both agreed: now, more than ever, it’s crucial for lens-based artists to cultivate a distinct visual language to set themselves apart.

For me, image-making is all about following my curiosity. I thrive on experimenting with new techniques and putting my own spin on them. That’s why I’m such a fan of creating images in-camera—it leads to more moments of serendipity as I react to what’s happening in front of my camera.(Don’t get me wrong .. post production has it’s place in experimentation as well!) Most of these experiments fall under the umbrella of personal work and sometimes serendipity strikes and they turn into assignment work!

I recently had the opportunity to work on my first assignment for WIRED recently. They have been a dream client of mine since my art school days. The task was to create portraits of Jane Willenbring, a geologist who exposed the sexual harassment she experienced while stationed in Antarctica. I had just finished watching the latest season of True Detective, set in Alaska’s perpetual darkness, and the key art for the show was fresh in my creative Rolodex. (This latest season of the show also has themes of violence against women, so the narrative was very fresh in my mind.)

I sent the photo editor some light tests, and we aligned on the art direction. The day of the shoot, Jane texted and asked what she should wear. I honestly hadn’t given it much thought, but then I asked her to bring a parka if she had one.

We were on our way during the shoot, and she reminded me about the parka. Since it wasn’t the direction I had discussed with the photo editor, I didn’t want to spend too much time on it, but we did a quick pivot and spent a couple of minutes shooting with her in the parka. The parka suggestion paid off big time! Those impromptu parka shots? Pure magic. One of them ended up stealing the show, becoming the hero shot for the story and even earning a spot on this year’s Communication Arts photo competition shortlist!

That’s the beauty of making images in-camera—it always feels like a bit of magic. There’s this moment when you snap the shutter and just know you’ve captured something special. It’s a moment of pure reaction to what you see through the viewfinder.

Getting to work with a dream client is always special but when you get to do it and be part of telling an important story like Jane’s it make it even more meaningful!

So, as I continue to navigate the ever-evolving world of photography, I try to remember to stay curious, trust my instincts, and embrace the unexpected. After all, that’s where the real magic happens.