Artist Statement:
In March 2021, I stumbled across a job listing on LinkedIn for a Director of Photography position on The Story of Art in America, a ten-episode docuseries exploring art across the Western United States. Without expecting much, I applied—and to my surprise, I was selected. By early May, I was preparing for my first traveling documentary role as a DOP.
The production spanned twenty days and took us through six cities: Seattle, Everett (WA), Great Falls (MT), Coeur d’Alene (ID), Sheridan (WY), and Casper (WY). Over the course of the trip, we interviewed more than 50 artists, capturing their stories alongside rich B-roll footage of their environments. Our days started early and ended by the golden hour, giving me time to explore each location with my cameras in hand—a Leica Q and a Canonet QL-17 GIII. Sundays were our off days, allowing for even more opportunities to immerse myself in these unfamiliar places.
This experience was a whirlwind of discovery: meeting dozens of artists and city officials, traversing landscapes I’d never seen before, and documenting it all through over 5,000 photographs. These images reflect not just the places we traveled through but the people, stories, and moments that made the journey unforgettable.
The Story of Art in America was more than a professional milestone—it was a creative awakening. I’m thrilled to share my favorite stories, experiences, and photographs from this transformative trip. I hope they inspire the same sense of wonder and connection that I felt throughout the journey.
