My Northern Ireland Host Family

Next to my good friend Stephen, with whom I stayed, Brian was my guide in Northern Ireland. I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to him and his family for allowing me into their homes. It's something I won't soon forget - and hope to repay one day.

Northern Ireland

I went to Northern Ireland back in 2003 with an idea: I wanted to try and document the people, politics, and spiritual conflict in a modern context as told through the very landscape itself. To me nothing is more telling about who we are than the environment we surrounds ourselves in. We make our mark on the landscape around us - our environment shapes our lives.

Through staying with my friend Stephen I was fortunate enough to experience living in the beautiful countryside (in Broughshane) and work in Belfast. The contrast between the city life and the country life (only 20 minutes away by car) says so much more about the current economic climate of the region than any political or spiritual strife known to happen there. If you have the income, you leave the city after work and retreat to the countryside where it is serene and peaceful. If you don't, you can't.

Some of the images may seem, to some, a bit bleak - but to me they are all beautiful. They are reality. At least as I saw it in my short time there.

I want to thank Stephen and my good friend Brian for allowing me to impose on their lives, families, insights, and couches. For showing me how hospitable local life can be, and mainly for just being my friends. The images I captured will always remind me of a place that will haunt my imagination and serve as a source of continued inspiration in all the fine art work I do from here forward.

All of these images were taken in Northern Ireland (specifically West Belfast & Broughshane/Ballymena). All images shot with 120 film.

Northern Ireland, Edinburgh & Loch Ness

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

miscellaneous portraits

Heidi at the beach

Neon nights...

Below are a few stills from a video project I did for my portfolio.

When darkness falls...

Mulholland Drive

This was one of my first fashion shoots, inspired by Mulholland Drive and a general love for Hitchcock and David Lynch.

Photography

I'm going to be posting a lot of work that I have shot in the past but have yet to publish. All of this work is from the past year.

It's been a long time...

So much has changed in our country over the past year, it's hard to know where to begin. It's amazing to see how this renewed optimism is breathing life back into our lives and communities - many of which were left in ruins by our soon to be ex-administration. Yet the fight continues.

I am personally looking to use this renewed sense of country and optimism in my approach toward art. After recently moving through my very own "blue period," I have a wellspring of new ideas from which to draw from. Much of which is in direct relation to our conflicts with Proposition 8 and our ever changing views on sex and religion in this country. I am looking forward to posting that work over the next year, as well as work via new and old collaborations, so stay tuned for that.

On a side note, I will also be needing models for an upcoming project in case anyone is interested. I will get more into detail at a later time, but feel free to use the email address on this site to contact me.