Restoration

Although the process of photography is typically thought of as instantaneous, for me these images reflect a restorative slowness. While taking long walks in the Pine Barrens, I contemplated the millennia it has taken for these places to emerge and evolve as they now exist. The natural world recorded in this collection records these walks and reflections, many of which were made during the early months of the pandemic when solitude became a very different experience.

Surrounded by the presence and potentiality of trees, I found healing occurring within me. The impact of this exchange was invaluable.

My work represents a new understanding for the land where I live - revering the Lenape tribe, contemplating the settlers, along with the impact of our actions on the land. Although I have lived here most of my life, these long walks at this time acted as a kind of alchemy; the environment + me = a new whole.

During this process, my experience created a yearning, a call to action - driving the momentum for advocacy to protect the land where I am stepping. As I bring this visual conversation to the viewer, my hope is a shared emotional connection with this land stimulates the viewer to consider their own home environment through a renewed lense.