A Passion for Ethnology and Preservation
Fate has a way of planting seeds that bloom throughout our lives. At Orley Farm School, I experienced such a moment when Dr. Louis Leakey, the legendary Kenyan-British palaeoanthropologist, came to visit. He was the headmaster’s father-in-law. As one of just eight students privileged to attend his presentation, I sat spellbound as this titan of human origins research shared his revolutionary discoveries proving humanity's African genesis. Though I couldn't have known it then, this encounter - one of Dr. Leakey's last before his passing - would shape the trajectory of my life’s interests.
By age 10, that spark had ignited into an insatiable curiosity about human cultures and origins. The epic story of our ancestors' migrations across continents and the transformative waves of the Agricultural Revolution captured my imagination. Dr. Leakey's legacy lived on through my growing fascination with ethnology and anthropology - not just as academic pursuits, but as keys to understanding our shared human story.
This early awakening to human origins has evolved into a profound journey of cultural connection and visual storytelling. My camera has become more than a tool for capturing landscapes - it's a bridge to indigenous wisdom and ways of being. I've been granted the profound privilege of walking sacred lands with indigenous guides, participating in ancestral ceremonies, and sleeping beneath stars that have witnessed countless generations of human history. These experiences transcend mere photography; they're opportunities to learn from societies that have maintained intimate connections with the land since time immemorial.
The wide-format images I create often require extensive time to process, both technically and spiritually. Each frame carries not just the visual grandeur of a landscape, but the weight of cultural memory and the enduring spirit of indigenous stewardship. These photographs emerge slowly from my inventory, like artifacts being carefully unearthed, each one revealing another thread in the intricate tapestry of human connection to place.
My work has evolved into a form of cultural bridge-building. The profound wisdom of indigenous peoples - their deep understanding of land, community, and interconnection - offers vital teachings for our modern world. I've come to see my role as not just an artist, but as a conduit for these essential messages, encouraging others to step away from the digital chaos and reconnect with the timeless rhythms of the natural world. In our era of widespread disconnection and grief, these ancient ways of knowing offer pathways back to wholeness.
Through my lens and stories, I strive to honor and amplify indigenous voices and wisdom. Each image is both a celebration of cultural resilience and a reminder of our shared origins. My hope is that this work serves as a gentle call to remember - to recall our common ancestry, reconnect with the land that sustains us, and recognize the profound importance of preserving indigenous knowledge for future generations.
Near Bluff, Utah