Above all things, I am a creative. I am a photographer, hopeful filmmaker, graphic designer and illustrator. I
cannot remember a time when I did not have a camera with me at all times. As a child, I always had a disposable
film camera, especially when we were on family trips out of town. As I got older, digital cameras were becoming
more easily accessible for non-photographers, and when I was 13, my parents bought me a small pink camera
for Christmas. Over the years, my little digital camera became my best friend, and I would strongly encourage
my friends to be a part of my photo and video experiments. Now, as a third year Visual Communications
student at Medicine Hat College, I have started working more professionally as a photographer, while further
developing myself as a graphic designer, videographer, illustrator and overall artist. I mainly focus on portraiture,
as well as any kind of work that involves nudity or sexuality. I enjoy producing figurative work because it
often comes with a story attached, or some sort of social/controversial comment. I love a good controversial
comment.
I am strongly influenced by Mike Perry, a printmaker from Brooklyn. Perry really pushes the limits and focuses
on content that is not often used in art and design, such as creating odd illustrations of people fornicating.
Recently, I have discovered Petra Collins, a Canadian fashion photographer and model. I have drawn a lot of
inspiration from her retro editing style, as well as the way the is able to translate her own style into every person
that she photographs. Part of why I think Collins is so astounding, is her accomplishments. Her work is not mainstream.
She is truly one of a kind, and high end fashion brands like Gucci have started using her for their commercial
work. Another recent discovery of mine is Peter Vack, a filmmaker and actor from New York City. Vack
wrote and directed the film Assholes which over exaggerates drug culture, as well as pushes viewers out of
their comfort zones, by using things like foul language, sex, drugs, feces and bodily functions as main subject
matters. Although I found the film disgusting, I appreciated it. The point of the film was to make people feel
disgusted and uncomfortable. The thing all of these people have in common with myself, is that they promote
sexuality, body positivity, making people think, and feminism. I promote these ideas because, as a women, they
are close to my heart. I believe that a woman should have the right to make all decisions regarding her body,
including how much of it she wishes to share or not share with the public. I believe there is a positive way to
sexualize a woman, and that this is mostly appealing to women.
I make art to make people think. I want people to feel slightly uncomfortable, and then to question why. I feel
that people are most often influenced by media, movies, advertising, and especially anything on social media.
It is so easy for people to be influenced by a trend, and as a designer and photographer, it is my job to decide
what people need to see and understand. Now more than ever, being gay, a feminist, or any other kind racial
minority is a powerful thing. Our eyes are being opened to different lifestyles and as a society, we are slowly
beginning to accept those who are different from the cultural norm. We are beginning to embrace what makes
us different as individuals. Art and design are largely responsible for allowing people who are different to have
a voice, and with that, comes a feeling of being uncomfortable. I want to be behind the media that invokes
people to think broadly about the world and the people living in it. I want to start conversation between my
viewers and the way they see the world.
I want to continue to take photos. I would like to branch out into the world of wedding photography, as well as
continuing to market myself to hopefully get more commercial work. I recently applied to SAIT’s Film and Video
Production program, as I have always had a growing interest in film. I have loved cameras and making videos
since I was a child. Something I really want to get into is cinematography. I love the idea of being in charge of
the way a scene is captured, from the lighting and colours, to the lens that is used.
I want people to look at my work, and to have it provoke a new thought. I believe that human beings will never
stop learning enough about people and the world around them, and I hope my work can contribute to even a
small amount of the way people change their thinking. I hope that there is always someone who finds my work
thought provoking. I may not be able to change the world on my own, but I may contribute to the change.
