About Me
I am a visual storyteller and a semi-professional wildlife and conservation photographer focusing on fauna of the Japanese archipelago. My passion is for telling stories that explore the intersection of history, pop-culture, community and wildlife conservation. My long-term work focuses on the exotic/ endangered pet trade,
in particular documenting Japan’s long and complex history with otters.
My Background
I have a B.A. in Asian Studies and History from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and spent two years at Keio University’s Japanese Language Program in Tokyo. After completing my language studies my lifelong love of art and visual storytelling led to a job at MAPPA, a Japan Academy Prize winning animation studio, where I spent 4 years as Production Assistant, Pre-Production and Development Coordinator, Head of International Development and Outreach, and Executive Assistant to the CEO. One of only a handful of foreigners to work in production management in a Japanese animation studio, I oversaw the development of more than ten different television series.
Through my work I saw firsthand the power visual stories have to impact and bring about change in the lives of those who view them. My work has also made me extremely cognizant of the power visual imagery and popular culture have to shape society’s perception of and interactions with our wild neighbors.
Vision
As a storytelling medium, photography has the power to transcend borders, exposing universal truths that reach beyond culture, background or language. Over the years, I have honed my own creative vision and developed a global perspective on storytelling. It is this perspective which I bring to my photography.
From abstract images of “mundane” nature, to the conservation of endangered species, my goal is to create images that challenge our preconceptions of the natural world, fostering a visual dialogue that bridges the gaps between subject, photographer, and viewer.
I believe that every creature on this planet has a distinct voice, and an incredible story to tell. Through my work,
I seek to provide a visual language for those voices to be heard and those creatures to be understood.
Awards
2020
MontPhoto, Honorable Mention, Environmental Report Category
Black & White Spider Awards, Honorable Mention, Photojournalism: 2 Photos
2021
Black & White Spider Awards, Honorable Mention, Wildlife/ Nominee, Photojournalism
Nature Photographer of the Year, Highly Commended, Man and Nature Category
AFFILIATIONS
Photo: Nicholas Wilson
