The darkness that makes us better.

From the traditional symbols of light and darkness, shadows emerge as the embodiment of the dark side of human nature. This dark side is unique to every individual, and we often try to hide our shadows from others. However, if we learn to accept and care for these once-rejected dark sides, an extraordinary thing happens: we grow and evolve into our best selves. ‘Embracing Our Shadows’ is my photographic interpretation of this phenomenon - the beautiful image we show off to the world made better by the act of embracing the shadows we find within. 

Using my ability to see the world as both a civil engineer and a self-taught photographer, each image is framed using my trademark balance of engineering and art. By selecting an urban location (some of which I’ve helped design), and then using my own body movement to literally paint a shadow into the image, each piece strikes a balance between engineering and art that highlights the project concept in a powerful and effective way.

‘Embracing Our Shadows’ consists of 50 pieces captured over the course of 2021. This project was a made BPHOTOGRAPHY a finalist for the Midwest Center for Photography’s (Wichita, KS) 2021 International Photography Fellowship. The project was also featured in a solo photography exhibition at the Hopkins Center for the Arts (Hopkins, MN) in the fall of 2022.