The Trip That Changed My Life

There are trips we remember because of where we went, what we saw, or the photographs we brought home. And then there are the rare journeys that quietly change the direction of our lives.

For me, that journey was a 7,000 mile road trip through the American West.

I was newly on my own, uncertain of what came next, and honestly afraid to leave. The only thing that gave me the courage to begin was knowing that, if I wanted to, I could always turn around and come home.

Thankfully, I didn't turn around.

That journey became part of the story of how I rediscovered the West, reconnected with photography—and, in many ways, found myself.

I recently had the opportunity to tell that story in Wild Eye Magazine in my feature, Capturing Stars: Memories Written in Light.

The essay is deeply personal, and I’m grateful to have been able to share the journey that took me from growing up in Washington, D.C., to my first unforgettable view of the Milky Way over the Rocky Mountains, which ultimately inspired me to turn my camera toward the stars.

It’s a story about photography, wonder, memory, and the unexpected paths that can shape a life.

Read the full feature: Capturing Stars: My Memories Are Memories Written in Light