I am inspired by documentary photographers such as Homer Page from the 20th and other work that aims at the spontaneous and candid.
During my student career I have studied many different disciplines that have inspired my photography. The math, science, art, and other humanities have informed me about the complexity of my surroundings. As a photographer I have the opportunity to interact with people and places in a manner I am comfortable with and give back to the greater community.
Planting myself on Pennsylvania Avenue I have had the opportunity to explore the complexities of an urban environment. In my photographs I like to explore the potentials of the photographic dialogue and further a conversation about what it means to be a part of a place.
From the very beginning of the project I knew that I didn’t want to waste any time making a decision about how to start. During previous years at the Corcoran I have learned that my best work comes from spending many patient hours and that breakthroughs come much later. Because Pennsylvania Avenue is an important Main Street in America, I wanted to explore the theme of time and place to serve as a document for the greater community and for future generations.
Since beginning this project I have learned that the key to my success has been making myself available and present for the project. I had many reasons to push myself forward and great encouragement from my peers and teachers. Looking back now I see how I was caught off guard by many fears and uncertainties that acted to pull me away from my project. Like an exercise, I have learned that thesis was not easy but it has made me a stronger person.
Developing a voice for my project has been the most difficult step for me. Many people had ideas about my project that sometimes made my intentions for the project unclear. Many wanted me to consider the changes between northwest and southeast and after traversing the entire avenue I did not feel right exemplifying these differences. However I am thankful that I followed through with their ideas because it has helped to make my intentions more clear.
America’s Main Street
Early in the morning a motorcade on Pennsylvania Avenue derails the commute. Pedestrians march through traffic and trust that the car racing toward the light is going to stop. Downtown, men and women rush to work, circumventing protestors that crowd the sidewalk like pigeons. Dusk falls on the city, and behind the illuminated façade of the US Capitol Building locals unwind at bars and restaurant tables. Beyond the 1.2 miles between the Capitol and the White House, I am able to witness another side of Pennsylvania Avenue. By focusing on the people who inhabit these areas I have begun to reveal the great spectrum of America’s Main Street.
