My photographic work questions the impositions of humans on the environment, everything from man-made objects that have been placed in the environment to the lesser-known things like invasive and genetically engineered plant species. As things happen to the environment, new layers are placed upon old layers, causing further change to occur. This change is not always beneficial.

In my work I use the elements of beauty to objectify my subject matter, and connect with the viewer on an intimate level. Landscapes can be turned into objects through the breakdown of color, line, shape, and space. These objectifying elements are what make the landscape an object. This very basic idea--objectifying nature has led me to examine the sources that affect the land.

I choose natural situations that have been imposed upon by humans, and then create an artificial environment in the photo so the viewer can enter into the environment. How does manipulation through the photographic process change our visual perception? To answer this question, I to manipulate the viewer’s perception of ugly, devastated subjects. I manipulate the composition of the photograph to manipulate the viewer’s response. I want the viewer to think about the spaces/scenes as not natural when they might otherwise think they were natural.

Several questions motivate me to pursue this work: Is there any such thing as a natural landscape? Has human society altered everything that it has come in contact within the environment? And how is it that these man-altered environments can be perceived as beautiful? I hope this work will make the viewers question their own actions within the environment as well as their perceptions of what is beautiful.