1.  Why is art significant in your life?

All art brings me joy.  Everyone has a vision and it frees the mind to be able to see all perspectives, no matter the format.  I also appreciate that it defines our culture and reflects the state of the world at the very moment in time when the art was created.  It is wonderful to know that it will be preserved for our future study and reflection.  Whenever I am behind my camera I can feel the energy of life, light, love and my connection to everything around me.  That is validated each time I interact, photograph and/or just meet people whose path I would not have crossed.   It is a very spiritual experience.

2.  How would you describe your art?

My art is raw and uncut; the essence of humanity and all that we are.

3.  What is your greatest motivation?

My greatest motivation in creating my art and doing so in Baltimore, is to allow the rest of the world to see that we are all the same people, no matter the location, and that the human experiences in Baltimore are the same for everyone.  The polarization of a "violent" Baltimore and it's citizens is what I hope to change through my lens and allow Baltimore to change it's self-image and change its future.

4.  What is your connection to Pennsylvania Avenue/West Baltimore?

I have been providing community services, hosting community events and providing positive interactions between myself, our unit and the residents in West Baltimore for a little over 8 years now.  Through my interactions, I have made personal friends, established relationships that I will have life long and I have become a part of West Baltimore.

5.  As a police officer, how does your occupation impact your art?

Being a police officer has afforded me the rare opportunity to "see" both sides of the story and the one in the middle.  Although my lens captures human nature in the raw, if you are really looking, you begin to see ONLY the good in people.  It is said that the eyes are the window to the soul.  The eye acts like the aperture on my camera, dilating or contracting to regulate the amount of light coming into the eye or in this case, into the observers eye.

6. How are you received by the community when you go out to capture pictures?  Are you in uniform?

When I am in the community I am not always in my uniform, but if I am, everyone knows me and they are quite used to seeing me with my camera.  Everyone is always kind to me and greats me as a part of their community.  Most of the residents I encounter have not ever had their portrait style photo taken, so they are happy to have one taken and appreciative when I give them a copy. 

7. Describe the Baltimore you see through your camera lens?

I see a city and people moving forward in a positive transition with each snap shot.  I see the determination to stay on course from the community and the police department and my lens captures the motivations that are on track to reaching their goals.   It is a small change right now, but a noticeable one, and I am excited for the city and grateful to be here to document it for the citizens and the rest of the world. 

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