Waiting out the rain and clouds on Waynapicchu

How did I get here?

In the summer of 2019, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Informatics, I relocated from my lifelong home in the Chicago suburbs to Santa Monica, California, where I began my first professional job in the tech industry. Driving through the Mountain West from Illinois to California with my dad and brother was when I first felt drawn to the mountains. We made stops in Badlands, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks. Other than a trip to the Grand Canyon as a child, I’d never seen such inspiring natural beauty. I settled into my new home with ease. Trails were close by, there were beautiful flowers on my walk to work, and I lived 1 mile from the ocean. Moving far away from home had also helped me to start exploring who I was as a person. Time passed, and shortly after local COVID-19 lockdowns began, I took a risk by purchasing my first DSLR camera for $600. A used Canon T7i with a kit lens from someone on eBay. By that time, my iPhone camera wasn’t enough. I couldn't portray the beauty of the California mountains in the way that I wanted. I needed a tool that would enable me to fully express my vision. Ultimately, that purchase was what kicked off my journey as a photographer and, more recently, a videographer. Little did I know, my newfound hobby would grow into a passion for telling stories from adventures in the mountains around the world. Fast forward 4 years, and I’ve left behind my career in tech to pursue something that fulfills me in a way that nothing else can.