explorer. photonaturalist. artist.

Since I was young, I have loved seals and felt drawn to the ocean. Growing up, I didn’t have many opportunities to see seals in the wild, but I read every book about them that I could find and admired the beautiful photographs. In the late 1990s the internet was still in its infancy, but it was a new tool to access information. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find very much about seals, so in 1999 at the age of 15, I taught myself how to build a website. My website about seals would end up ranking at the top of the search engine results and ultimately be the basis of my college essay that helped me get accepted into Dartmouth College. Unfortunately during this time I would forget all about exploring my interests and passions and instead take what I though was the “right” path.

After graduation and my Fulbright Fellowship in Finland, I spent the summer in Monaco. During my time there I thought how unfortunate it was that there were no longer Mediterranean monk seals in the area. The Mediterranean monk seal had become the most endangered seal in the world due to hunting, coastal urbanization and pollution. I wished for peace for the species and all other species impacted by humans. I wished for seal peace. I had some ideas, but once again followed what I thought I was supposed to do and moved to New York City to start a job in economic research. Years would go by but you cannot silence passion forever.

In 2016, I was running the Boston to Big Sur Challenge and had several people tell me that I had to visit the elephant seals in San Simeon. I had never been so close to so many seals in the wild before. Watching them, I could see images I wanted to capture, but I quickly realized my iPhone was not sufficient. Upon returning to New York City, I bought my first DSLR and made my way to California, Alaska and the Galapagos. I had an amazing first experience interacting with a sea lion underwater in the Galapagos, but snorkeling felt limiting. I knew I wanted to explore further below the surface. In March 2017, I received my scuba certification in Monterey, CA and in November 2017 I used almost all of my savings to buy a housing for my DSLR so I could take it underwater with me.

Since then I have photographed Pinnipeds on five continents. As a researcher by trade. I strive to learn everything I can about my subjects before I meet them in order to most accurately and intimately be able to tell their stories. Even then, it usually takes a few days of observation before I feel I have a proper connection. However, when this connection happens, the result is magical. It is this connection that I wish to share with others.

I am honored to be a member of the Explorers Club and the Ocean Artists Society. My work has appeared in many places including Oceanographic Magazine, Ocean Geographic, X-Ray Mag | International Dive Magazine and as part of the movie poster for the 3D IMAX movie Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker.

 

awards
•2024 World Nature Photography Awards – Gold in Nature photojournalism
•2024 Underwater Photographer of the Year – Commended in Wide Angle
•2023 Ocean Art Contest – 2nd Place in Coldwater category
•2023 Ocean Art Contest – Honorable Mention in Portrait category
•2023 Focus on Survival – finalist
•2023 Ocean Photography of the Year – Fine Art Photographer of the Year finalist
•2023 Underwater Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year
•2022 Ocean Art Contest – 4th Place in Underwater Conservation category
•2022 Nature TTL Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended in Underwater category
•2022 United Nations World Oceans Day Photo Competition – 3rd Place in Coastal Communities category
•2022 GDT Nature Photographer of the Year – 5th Place in Mammals category
•2022 NANPA Showcase – Runner-up in Mammals category
•2022 NANPA Showcase – Judges’ Choice in Conservation category
•2021 World Nature Photography Awards – Silver in Animals in their habitat
•2021 Memorial María Luisa Photo Contest – Highly Commended in Submerged World
•2021 NWF National Wildlife Photo Contest – Honorable Mention in Mammals
•2021 Ocean Art Contest – 2nd Place in Coldwater Category
•2021 Ocean Art Contest – Honorable Mention in Coldwater Category
•2021 Monochrome Awards – Honorable Mention in Wildlife Category
•2021 Monochrome Awards – Honorable Mention in Wildlife Category
•2021 Monochrome Awards – Honorable Mention in Wildlife Category
•2021 Monochrome Awards – Honorable Mention in Wildlife Category
•2021 Monochrome Awards – Honorable Mention in Wildlife Category
•2021 Tokyo International Foto Awards – Bronze in Nature/Underwater Category
•2021 Budapest International Foto Awards – Bronze in Nature Category
•2021 Budapest International Foto Awards – Honorable Mention in Nature Category
•2021 Budapest International Foto Awards – Honorable Mention in Nature Category
•2021 Black & White Spider Awards – 2nd Place in Wildlife Category
•2021 Focus on Survival – finalist
•2021 Environmental Photographer of the Year – shortlist
•2021 ENDANGERED Fine Art & Photography Contest – 1st Place in Fine Art Photography Category
•2021 Siena International Photo Awards – Remarkable Artwork in Animals in their Environment category
•2021 Siena International Photo Awards – Remarkable Artwork in Documentary & Photojournalism category
•2021 International Photography Awards – Honorable Mention in Nature/Underwater category
•2021 PX3 – The Prix de la Photographie Paris – Bronze Award in Nature/Underwater category
•2021 PX3 – The Prix de la Photographie Paris – Honorable Mention in Nature/Underwater category
•2021 PX3 – The Prix de la Photographie Paris – Honorable Mention in Nature/Underwater category
•2021 PX3 – The Prix de la Photographie Paris – Honorable Mention in Nature/Underwater category
•2021 Moscow International Foto Awards – Silver Award in Nature/Underwater category
•2021 Moscow International Foto Awards – Honorable Mention in Nature/Underwater category
•2021 Moscow International Foto Awards – Honorable Mention in Nature/Underwater category
•2021 Nature TTL Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended in Underwater category
•2021 GDT Nature Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place in Mammals category
•2021 Visions International Photo Awards – 2nd Place in Underwater category
•2021 Whalebone Photo Contest – Honorable Mention in Joy category
•2021 AIPP Silver Lining Awards – Semi-Finalist in Shades of Grey
•2021 Underwater Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended in Wide Angle
•2020 Ocean Art Contest – 2nd Place in Underwater Conservation category
•2020 Ocean Art Contest – 4th Place in Wide Angle category
•2020 Ocean Art Contest – Honorable Mention in Coldwater category
•2020 Visions of the Sea Underwater Photography Competition – 1st place
•2020 Visions of the Sea Underwater Photography Competition – Honorable Mention
•2020 UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Photo Contest – 1st place in Wide Angle category
•2020 UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Photo Contest – Honorable Mention in Wide Angle category
•2020 Ocean Photographer of the Year – Community Choice Award finalist
•2020 Ocean Art Safe Under the Sea – 2nd place in Coldwater category
•2020 World Shootout – 1st place in Wide Angle category
•2020 World Shootout – Finalist for Best Picture of the Year
•2020 United Nations World Oceans Day Photo Competition – 3rd Place in Underwater Life category
•2020 Beneath the Sea Imaging Contest – 2nd Place in Green/Cold Water category
•2020 Beneath the Sea Imaging Contest – Honorable Mention in Green/Cold Water category
•2020 Beneath the Sea Imaging Contest – Honorable Mention in Underwater Behavior category
•2020 Beneath the Sea Imaging Contest – Honorable Mention in Conservation category
•2019 Ocean Art Contest – Honorable Mention in Coldwater category
•2019 Ocean Geographic Emory Kristof Award for Outstanding Achievement – Highly Commended
•2019 Ocean Geographic Photo Journalist Award for Outstanding Achievement – Runner Up
•2019 Our World Underwater – Silver in Wide Angle Traditional category
•2018 Ocean Art Contest – 3rd Place in Wide Angle category
•2018 Turquoise Coast Photo Competition People’s Choice Award Winner
•2018 Ocean Geographic Award for Emerging Photographer – Runner Up

exhibitions

• 2023 ArtPrize – Grand Rapids, Michigan (September 14 – October 1, 2023)
• 2022 ArtPrize – Grand Rapids, Michigan (September 15 – October 2, 2022)
• “Oceans of Creativity” Rotunda Gallery Exhibition – Dearborn, Michigan (June 1 – June 29, 2022)
• Crain World Headquarters – Detroit, Michigan (January 2022- present)
• The Gallery at Brewery Park – Detroit, Michigan (January 2022- present)
• COP26 Summit – Featured in the Explorers Against Extinction exhibit at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland (October 31 – November 12, 2021)
• COP26 Summit – Featured in the New York Times Climate Hub’s Outdoor Exhibit in Glasgow, Scotland (November 3 – November 11, 2021)
• 2021 Siena International Photo Awards – Featured in the display of winners in Siena, Italy (October 23 – December 5, 2021)
• 2021 ArtPrize – Grand Rapids, Michigan (September 16 – October 3, 2021)