In what ways does nature inspire or inform your work?

I’ve gotten obsessed with photographing trees recently–it’s not work I really share, I just make it for myself when I’m hiking or on a walk. I’ve always considered myself a portrait photographer, and when I make these photos they still feel like portraits to me. I’m still looking for lines, contours, shadows, wrinkles–all those little markers that make you curious about a life.

What does it mean to you to be part of a thriving ecosystem?

For me, it’s the foundation of a rooted and happy life. The longer I’m in New York, the more I realize that I no longer value “making it” in my industry as much as I value making it in my own neighborhood. That’s the beauty of this city, no? Bustling micro-ecosystems all humming along in their parallel city blocks. I want to know my mailman’s name, I want to chat with my local baristas at the coffee shop down the street, I want to bump into familiar faces when I’m walking to the park, and I want to have close friends over for a cup of soup.