Some people keep a written journal to document their lives. I have my Flickr page.

I was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, the Vehicle City. I grew up in an environment chock-full of working-class joie de vivre.

Flint was a magical place to grow up, with its myriad factories, racially-diverse population, and vibrant Cultural Center, not to mention being steeped in car-culture. Growing up in Flint undoubtedly shaped my tendency to gravitate toward urban scenes. Many factories may be gone, but Flint's friendly, resilient ethos remains. The whole United States could probably learn some lessons in perseverance from Flint.

I currently reside in beautiful, historic Chicago, Illinois.

Bill Owens is one of my main photography heroes. I love the way he captures and portrays Americana, and how he finds beauty within seemingly mundane subjects and highlights what's interesting and unique about them.

Other photographers whose works inspire me are Zoe Strauss, William Eggleston, and Vivian Maier. Common subjects and the ability to present them in an intriguing way are a common thread among the works of these three artists.

All images are copyright protected. Do not use without my written consent.