I may have had my last Kohr Bros this summer.

The Jersey shore gets a bad rap– for somewhat valid reasons– but it’s a nuanced place full of complex, vitamin D addicted humans just like anywhere else. It’s where I learned to surf; where we flocked after prom to drink Four Loko; it’s the location of a mysterious false memory I have in which my little sister wears an eye patch; and it’s where my family founded cherished traditions like glow-stick frolics and a very precise dishwashing playlist that always starts with “Play That Funky Music White Boy”, collectively growing stronger and sillier and more in love with one another year after year.

With two major matriarchs now in the south, we’ll be diversifying our seaside reunion locales. The traditions will continue, the memories will fade, but OC, NJ will always have a place in my heart.

(the Vivian Maier)

Borders are fake, but the grass is actually greener on the other side ;) IYKWIM

I feel like I’ve taken these pictures a thousand times.

Shit is wild in the world! Amidst the revolution, the plague, and general impending doom, my family congregated at the jersey shore, a tradition we’ve kept since I was a kid. It felt very weird and probably (definitely) ill-advised, but also so nurturing. I’ve been quarantining alone in Portland, so spending a week with my family was like medicine. It’s in our nature to be connected, connection begets care, and to care for each other through this, we must stay apart. The dissonance!

It’s hard to not be reflective this time of year, but lately that’s all I’ve been. Shit has been R E A L this year and it’s shaken the foundation of who I think I am. I haven’t really posted about it on social media because I want to be authentic, on and off the screen, and what is ~ authenticity ~ through a carefully edited post or photo (ahem, not unlike this very one)? I’m redefining what it means to me IRL, but I’ve been wary of the performance of digital spaces. My grief is real. Putting words to it is still really hard. Images are a little easier, so here are some recents of my family— the only thing that makes sense these days.

DUCKING FROM WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT US NEXT!

My big sis and her wife moved to Salt Lake City around the same time I moved to Portland. I was long overdue for a visit. We had a proper Utah experience, from Mormons to mountains to massive sodas (also, not pictured, my first professional soccer match?).

Welp, I haven’t dumped any memory cards in almost a year, it’s a little shameful. Starring Bill & Olive, this batch tours the PNW, CA, NJ, and NYC, with brief cameos from my family and a variety of animals. I also have a stack of disposable cameras in a similar state. Stay tuned.

A week ago I moved to Portland! It has been a whirlwind, to say the least. But also a dream. I haven’t yet unpacked all the boxes, or frankly all the feels, in my new home. Leaving Ventura is the end of a big chapter in my life, and no one understands that more than the lovely Hilary Swift, who accompanied me on the journey north. While we enjoyed several stops and stays, I only took my camera out at Lake Tahoe, graced by the glorious presence of our dear friend Evan. Plz enjoy this small slice of our road trip.

My big sis graduated from medical school! Cherry on top— she won an award for being a GOLDEN HUMAN. Seeing her accomplish so much filled me with an unbelievable amount of pride (and tears). Can't wait to watch her golden touch take the world of brains by storm. 

On April 7th, I had the pleasure of participating in the 24 Hour Photo Project. It is a worldwide photo marathon where photographers share one image / hour from 12 AM to 12 AM on the specified day. The program aims to spread awareness about global issues and support NGOs around the world. This year, donations and book proceeds will go to Shakti Vahini, a women's rights organization fighting human trafficking in India. 

Being my second year, I tried to learn from my mistakes and load more sleep in the beginning of the day, so I didn't start until 4 AM. Despite any planning, preparation, or caffeine, the experience gifted me with blisters on the bottom of my feet, a head cold, and a seemingly endless supply of exhaustion (I still can't stop yawning). Complaining aside, I seriously love this project. There is a constant rush against the clock to capture images that you're proud of, which pushes me to photograph more brazenly and creatively. It’s thrilling.

I made everything on the Ricoh GR II. Big thanks to everyone who followed along on IG— sorry for spamming your feed for 24 hours!

December has been a weird month. Between the Thomas Fire and 2 different bouts of illness, I lost my sense of normalcy. I spent many days in a fevered puddle of sheets on my phone checking the fire perimeter. This was also the first Christmas in many years that my whole family was together. It was refreshing to experience something familiar and nostalgic.

For those of you who don't know my little sister Caroline, you may recognize her from my photos— colorful hair, porcelain skin, a pointed look of distaste at the camera. This past summer, she left me on the west coast to live in Philly, to what feels like a million miles away. For the first time since I left the east coast 5 years ago (what!!), I flew back for Thanksgiving. I got to see Caroline's new city digs, visit my grandpa, and work on a documentary I'm making with Alicia Afshar :).

I'm about a year behind on my personal archives and almost 2 years behind on adding new projects to my website. I don't carry my camera around as much as I used to, but when I do, the photos get organized and then quickly forgotten. I think having this space for visual notes will keep me using the photo muscle. & with that, please enjoy this broad photo deposit.

A year ago, my sister met me in Kauai for a Thanksgiving vacation. It was a tumultuous time in my life— I was leaving a relationship, moving into a new home, and the country had just elected a monster. With the backdrop of paradise, I had a lot of alone time to explore how these changes were changing within me. I brought my camera out to document some of the feels.

Kauai is a stunning place and we left feeling so grateful for all the beauty we experienced. But we also felt guilty. Guilty for enjoying the fruits of colonization, guilty for our privilege. This trip kinda kicked off a year of heavy self reflection.