About the artist
Photo by Myuh Martin
A Short Bio
Native to Illinois, living in Washington, I began my creative journey in high school when I purchased my first DSLR, and began collecting vintage film cameras. Over time and through inspirations such as Francesca Woodman, Gregory Crewdson, Alex Stoddard, and photography mentor Monica Estabrook, I began to form my own unique genre of this art, capturing what I can only describe as personal emotions guided through the lens.
Initially drawn to black-and-white, and only later overcoming my fear of color, I try to give form to the visions I carry—images shaped as much by feeling as by sight.
Photo by Myuh Martin
In my free time I occupy myself with several different sports and activities I've picked up over the handful of years I've lived in this wonderful state. In the winters I snowboard excessively. Often considered a ski bum-if there’s fresh snow on the ground, I’m there. In the summers I split my time between indoor/outdoor rock climbing, mountain biking, running, hiking, bike packing, and road biking, often forgetting one while I fixate on another. Overall, being active is a large part of what brings me joy in this life. With some large goals in my future regarding bike packing especially, my camera will begin to follow me along as I grow more comfortable in these activities, and find new ones to explore.
I’ve also built out several vehicles to live in these last few years (hence the ski bum adage). This mobile lifestyle creates less of an excuse to not explore the outdoor activities I’m passionate about.
My Process
My Process is fairly simple. I typically don’t approach a photo with an emotion or feeling in mind. What appears in my thoughts is a simple scene with no obvious reason as to why it appeared. When an image presents itself to me, I begin to break down how I can execute it to the best of my abilities. In the case of my photo curled upon a tree stump, I was careful not to disturb visible snow, and took some test photos clothed before I committed to the end product. In post processing, I get a feel for the emotions represented in the forms I created, and begin to modify color and shading to further highlight the subject and what its trying to display. Aside from the occasional heal to rid unexpected noise, I don’t modify my photos with photoshop or the likes; I appreciate the authenticity of an unaltered photo.
Artist Statement
My work explores the quiet strangeness embedded in ordinary life—the subtle fractures where the familiar becomes unfamiliar. I am drawn to moments of stillness, where the world seems to pause long enough for its underlying tensions to surface. In these suspended spaces, emotion is both muted and amplified, revealing how vulnerability, isolation, and curiosity intertwine. Through manipulating form, posture, and environment, I seek to illuminate the beauty in abnormality: the ways our bodies and feelings shift, distort, and settle into unexpected shapes. Each piece invites the viewer to linger in that stillness, to acknowledge the unsettling softness of being human, and to find meaning in the spaces where life feels slightly off-center.