When I was in elementary school, I had a small red camera with a wrist strap that instantly became my favorite toy. The camera roll full of miscellaneous photos documenting those years in a haphazard way.

In middle school I started taking a camera to gardens and greenhouses, and taking photos of plants or my mom with plants. I loved the control I had in the photos with such a static object in such a controlled environment. Soon, I started taking pictures of my dogs, which added the challenging element of movement. In high school, I joined journalism and soon found myself taking photos everyday.

Since then, photography has become a form of expression for me. Living in New York, I’ve enjoyed taking photographs in the parks and capturing slowed down moments in the city. I’ve also recently explored with film and learned how to develop my own.