How I began the Vanlife Photography journey
It started back in 2017, I had broken my ankle severly, lost my dream of playing sports collegietly & began pursuing other goals for life. I then picked a camera up. After not walking for a year, it really made me value moments. I realized a camera has the ability to pause life for a quick second.
I had finished up my Freshman year at GVSU, and came back home. My summer living was much different than normal. My parents decided to Air bn&b my childhood house. That left me with decision to rather live in a shed. For 2 years I did this. One year onlooking Lake Michigan, and second year in the front yard.
Fast forward 3 years,
I had finished up my Freshman year at GVSU, and came back home. My summer living was much different than normal. My parents decided to Air bn&b my childhood house. That left me with decision to rather live in a shed. For 2 years I did this. One year onlooking Lake Michigan, and second year in the front yard.
This is me in 2020, in that shed. I was given the choice once Covid hit, sit here to do online school; OR run with my wildest dreams. So I sold my car, bought a van, and seeked out what America has to capture.Today, I sit at 48/50 states with a professional base in photography, siberian husky and many years living dreams out of my van.
“Starting the journey to 48 states by van”
At the age of 20, my appetite for exploration is with no limits, and I have no intention of slowing down anytime soon. When people ask me what inspired me to start on this journey, my answer is simple: the world is huge, and it would be selfish of me not to take advantage of our own unlikelyhood.
I vividly recall stumbling upon a profound quote online a few years ago. It was from a stage 4 cancer patient that had only six months left to live.
Their interview resonated deeply with me: "Don't let a doctor decide when you should start chasing your lifelong aspirations."
I internalized those words wholeheartedly. Of course privilege matters and some are entitled to situations out of our control.
If your brain works more mathematically, type in 1/365 (days) in your calculator, multiplied by 1/195 (countries) and then lastly, hit equal. That is your statistical chance at being born a day within your country.
This means the probability is approximately 0.001405%, which is an extremely small chance. Does this emphasize the uniqueness of each individual's birth circumstances?
The future is an uncertainty we all face, and as humans, we can only hope for the promise of another day. But do we ever truly know what tomorrow holds?
No, we don't. This realization has become a daily mantra for me—a reminder to be grateful for each moment I wake up healthy, vibrant, and breathing. It's a lesson I've learned firsthand, one that many seem to overlook or take for granted.
Experiencing the diverse people, cultures, religions, and environments around the world has been undeniably humbling. As I traversed different lands and encountered new faces, I realized that each interaction was a lesson in personal growth.
My previous ego, was defined with surviving my upbringing. One that hindered the ability to explore and appreciate magical experiences fully. Now, with every encounter, I swiftly learned the invaluable lesson that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance,
deserves to have their voice heard.
Reflecting time spent,
I am struck by the disappointment I feel for having once been so distant from this mindset, particularly during my teenage years. If im being honest, I was an insecure individual who just needed more time to discover a balance into everything I was brought into. There is this idea of “Be who you needed when you were younger”. If life is one chance, does it have to make much sense to anyone else? Are there dreams you can remember that you gave up to please another human?
Experiencing the diverse people, cultures, religions, and environments around the world has been undeniably humbling. As I traversed different lands and encountered new faces, I realized that each interaction was a lesson in personal growth.
My previous ego, was defined with surviving my upbringing. One that hindered the ability to explore and appreciate magical experiences fully. Now, with every encounter, I swiftly learned the invaluable lesson that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance,
deserves to have their voice heard.
Reflecting time spent,
I am struck by the disappointment I feel for having once been so distant from this mindset, particularly during my teenage years. If im being honest, I was an insecure individual who just needed more time to discover a balance into everything I was brought into. There is this idea of “Be who you needed when you were younger”. If life is one chance, does it have to make much sense to anyone else? Are there dreams you can remember that you gave up to please another human?
It has become evident to me that there is an abundance of wisdom to take from the lives and perspectives of others, especially those who have weathered the passage of time.
Within my family, I was already the outlier, 10 plus years younger and not following the path of military service embraced by my siblings. I couldn't help but figure that perhaps I was an unplanned addition. There was a lot of proving that was instilled in me to my self. If i’m already deemed unlikely in so many ways, how can I prove worth?
However, as I started on my college journey, I realized that my pursuit of comfort was not alligned with fulfillment. Covid gave me the chance to reassess. No dropout, just a see ya later.
Buried beneath the weight of societal expectations lay endless dreams and aspirations yearning for expression. What I craved above all else was freedom—freedom from the financial worry, academic rigor, and the reality of a structured existence.
It was during this period of self-discovery that I really embraced. To find oneself, one must first wander into the paradigm of uncertainty. With each twist and turn, I unearthed fragments of inner peace.
Looking back, I am struck by the miracoulous nature of my journey and the profound realization that true wealth lies not in material possessions but in the priceless currency of time and happiness.
For in the end, it is the richness of our inner world and who we can share that with authentically. This truly defines our wealth, far surpassing any other measure.
Within my family, I was already the outlier, 10 plus years younger and not following the path of military service embraced by my siblings. I couldn't help but figure that perhaps I was an unplanned addition. There was a lot of proving that was instilled in me to my self. If i’m already deemed unlikely in so many ways, how can I prove worth?
However, as I started on my college journey, I realized that my pursuit of comfort was not alligned with fulfillment. Covid gave me the chance to reassess. No dropout, just a see ya later.
Buried beneath the weight of societal expectations lay endless dreams and aspirations yearning for expression. What I craved above all else was freedom—freedom from the financial worry, academic rigor, and the reality of a structured existence.
It was during this period of self-discovery that I really embraced. To find oneself, one must first wander into the paradigm of uncertainty. With each twist and turn, I unearthed fragments of inner peace.
Looking back, I am struck by the miracoulous nature of my journey and the profound realization that true wealth lies not in material possessions but in the priceless currency of time and happiness.
For in the end, it is the richness of our inner world and who we can share that with authentically. This truly defines our wealth, far surpassing any other measure.
OUTWARDS VS INWARDS
FACING CAMERA
Based in Encinitas, California