Worthy Sons

This body of work follows a group of teenagers whose friendships became a vital source of support during the uncertain passage between childhood and adulthood. What began with a shared passion revealed itself as something deeper: a community of care that helped to fill the absence of guidance and offered strength through companionship.

A photograph is unique in its ability to elevate its subject while giving viewers access to places, moments, and lives they might not otherwise experience. In this work, I use the camera not only as a documentary tool but also as a means of affirming value. By turning the lens toward these young men, the photographs grant a sense of agency often missing in their daily lives.

With these images, I invite the viewer to step into the spaces where these young people are forming their identities. The work presents moments of stasis within the movement of adolescence and allows for contemplation of one’s own perspective on this complicated and complex stage of life. Through intentional shifts in how I photograph, from public to private views and the apparent passage of time, my hope is that this work prompts a familiarity that fosters empathy and compassion—not only for these teenagers, but also for those who call our shared world “home.”