This photograph is the title/opening shot of my long-term project titled "Cairo: A Beautiful Thing Is Never Perfect," which now consists of over 100 images. In the project, I aim to explore the depths of Cairo, beyond just the typical vacation photos of the ancient sites. I couldn't ask for a more fitting opening shot, as the uniqueness of the french sailors in their pristine white uniforms all taking selfies in front of the Sphinx symbolizes the postcard image that fits people's common perception of Cairo. The city itself is not only steeped in ancient history but has an equally fascinating modern history. It was awarded the title of "most beautiful city in the world" in 1925 and is full of amazing architecture and culture, yet due to the more turbulent decade and a half since the revolution in 2011, not a lot of people spend much time exploring the city. As the main symbol of Egypt, the pyramids make several appearances in the background throughout the project, with each picture taking a bit more of a complex and sometimes darker tone as I focus more on the present realities of Cairo and the people who live there.

The most impactful moment happened on my 2nd trip to Cairo while taking photographs in an old neighborhood that never sees foreigners. An older man who was a bit confused and surprised by my presence stopped me and just wanted to know why I was there taking pictures. I pointed out what I was looking at and stated: "Just look at it. It's beautiful!". He looked, looked back at me, and shook his head as he replied: "Beautiful? It's an old mess" and walked on. (This image is featured above.)

It was due to this brief encounter that I started focusing on what I wanted to show with my photographs of Cairo. I wanted to take photos of beautiful everyday scenes that may go unnoticed by locals who have become too used to their surroundings and in areas that are rarely if ever seen by outsiders. Shortly after this incident, I found out about the ancient Egyptian proverb 'A Beautiful Thing Is Never Perfect' and the project started coming together.

Perhaps tied for the most important moment was the day that I got this shot "Sailors & the Sphinx". It was in October of 2020, during the height of international travel restrictions and covid lockdowns. Egypt itself was relatively easy to travel to, however due to the international circumstances, there were almost no tourists at this time. I had been staying in Giza near the pyramids for nearly a week, making visits to photograph the pyramid/sphinx compound almost daily. On this day, I was taken by surprise when I saw a large group of men wearing white uniforms off in the distance. I had no idea who they were or where they were from, I just knew it was a rare moment. I immediately ran over and began photographing them for the brief 10 to 15 minutes that they were in front of the Sphinx. It turned out they were members of the French Navy's bagpipe band Bagad Lann Bihoue, and they were on their only international outing during covid. The rare scene was made even more rare by the fact that the normally very crowded tourist spot was completely empty due to covid, which made getting this type of shot with nobody else around posible.

My first trip to Cairo was a spur-of-the-moment quick stop in the capital in 2018. I was taken by surprise by just how amazing the city is, especially since like many tourists I was advised to just visit the main museum and make a quick stop at the pyramids before going to other cities like Luxor. I visited twice in 2020, and again in 2021, each time staying for about a month, sometimes shooting with other photographers and locals, and sometimes on my own. Cairo is a massive city and I still feel like I'm only scratching the surface. The longer I stayed the more access I'd get in certain neighborhoods as people recognized me and invited me into their shops and homes.

I live a very minimalistic life and travel full-time outside of my home country of the USA to pursue photography. I generally look to go to locations that interest me from both a cultural and historical standpoint and will try to stay as long as the typical tourist visa will allow before moving on to my next destination. After doing this for the better part of a decade, I've collected a handful of favorite places that I keep revisiting, as they now feel like a 2nd home to me. I've spent the majority of this time in Japan, where I have made about 20 visits since 2010 and now offer photography workshops, as well as India and Mexico, which are a couple of my favorite places to photograph and spend my time.

I'm inspired by the idea that there are constantly moments happening that would make amazing photographs but instead are going unnoticed. I have no idea where or when my next photograph will be, but If I'm not out there with my camera in hand, it will never happen.

I was originally interested in a lot of different genres of photography, occasionally doing event photography, production photography, and travel photography before transitioning into the style of street photography that I do now. I enjoy it because it involves very little gear (I own a small camera with a 28mm lens), and little or no post-production time in lightroom/photoshop.

I'd love to chat it up with Steve McCurry and the late Anthony Bourdain over some cold beers and street food on some tiny plastic chairs in a remote town in Myanmar. They were the two biggest inspirations for me to get a passport and see the world.