I think we all believed 2020 was going to be the year when everything fell into place. This would be the year dreams would come true! This would be the year of "twenty-twenty vision!" There was a different sense of excitement in the air that was somehow so much different than most of the years that came before. I was on board with this vision. I absolutely believed 2020 was going to be my year of pure joy, travel, creativity, goal-smashing so, so much more. Looks like 2020 had other ideas, as we all have discovered. With the outbreak of COVID-19, our normal lives have pretty much been placed on hold until further notice. Our cities and towns have been shut down. Mandatory Stay-at-Home orders have been issued almost everywhere. Schools are closed. College campuses, once teeming with life and conversation, now silent and vacant. Eerily vacant. While we are all confident that we are going to get through this, it does...
Downtown Asheville is full of diversity, creativity, and individuality at every corner. Almost instantly, upon getting out of my car at the Grove Arcade, I saw some unique street corner shops that I wanted to investigate. I spoke with a woman named Rikki who sold these really cool habitats in jars called “Terraniums.” They were the cutest little decorations. I also ran into a couple with an overly curious and easily distracted pug named Brutus. Finally, I stumbled upon a couple sitting on the ground just painting for fun. Each person was happy to help with my project and enjoyed the company. This being my first photojournalism project, I felt like I actually captured some great moments. There were so many stories to be found downtown just by walking around and talking to people. Photojournalism is unique ...