In 2003, I arrived in Peru with a 35 mm film camera pushing its second decade of service and only a basic understanding of how to use it. My plan at the time was to find my way as a reporter and just take the pictures that were necessary to sell the stories.

It didn't take long for me to discover the joys of telling stories with images as well as with words. In the five years since then, my skills have improved, my camera is a better model and taking pictures to accompany my articles is just a small portion of my photographic efforts.

As a journalist by trade and learning the basics of photography from some excellent photojournalists, I find my own efforts with the camera tend toward accurately documenting the world around me. I want my photographs to provide a glimpse at the oft-overlooked details of these unusual places I travel to and give a peek at the lives of the people who live there.