I’ve never been the type of person who loves to get out of their comfort zone. I would say that a good portion of my early life decisions were based around debilitating anxieties, playing it safe, and living up to the expectations of others. After working for an advertising agency in the Midwest for a couple years, I felt like my life and career weren’t going anywhere. In hindsight, the uneasiness I felt with my surroundings is what eventually pushed me out of my comfort zone.
So, I quit. I sold my furniture, put my things in storage, and was sent off by my close friends with notebook full of polaroids and well-wishes. I was determined to clear my head—to immerse myself in someplace new to gain a fresh perspective and outlook. Backpacking alone across Europe felt like a great way to start over.
I bought a ticket to Paris, a Eurorail pass to easily travel on the train, and several rolls of Tri-X 400 35mm film. Over the next month, I went from city to city taking photos of cityscapes and landscapes, new friends and strangers. It was important to me to document my travels on black and white film. To me Europe captures an important contrast—ancient and innovative, familiar and foreign.