It's been 10 years since I was a struggling artist. I had just moved to Los Angeles with nothing but my passion for photography and a few hundred dollars in my pocket. I spent every day working odd jobs and taking photos of anything that would make me interesting stories. Sometimes it took me months to get the shot, but other times it happened right on my first try.

I remember this one time when I was shooting at the Griffith Observatory and caught this incredible sunset over LA. The light was so golden and the clouds were painted with shades of pink and orange. As I was setting up my camera, a group of tourists walked by and started laughing and snapping photos themselves. I turned around to see what they were looking at and saw this kid sitting on a bench staring out at the sunset like it was his own private universe.

That's when I knew photography wasn't just about capturing moments – it was about capturing the essence of life itself. After that shoot, my career took off. People started noticing my work and I was getting hired to do more and more gigs. But even with all the success, I never forgot where I came from or how much hard work went into getting there. That's why I always try to give back to my community by offering free photography workshops to kids who are interested in learning about art.

I'm always drawn to capturing raw emotions through my lens – whether it's the beauty of nature or the complexity of human experience. Photography is more than just a job