What I strive to do through my work, is to teach compassion. You need to have a lot of it, in this day and time, and it's lacking.

Sometimes we are just divided, but we still, for the most part, we have similar hopes and dreams.

The majority of the people I've taken photographs of, I've had conversations with. "What are your goals and aspirations?" "What are you about?" It's not just about me capturing the image; I want to know what you are about.

I think that's what the war photography did for me. It showed me the human side of people and how certain circumstances can change people's lives.

My camera is my compass; it's guided me to so many different places.

I do believe in angels and I believe that a lot of these people I'm supposed to meet. The photograph serves as evidence; it causes me to reflect on when I met this person.

I remember growing up and hearing the word "ugly" a lot. "I'm ugly." "She ugly." "He ugly." I hated it then, and I hate it now. I go past physical beauty; I tell people they have a beautiful spirit and that is something different.