Most of the e-mails I get nowadays are from students who ask me how I got my start. In truth its from having a really supportive family but also having a good patron who will help you - like financing all those early trips I took.

The camera gives you some control.

From 8 to 19, I was skateboarding every single day. That was my life. I worked at a skate shop. I watched skate videos.

I put all of my time into art because I couldn't go back to Jersey and work at Starbucks.

I have absolutely no interest in creating depressing images.

Actually, I didn't study photography at first. I went to school for painting my first year, poetry my second year, graphic design my third and fourth year, and photography my fifth.

I knew my ticket out of the suburbs was art school, so I worked really hard to develop my portfolio and get a scholarship.