EYE CONTACT
is a decade-long portrait study exploring the silent language of eye contact and the powerful exchange that happens when two people truly see one another. Spanning the last ten years, this collection of photographs captures fleeting yet intimate moments of awareness between photographer and subject—strangers, neighbors, artists, workers, dreamers, and everyday people.
Each portrait is rooted in a shared pause: a glance held long enough to become connection. In that brief space, walls soften, stories surface, and individuality becomes undeniable. The images reveal beauty not through perfection, but through presence—through expression, vulnerability, confidence, curiosity, and humanity.
These moments represent memories that will last in my mind forever. They were brief - liminal - passing moments that are cemented in time. Eye contact has the power to be the marker in that stream. It does not matter that I do not know these people beyond the moment that the photograph represents, because it is true presence. In that second, nothing else mattered. We saw each other. We knew each other. We were aware. And, there is beauty in knowing the moment will never happen again, because we can smile remembering that in that moment, we were present. We lived.
Together, these images form a reminder that every person carries depth, history, and something worth noticing. This exhibit invites viewers to slow down, meet each gaze, and experience the rare intimacy of being both observer and observed.
Listen up.
“See you”
New York, NY — 2016
This photograph was taken in Unique Square in New York. Just outside of the 4/5/6 train stop, a woman was smoking a cigarette near midnight on a weeknight in the summer. The square felt quiet that night, and this woman and I, saw each other.
“Beautiful Known Stranger”
India — 2017
Two hours outside of Bengaluru, in a a small village in southern India, I was welcomed into a family’s home. No English was spoken, but they welcome us to share food. There has always been a universal language when sharing a meal. And in the midst of smiling and laughing, this little girl and I made eye contact - and we both knew each other exactly for that moment.
“Keep moving”
New York, NY — 2018
On a hot spring in late afternoon, it started to rain. There is a shared comradery between New Yorkers when you get caught in the rain. You have not other choice but to keep on going, and get wet. We both were thinking the exact same thing, “well fuck.”
“Never know'“
Kenya — 2021
In a village outside of Nairobi near the Serengeti, there are small towns that rely heavily on the economy of foreigners on safari. I was walking through the groups handing out care packages when I met eyes with this child. There was a shared feeling in both knowing, I will never know what it’s like, and that it’s ok.
“Think You Know”
Vietnam — 2021
After a long day of trekking with the locals through rice paddies, I got to the center of the village where there were a few concrete structures. This old woman was standing outside where I could guess to be the community and gathering building. We shared a beautiful moment where I saw her spirit, and she quietly smiled “you don’t know yet.”
“Go on”
New York, NY — 2018
This photograph was taken near on the corner subway stop at Madison Square Park. I asked him if I could take his photograph, and nothing else was said but this moment and connection was captured.
“Won’t find it”
New York, NY — 2017
In the Strand in New York, on a Wednesday afternoon, I saw this woman looking at books but not noticing the titles. I asked to take her photograph and we chatted with smiles about life for about three minutes, then it naturally got serious and we both knew - and photograph was taken.
“Coming out”
New York, NY — 2018
This photograph was taken near Christopher Street in the small park in the West Village. This man and I chatted and danced in a playful courtship kind of way. He let me take his photograph but from his eyes could tell felt more alive or comfortable behind the white sculpture.
“Happy”
Cambodia — 2019
In a remote village around three hours south outside of Phnom Penh. I was walking around taking photographs and found these children in a school soccer field. The only concrete blended into the field and the children were so happy to meet a stranger. This boy played with my Apple Watch for as long as I let him, and just spoke a thousand words through his eyes. It was happy.
“Elsewhere”
Morocco — 2020
I took this photograph in a the village square where locals were displaying the beauty of the city of Marrakesh. It was my third day there, and at this point recognized the regulars. The camera gives you a secondary memory to these things. I saw this man, and in his eyes were the feeling of not here. He was not present and allowing me to notice.
“Finding”
New York, NY — 2018
In the same park in the West Village, this man continues to let me take his photograph as we play pick-a-boo in between the white sculptures.
“Happiness”
Cambodia — 2019
In the same soccer field at the school, the group of children kept quite simply wanting to play. It was happiness, and it was innocence. There peace with not wanting more does not exist as much as it should.
“Please”
Los Ángeles — 2022
I took this photograph on a Tuesday afternoon when this boy came to see me. He was flying back to Chicago that day to finish his Masters. It was a moment of peaceful “I know not forever” thoughts, and it’s ok. Because in that moment we were both connected. He let me see him, when he knew I wouldn’t again, but with the slight hope of maybe.
“Not here”
Los Ángeles — 2022
I was taking photographs for a tattoo artist friend of mine. They had never had there photograph taken before and the goal was to capture a feeling of stripped down exposure. I had asked for him to not see me, and the mind elsewhere came through in his eyes.
“Handle”
New York, NY — 2018
I was hanging out in Union Square in New York one weekend afternoon. As always had my camera and book with me and say on the steps. This boy on his bicycle kept getting a little closer. I started taking photographs of the square and in that process caught this moment of “what’s he doing” question on the boy’s face.
“Sigh of OK”
New York, NY — 2016
In the East Village in New York there in a coffee shop called Everyman Espresso. I was there almost everyday for four years. There was a theatre next door that was owned by the same man, and this gentleman had worked there going on five years. His name is Sam. I took this portrait on a Tuesday afternoon af tea we both had just smoked a cigarette on a slow day.
“Blissful Crowd”
New York, NY — 2018
The characters of Union Square were my beautifully unknown friends after ten years of living near it. This man chanted for the Hare Krishnas, and I had sat with them about a dozen times at this point. One afternoon I had my camera out and there was this moment of exchange where we both knew this liminal square was ok to be and the people in it belonged there.
“Not again”
New York, NY — 2022
I was in Greenwich Village in New York on an early Saturday afternoon. I was going to the bodega to grab a pack of cigarettes myself, and I saw this man walking across the street. I had my camera on my shoulder and starting snapping, and he gave me these eyes on recognition that we both were going to keep moving.