Meet Me in the Forest is a response to William Eggleston's The Democratic Forest, which collects photos from his travels in the U.S., primarily the South, and Europe. I, like him, have used photographic film as my medium, and everyday images from places I've lived in and visited as the body of work. In particular, I have been attentive to the use of color in my images, as I see color as one of the most important parts of any work of art. However, I have struggled with the question of what I am trying to help the viewer see through this series. I know that for myself, when I see these colors, bright or muted, warm or cool, I find myself in awe of the world around me, even more so than when I capture these photos initially. To be cliché, I'll turn to the words of Sam Gamgee, said on the quest to Mount Doom, when everything seemed hopeless: "There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for." If I can help the viewer retain or regain a sense of awe, whether through the pink blossoms on a tree in springtime, a skyscraper through the fog, or the way the light falls on the forest floor, then I will be satisfied.