Tapestry of America
“Keep close to Nature’s heart … and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” - John Muir
What is Tapestry of America?
National Parks have been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. I like to say I was raised in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, searching for salamanders in its cool Appalachian streams and spending the weekend camping in Cades Cove. The Smokies were a wild and sagely teacher, shaping my relationship with the incredible environment around me until it was an essential part of my everyday routine. My family tends to joke that I spend more time in the National Park than I do at my own house, and if I were to tally up all of the hours, they wouldn’t be wrong. It has always been a place where I feel the most connected to the natural world, its inhabitants, and myself. For me and so many others, public lands are where we seek solace in the wilderness we are too often detached from in the hustle and bustle of modern life. Their stated mission to “protect and preserve” America’s rich biodiversity, natural history, and invaluable resources has become a core foundation at the heart of my own photography and scientific journey.
There have always been some who do not understand the importance of these lands and their mission, or who would rather sacrifice our natural heritage in favor of industry and ‘progress.’ In February of 2025, we saw what happens when this minority finally achieves political power. On Valentine’s Day, thousands of National Park Service, Forest Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service staff were abruptly terminated. Since then, national parks have lost nearly 25% of their staff in a massive reduction in force ordered by the Trump administration.
Image: That’s me, finally photographing some of Florida’s rare roseate spoonbills after days of searching. My trip to the Everglades kicked off this project with a bang!
Image: When I was a kid, I dressed up as a park ranger for Halloween. Clearly, these places and the people who protected them were some of my greatest inspirations!
Tapestry of America began as my response to recent attacks on these places I hold so dear. My goal is create an interdisciplinary photography portfolio, combining my love for photography with my knowledge in biology and ecology to take public audiences on an adventure through National Parks across the country. Every NPS unit is different, but they are equally important. My aim is to capture the highlights of each national park, photographing the wildlife and wild places they protect and preserve. Simultaneously, I want to capture the struggles these systems experience. From restoration efforts in the Everglades to rapidly increasing tourism and overcrowding in Grand Teton, our national parks and their staff are in need of more support than ever before. I want to inspire others to care for our public lands as much as I do and use my images and voice to advocate for their protection.
My hope with Tapestry of America is to capture images and collect stories that ignite interest in America’s preserved lands and their continued protection for a public audience.
Explore With Me
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Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
With a sweeping rocky mountain landscape and abundant megafauna, its no wonder that Yellowstone was the world’s first national park. Today, both Yellowstone and Grand Teton protect the incredible Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), a wilderness like no other.
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Great Smoky Mountains
As the most biodiverse region in the United States, the Great Smoky Mountains are home to an incredible array of flora and fauna, many of which are still being discovered. History and nature collide to form a truly unique National Park that draws in over 14 million visitors annually.
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The Everglades
Known to many as the “River of Grass,” the Everglades are often overshadowed by their more ‘scenic’ counterparts. Once you immerse yourself within its subtropical charm, however, you find yourself in an ecosystem defined by resilience.
Where To Next?
Tapestry of America is an ever-evolving project that I hope to continue long after I graduate from university. Currently, I am planning on visiting three national parks in the very near future - Joshua Tree, Death Valley, and Channel Islands!