The Connecting Thread
Unplanned connections in the places adventure takes us.
Not every portrait begins with an assignment or a scheduled meeting. Many of the connections in this project present themselves naturally while I am out discovering beauty along a trail, exploring a new place, or simply pausing long enough for someone to ask what I am photographing. Although I sometimes see an opportunity from a distance, most of these portraits happen in passing. They unfold on a bend in the trail, along the water, at the skate park, or anywhere adventure pulls us outside long enough to notice the people sharing that space with us.
These encounters stretch the boundaries of the project in a way that feels honest. A kite surfer catching the morning wind, a mountain biker sending a jump, someone relaxing at the beach. The outdoors takes many forms, and so do the people who love it. And as the seasons shift or our routines change, that same spirit of movement often continues in the places where we train, gather, or stay connected when the weather pushes us indoors. These spaces still carry a sense of community and curiosity, reminding me that adventure is less about location and more about the intention we bring to it.
In these moments, connection comes naturally. There is no agenda, no expectation, no reason other than two people sharing a space that brings them alive. Sometimes we talk about a trail they have known for years. Sometimes it is their first time out. Sometimes the conversation reveals a deeper story about resilience, change, or how time outside, or time preparing for it, has helped them navigate something difficult. Each encounter offers a glimpse into who they are, where they have been, and what brought them into that moment.
These portraits are the one-offs, the unplanned stories that never happen the same way twice. There is something special about that. They show how the environments where we move, whether outside or inside, invite openness in ways everyday life often does not. They also help round out the larger project, offering a broader mix of activities and perspectives that help people see themselves reflected in the work. It breaks out of the expected mold of hiking-only adventure and illustrates the many ways people seek meaning through movement, nature, and community.
Together, these moments form a connecting thread running through the project, tying these spontaneous encounters into something meaningful and reminding us that every person we meet is carrying their own version of adventure.
People are the story. Make them visible.
Employees, community members, customers, they’re the ones who give your work meaning.
Gallery
Dustin
Vultures Knob, Wooster, OH | September 2025
I met Dustin at Knob Fest in Wooster OH, wandering the trail with my camera, hoping to cross paths with someone who felt like the right fit for Portraits of Adventure. Dustin found me first and I was totally stoked about his excitement. He saw the camera, lit up instantly, and within seconds was talking about a jump he had been thinking about all morning. He was not entirely sure where it was, but that did not slow him down. We cut through the woods, made a few wrong turns, and it was all worth it once we found the spot. (I now know that trail much better for next time as well) Once he saw the jump, his energy shifted. He sent it again and again with the kind of stoke you cannot fake. My adrenaline was pumping just watching him an determination to hit it just right for the photo. He could have kept going all day.
Dustin used to ride BMX and snowboard, and you can still see that background in the way he rides. Confident, playful, and willing to push himself. Mountain biking is newer for him, but he talks about it like someone who finally found the thing he did not know he was missing. Riding helped him rebuild parts of his life too. He is almost two years sober and proud of the direction he is heading. He told me straight up that he feels like he is turning his life around, and you can see that in the way he talks about the future.
This year Dustin started his own flooring company. He bought a van from a colleague and built a business out of something he is good at and is excited to grow. He is on the East Rim trail crew in CVNP now, certified, and helping build and sustain the trails. We are working to do some more photography with him and a friend at some other local trails. I’m excited to keep working with him and look forward to what unfolds.
Meeting Dustin felt like meeting someone who is choosing his life with intention. Someone who worked hard to get here and is wide open to whatever comes next.
Tracey
Daytona Beach, FL | May 2025
I first met Tracey in an elevator at the hotel, surfboard in hand. We exchanged a few easy words, just a quick, friendly moment between two people heading out into the day.
The next morning I was on the beach with my camera, taking in the salt air and the sound of the waves. I hadn’t been to the ocean in years, and standing there with my feet in the sand felt both familiar and overdue. Out on the water, a surfer caught my attention, and I made a few frames as he moved across the break.
When he came up the beach, I realized it was the same person from the elevator. Tracey is based on the Gulf side of Florida and usually surfs there, but he mentioned the Atlantic had a bit more energy that morning, so he and a few friends paddled out before the day picked up. Friendly, humble, and quick to joke, he laughed about whether I’d caught any photos of him wiping out.
We reintroduced ourselves, and I asked if I could make his portrait before he headed off to get ready for the conference. It was a short exchange, but one of those moments where connection shows up naturally, two paths crossing beside the ocean at the start of a day.
Ramiro & Juan
Daytona Beach, FL | May 2025
I headed down to Daytona Beach early one morning to catch the sunrise and photograph whatever unfolded. The beach was quiet in that way early mornings often are, a few runners moving along the boardwalk, cyclists cruising the sand, and a handful of people simply taking in the moment. Everyone seemed comfortable in their own space, familiar or not, and there was a kind of shared calm before the sun came up.
Ramiro and Juan were already out there, standing in the surf. They had been on the beach since around three in the morning after finishing a flooring job nearby. They were staying a couple blocks inland while working in the area and decided to wait out the night on the beach until sunrise. From the way they carried themselves, they seemed easygoing, grounded, and fully at ease in the moment.
At some point, one of them waved me down and asked what I was shooting. That simple curiosity opened the door to a fun, easy conversation. They told me they were from the Dallas area, taking in the ocean after a long shift, enjoying the cool air and whatever the early morning had to offer. Nothing formal, nothing orchestrated, just two good-natured guys enjoying a quiet stretch of beach before the day started.
I asked if I could make their portrait, and they agreed without hesitation. It was one of those encounters born out of simple curiosity and shared presence, the kind that happens when you’re out exploring a place and willing to talk to the people who are doing the same.
Bill
Lake Milton, OH | October 2025
Bill spent his career in software, a world built on logic, patience, and curiosity, traits that would follow him everywhere. One thing I immediately noticed was how he listens to understand fully, absorbing information like a sponge, giving me his full attention when I spoke. Bill retired semi-recently and leaned into the lifelong passion of cycling, something he’s done his entire life both on the road and mountain biking.
Generously, Bill gives back to the places he cares about. Years ago, he spent countless hours helping shape the mountain bike trail where we met several months before this and again on this day. He put in the time not out of obligation, but because he believed places like this deserve care from the people who use them. While he sticks mostly to road cycling (30 miles recently), and his Peloton at home, Bill still shows up to support local mountain bike races as a Trail Marshal. In fact, the first time we met was at a race I was photographing on this trail.
Parkinson’s affected Bill’s life slowly, in stages. Speech changes that led his boss to believe he was enjoying a cold one at lunch, his body slightly out of sync, and a slight trouble with recall. Once the diagnosis was official, he responded the only way he knew how. As Bill researched and learned, he was determined to understand exactly how to fight something that does not fight fair. That led him to Dr. Jay Alberts at the Cleveland Clinic, whose research showed how high intensity cardio can slow the progression of Parkinson’s. The science resonated immediately as Bill asked thoughtful questions, and the clinic invited him into deeper conversations because they saw the seriousness of his approach.
Cycling and spinning became his primary tools. Still, he turned outward too. He showed up for YMCA programs and Rock Steady Boxing classes, and although his own regimen needed to be more demanding, he continued to volunteer at events, and help create a welcoming space for people newly navigating their diagnosis. The generosity came naturally to him, and he often shares his own journey publicly so others might feel less alone.
At the end of our time together, I asked Bill a potentially cliche question that I might not have been ready to hear the answer to, but in many ways needed to, and feel I need to share. The hardest thing Bill deals with is something he rarely highlights. Each morning, when all of the medications have worn off from the night before, he wakes to the full weight of the disease. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, those first minutes challenge him the most. And yet every day, he picks himself up and makes the most of the opportunities in front of him.
Casey
Presque Isle State Park, PA | June 2025
Meet Casey. From the Kalamazoo area, ten years deep into kite surfing, and still stoked like it’s day one. He drives 90 minutes just to catch wind, always pushing for three sessions a week. One of the things Casey really likes about the sport is the instant bond he experiences with other kite surfers when they meet on the beach. We aligned on the idea that making the most of life and squeezing as much as you could of every opportunity each day was vital. Casey is a good spirited guy and I hope to cross paths again one day - who knows, maybe after I’ve started kite surfing myself!
Cathy & Marjorie
Cleveland Metro Parks, OH | July 2024
Cathy and Marjorie (L-R) started their morning hiking a local trail within Cleveland MetroParks. Cathy is currently training to hike the Appalachian trail and won't let anything stop her, not even her job. Fully prepared to job hunt when she returns, she's driven to hit the trail and fulfill her goals... Even if it does mean dragging her sister out for company!
Gayla
Winona, MN | July 2024
I ran into Gayla while checking out the waterfront in Winona Minnesota. She loves putting in miles on her two wheels where she lives in Madison and decided to to so here while waiting on friends to arrive. Gayla was thrilled with how bike friendly the area is as safety is always at top of mind for her.
Najla & Nihla
Hocking Hills State Park, OH | August 2025
On a summer trip to Hocking Hills, Najla and Nihla took to the trails as a way to slow down and reconnect. Both from the Columbus area, their hike was a simple relaxed trip, time set aside to be together, explore, and enjoy the forest. One born in Morocco, the other here in the U.S., but the trail gave them a shared space beyond background or routine. Hiking isn’t something they do often, yet they spoke about wanting to get outside more, discovering how even a short walk in the woods can reset perspective and deepen friendship.
Craig Parsons
Akron Skate Park, OH | June 2024
Craig Parsons, a Chemical Engineer has been skating for most all of his life, except fo the occasional break here and there for injuries and other things life throws his way. He lived for a time in California as a professional skater, today he's still a sponsored athlete rocking his own branded gear, skating it up at the local Akron Skate Park.
Elaine
Presque Isle State Park, PA | June, 2025
Elaine, a retired school nurse and lifelong teacher, stays active by volunteering at Presque Isle State Park. She leads free pontoon tours, sharing both local history and lessons on how industry has shaped the waterfront. Off the water, she works with seniors on balance and strength, and spends time kayaking with her husband. For her, teaching and giving back remain ways of staying connected; to people, to health, and to place.
After photographing Elaine and her husband, Klaus, she showed me how to Polka dance! Elaine is full of energy and says she just can’t stop moving, learning , and teaching!
Brittany & Ernie
Hocking Hills State Park, OH | August 2025
Six miles in to a nine mile hike on the Buckeye Trail, Brittany and Ernie are celebrating Earnie’s 36th birthday. Ernie, who lives with a mechanical device called and LVAD is awaiting a heart transplant, though there’s hope he may not need one as his heart continues to recover. Before his illness, just before COVID, he was an EMT. Now, the northern Michigan native spends much of his time hiking, and riding dirt bikes with his kids.
Brittany works in a hospital. Because you can’t just grab batteries off the shelf for the LVAD, she carries spares that weigh around 18lbs. She’s his partner in every sense, keeping him going and, in her words, “in line.”
They told me they love finding quiet stretches of trail away from the crowds. Ernie has visited every waterfall in Michigan, but here they traded home’s rushing water for Ohio sandstone and summer heat. They were staying in the area, checking out local adventures for several days.
Some people hike for views. Some hike for quiet. And some hike because every step feels like a gift.
Kevin
Firestone Metropark, OH | May 2025
Memorial Day at Firestone Metro Park was all blue skies, sunshine, and the irresistible scent of chicken grilling over charcoal. Kevin has experience on the grill, but has never grilled wings and ribs for over 50 loved ones! On this day, everyone was gathered to celebrate the life of his grandmother, one year after her passing. With a volleyball net waiting and more family on the way, the day was shaping up for laughter, connection, and honoring lasting memories.
It’s not just about the food, it’s about the stories, the family ties, and the moments we carry forward.
Rana
Highway 1, CA | May 2024
I visited California and just couldn't resist at least walking the beach once! While there, I came across Rana, who enjoys spending time by the water between her studies at the local university. Currently she's studying biology, and what better place to recharge than the beach!
Kevin
Summit Lake, Akron, OH | March, 2025
Kevin is a five year veteran naturalist with the Summit Metro Parks. An area native, he attended Kent State where he studied biology. I Met Kevin on a wintery afternoon during a program he created called Bird Nerds. This session was focused on diving ducks and started with a fantastic presentation put on by Kevin at the local lodge. Roughly half a dozen attendees opted in for the field portion where we spotted several of the ducks. It was a fantastic afternoon, and we look forward to more sessions, learning from Kevin and fellow naturalists!
Christa
Skydive Chicago, IL | July, 2021
Christa’s path to skydiving began far from any dropzone. Born in the small postwar town of Esen, Germany, she finished business school at sixteen and spent her early adult years figuring out who she wanted to be. After moving to the United States with her husband, she built a life in Pennsylvania and Ohio, balancing work as a nurse with the feeling that something new was waiting for her.
That new thing arrived through a hand surgeon she worked with who happened to be a skydiver. Christa was curious enough to ask about it nonstop until she finally drove to the same dropzone one Saturday and signed up for the course. Her first progression did not click, but switching to Accelerated FreeFall (AFF) opened everything up. More freefall time gave her a chance to think, breathe, and settle in. She earned her license in the early nineties during a time when most jumpers simply learned from each other. It was raw, communal, messy, and full of trust. She jumped nearly every weekend and quickly became part of the communities fabric.
Christa remembers those early days clearly. Camping on site with no water or bathrooms. Outhouses. Long nights around small fires. A sense of belonging that had nothing to do with numbers, titles, or what anyone accomplished in freefall. You showed up because you loved it. You stayed because the people felt like family.
Over time she became known far beyond her home dropzone. Christa has done nearly every job at Skydive Chicago, and today she works the flight line as a loader. She is the familiar voice in the door. The presence people gravitate toward. Christa’s personality is strong, direct, and unmistakably hers. Even though she no longer jumps, she keeps showing up because the community remains at the center of her life.
Outside the dropzone she channels that same energy into running. Marathons. Miles on miles. The same determination as her years in skydiving. She moves forward because that is the only direction she knows
For Christa, adventure has always been less about the jump and more about the people who shape the experience. She is a reminder that the most lasting part of any pursuit is the community you build inside it. And that adventure can stay with you long after landing.
Joey
Akron Skate Park, OH | June, 2024
I had been to the park a few times and saw Joey Carter skate, today he was hanging out on his bike as he told me his story, one he also shares on his youtube channel. Suffering multiple heart attacks in his early 30's, Joey loves to show others and himself that there is always room to learn, grow, and bring positivity into the world. He’s had a life before the heart attacks that included skating, and it just so happens those skates carried him through to the other side as he keeps charging.
Eric
Cleveland Metro Parks, OH | February, 2024
Even though it was muddy, Eric spent Sunday getting his steps in on the trail. Normally his wife joins him, but this weekend he solo adventured a piece of the @clevemetroparks Trails. When I asked to take his photo, Eric laughed and said “no problem, my wife is also a photographer and I pose for her a lot.”
AJ & Kristen
Deer Lick Cave, OH | February, 2024
AJ and Kristen usually hike in trails south of @clevemetroparks , but this weekend they drove north to support a family member's basketball game. The only thing they said was missing from their hike on this day was their normal four legged companion who couldn't make the trip this time.
Emily
Vultures Knob, Wooster, OH | October, 2025
“You can join us if you want,” came a voice from the table a few feet away as I boiled tortellini for dinner that night. I had arrived at Vulture’s Knob Mountain Bike Trails earlier that day with no connections, just my tent and camera. New to Ohio, I’d found the Northern Ohio Mountain Bike Series on Facebook and decided to check it out. Little did I know, that simple invitation came from a race director.
Emily was one of the first to introduce herself and invite me into the community. It was a relief, I was already anxious about meeting new people in a sport where I didn’t even have a bike. Her warm, inclusive energy reflected exactly what I would come to know about her, a quiet strength and genuine care that make people feel they belong.
Once describing herself as “shy, insecure, uncoordinated, and non-athletic,” Emily has gone through a remarkable journey of self-discovery through mountain biking, a path that showed her the person she wanted to become mattered more than the accomplishments along the way. Through deep personal struggle, transformation, and resilience, she uncovered a fire burning bright inside her, an unstoppable force fueled by compassion, self acceptance, friendship, and love, even in her darkest moments.
After years of battling dizziness, fatigue, and food allergies, a diagnosis of Lyme disease finally brought clarity. Understanding why her body felt like it was working against her offered peace of mind and renewed direction. While the awards are a highlight in her journey, Emily cherishes and soaks in the time she spends in nature that mountain biking provides.
When she’s not inspiring others through racing, Emily supports the sport at a local bike shop, shares laughter with her husband Josiah, and occasionally hints at returning to photography, a reminder that her story, like her spirit, is still unfolding.
