In 2009, after a decade of magazine work, I decided to purchase a 4x5 field camera, similar to the one used by Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, etc. I loved shooting large format in college, but never had the money for one. So, after saving for a bit, I found one, bought it, picked up a lens, a few film holders and a box of film, and suddenly, I was in business. The hustle and bustle of the world of digital photography had been wearing on me. I felt like I had turned into a "spray and pray" photographer; just shoot a bunch of frames, and one of them is bound to work out. I didn't feel that I was thinking enough, or slowing down to focus on the details.
My life was about to take a huge turn. My wife and I were expecting our first child. I was tired of the magazine life, and wanted to do more with my photography, so I just up and quit the magazine I was working for, wife eight months pregnant. I started grinding away, getting advertising work, and doing what I wanted to do, for a change. Within a month, or so, I had lined up work with Under Armour, Airwalk and The North Face. I had also photographed a feature for ESPN (below), all in black and white with my large format system, which received great reviews.