Both of my parents are professional musicians, so the arts are -- as my mom puts it -- in my blood.
Being diagnosed as hard-of-hearing meant my DNA as a musician was in question. For years, I spent hours every week perfecting my musical expression. I’m a Jazz trumpet player. Jazz, as a free form of expression, is the music of protest. Every note I hear myself play is an outward protest on my disability.
But living with hearing loss means I’m always questioning whether my audible experience is real. Audible FOMO has driven my curiosity for what I don’t know. Not just what I hear, but what I see, think, and understand. My hearing loss has helped me realize that everyone experiences our world differently. I’ve found myself turning to photography as a tool to seek out other stories different than my own.
This curiosity has led me to pursue a degree in Photojournalism at Rochester Institute of Technology, where I graduated in May of 2023.
Bylines include The Washington Post, Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Post & Courier, Courier & Press, The Laconia Daily Sun, among others.
Staff Photographer / Reporter for The Laconia Daily Sun
Contact me here:
+1 (570)-337-1012
daniel@laconiadailysun.com
Photo Credit: Michaela Mueller