After moving to Hawaiʻi in 2007, I became deeply captivated by the island’s volcanic landscapes and their profound role in shaping its unique landscapes. In 2017, I took my first open-door helicopter flight over the lava fields of Hawaiʻi Island. Watching molten lava surge from the depths of the earth, only to cool and form new land, left me in awe. Even more astonishing was the sight of botanical life—ʻōhiʻa trees and ferns—thriving amidst this freshly formed terrain, defying what seemed like an inhospitable world.

This resilience sparked a fascination that has, for the past 7 years, led me to making nearly 50 helicopter flights to witness the ever-evolving volcanic ecology of Hawaiʻi Island. My ongoing work reflects a deep reverence for this dynamic landscape, where creation and destruction are intertwined.

The photographic series, part of a larger body of work titled In the Beginning, merges two distinct visual narratives: sweeping aerial views of lava fields, which reveal the vastness and raw power of the land in its formative stages, and intimate botanical observations, which focus on the resilience and perseverance of life in this evolving environment. By juxtaposing these perspectives, the series highlights the interplay between the vibrant environment and the delicate aspects of nature. It offers a meditation on the delicate balance between survival and transformation, where the lines between past, present, and future blur in the primordial landscape. The images delve into the cyclical forces of destruction and renewal, posing questions about the shared dynamics that shape both nature and human existence.

In witnessing the Earth’s relentless evolution, we are prompted to ask: What responsibilities do we carry in safeguarding this fragile balance, and how can we coexist with the forces that both create and destroy?