For two weeks in autumn, I wandered the streets of New York City armed with very comfortable shoes, a Hasselblad 500cm camera and about 24 rolls of Kodak Portra 400.

There's a gorgeous rhythm to wandering the streets of New York. Ride the subway to the best stopping point, get out, take seemingly random turns... find stories. See people. Notice the tiny little moments that are mosaics of life.

If I wasn't a commercial photographer, I think I'd be a writer. There are so many stories available inside every photograph... there are too many to count. While I love created portraits and environmental shots, finding people purely and truly in their element is a special gift. I love to see the best in people... and I wish I could always catch them to tell them how beautiful they are. That their life will turn out alright. That they are seen and loved.

I've talked with lots of folks afraid of street photography... if this is you, just walk in honor. Shoot your shot, but only take photographs of a person that you'd also want to see of yourself. Be friendly. Never be so immersed in the photograph that you forget the person.

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When I get to shoot street photography, the work spills over with so much freedom in my commercial work. I think people are hungry to see real moments, real life and real people everywhere. As those of us who work in art that's made visible through advertising, we get to create whole worlds.

But if you're out of touch with the world, the mini stories, the triumphs and hopes of humanity... you can't reflect the best back. But when you know people... stories flow. And it's authentic.

When creativity feels slow, I take to the streets. Whether its in Nashville, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens... Bushwick... or even on the other side of the world, I always find some kind of new world that can be created and told.

People are really really wonderful. They deserve to be honored and seen.

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