Much of who we are is rooted in who the people of our past were. The geographical location, cultural and religious values, as well as social norms all transcend throughout generations within a family regardless of circumstance. Growing up, we learn about our ancestors through stories and feel the weight of the past in every moment spent in the present. Throughout my upbringing, most of my cultural identity was built around my Grandmother's Italian ancestry, and as the years went on, I found myself becoming more intrigued about the people and places I had heard countless stories about.

Where the River Runs Red is an exploration of both the reality and my contrasting perception of family and cultural identity through a series of portraits, landscapes, and still life. This series of photographs represent not only answers to unspoken questions about my family, faith, and understanding of identity, but provides context to the foundation of my entire life.

In 2007, my Mother and Grandmother traveled to the small town of Isola Del Liri to connect with our only living relatives still residing in the small town in Italy. Situated between the two arms of the Liri river, our family has been living here for as long as we can trace back. Although young at the time, I vividly remember the gravity of the experience for my Mother, and as time went on for me, I began to be pulled in the same direction - hoping to better understand our family's lineage and roots.

The task of connecting pieces of the familial puzzle quickly fell into place as I arrived and began to meet my only living relatives still in Italy. In Isola Del Liri, I photographed my relatives in their natural environments, reflecting the landscapes and landmarks that have become paramount to their lives. The portraits speak to a deep rooted connection to the past while maintaining the continuity of a familial bond, each facial feature a link between the past and present.

As a series of photographs, Where the River Runs Red is an attempt to understand my past, my roots, and my perceived ideas of what I consider to be my cultural identity. Connected by thousands of miles and decades of the past, the people and places in these photographs are as much a part of me as any other.

6x6 Medium Format Kodak Tri-X400 Film.