While studying at Delhi, I had the opportunity to take a course called “Farming, Famine, and Fraud” which was an overview of American, Soviet, and Chinese agricultural development throughout the 20th century. For our final paper, I wanted to turn my attention to the African continent and so I worked on an overview of colonialism’s long running effects on African agricultural development. My findings are below. Please keep in mind I am a white, American male and thus am writing this from a place of privilege with little direct experience or interaction with African studies. All sources are peer reviewed, however I offer this only as a starting point, from having simply scratched the surface of this topic in undergraduate studies, and welcome critical discussion or response in the comments!
Read MoreAcadia National Park, as I remember it from my itty-bitty days, invokes cinematic memories, complete with nostalgic lens flares and I’m sure plenty of post production editing. I grew up in Pennsylvania, but it sometimes felt like my parents and I were only “home” between summer trips to Maine. Mom frequently counted down the weeks “‘till Lobster” when the day-to-day grind was too much to bear, and I subconsciously adopted a reverence for the northlands that followed me long into my adult life.
Read MoreWithin the past two years, I’ve tumbled down the rabbit hole of an absolute obsession with photography. Any time I’ve ended up with weekend plans other than wearing my pajamas, I’ve taken the opportunity to load my Pentax K1000 with a new film stock. It is this camera, in fact, that inspired my photography deep dive over three years ago, on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Read MoreWhen a creative project doesn’t pan out, should you still display your work? I’ve decided to and it has helped remind me how I function artistically and that creativity is a practice, not an innate ability.
Read MoreAfter trying my hand at shooting in-camera double exposures on 35mm film, I’m pleased with the results but am already thinking about what to try next time.
Read MoreMy wife and I spent a weekend backpacking in the White Mountains, simultaneously hooking us on our new hobby and reminding me why I love the outdoors. Hiking is my therapy and this trip gave me a much needed break from city living.
Read MoreOn August 1st, 2018, My Bloody Valentine, legendary members of the musical movement known as "shoegaze", performed at the Hammerstein Ballroom to a sold out crowd. The concert was fantastic and it peaked my curiosity about the effects of high volume music on the human body and mind.
Read MoreCarrying two cameras may be redundant but the advantages are great. I’ve jotted down my thoughts after bringing two SLRs on a trip to Paris.
Read MoreFrom coloring in or outside the lines to screaming a favorite Disney tune in a car seat, most of us develop a creative interest at a young age. It’s unabashed, filled with mere curiosity, and there’s no thought of critique. That comes later. This post sources stories from the careers of both Gillian Jacobs and J.K. Rowling to look at the silver linings of creative failure.
Read MoreReadings and videos about imposter syndrome and the development of the ultimate creative skill: practice.
Read MoreDr. Robert Waldinger's recent TED talk filmed in November of 2015 has been popping up all over the internet and reveals some surprisingly obvious, yet very crucial scientific findings relating personal relationships to general happiness and overall health. The "good life" is apparently, “…built with good relationships."
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