Modest by Nature is a photo essay I've been working on for about a year now. It explores the sexuality of everyday people through my photos and their own words.

The purpose of this project is to start a conversation, whether that be between a group of people, a pair of people, or even between a person's conscious and subconscious thoughts.

The name "Modest by Nature" is a reference to a translation of an 1890 book called Un Viaggio a Nias (A Voyage to Nias) by Italian anthropologist Elio Modigliani. In it, Modigliani describes the mostly nude, headhunting, tribal people of the Indonesian island of Nias to be "modesto per natura," or modest by nature.

When someone approaches me about participating in my project, we first speak online about their background. From there we set up a time to meet in person. We have a tape-recorded talk about past experiences, present mindsets, and everything in between. I don't push anyone to talk about anything they're not comfortable with. After the interview, we have a very low-key photo shoot. You can see my style and approach to the photographs in my gallery. I strive to keep the photographs simple in order to keep them as accessible as possible to my audience.

I usually shoot out of my loft. Generally speaking, I only use available light. Because these photographs are to be published, I require a signed release, for which I am able to provide a twenty dollar stipend.

I am planning a two-pronged publication strategy. The full version will be published conventionally, in a simple format, with each person's full-size photo on the left page and the transcription of their testimony on the right page. I was initially concerned that this format would make the final product cost-prohibitive for many of my potential readers. For this reason, I also plan on releasing an eBook version with a pay-what-you-can price tag a la Girl Talk.

While I wouldn't even consider myself to be halfway done, I've already met so many incredible people. If you'd like to be among them, please send me a private message.

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