plastics and how to recycle them (npr)
Plastics
Why is recycling so complicated? For a series of stories with NPR, I worked with a small team to create a visual guide to some of the most common plastics found in the grocery store to better explain why the shape, design and size of many plastics affect their recyclability.
I photographed each plastic portrait to show the abundant, messy and diverse world of plastics in each category. To see more about the project, visit the full interactive here.
blue(berry) planet
the origin story of the blueberry
This is a part of an independent project imagining the galactic origins of blueberries. All images were made in-camera, and in a tank using blueberries, water and ink.
grapefruit + salt (npr)
A quick history of grapefruit and salt
Why do Americans eat grapefruit with salt? Turns out, the history goes back to World War I. And there’s also chemistry at play.
I collaborated with illustrator Joy Ho on these images, showing historical moments of how many Americans came to enjoy salt on grapefruit. We planned each image, I shot in the studio, and then Joy animated over each one.
Joy and I wrote up this NPR Illustration Tumblr post showing our process behind the images.
awkward dandelions
Awkward phases: humans go through them and so do weeds. This was a self-initiated project on the weird but wonderful way dandelions transition into the final phase of their blooming periods. All shot in the studio.
ultra-processed foods + healthy swaps (npr)
UPFs and kids
Ultra-processed foods now make up nearly 70% of kids’ diets. However, they shouldn’t all be vilified and there are healthier UPF options,
The emphasis on kids’ diets became the conceptual backbone of these images, inspired by a 1990’s yearbook aesthetic and memories of my own Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper.
NPR published two features: one on health risks of UPFs and one on how to swap your kids’ foods with healthier options.
MISOPHONIA: intolerance of sounds (NPR)
When Life’s Noises Drive You Mad
This was a quick feature on the strange condition known as misophonia — when noises like chewing, slurping, tapping or crinkling cause people to experience intense rage or panic. I photographed these in the studio at NPR with the participation of some of my willing colleagues. The color channels were separated in post.
Read the full story here.