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Growing up in Philadelphia I was fortunate to be surrounded by some really great street art. It’s a window to the ideas, challenges, and expression of whatever community you’re in. Lisbon had some of the best I’ve ever seen. #Lisboa #Portugal #StreetArt (at Lisboa, Portugal)

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Day 8 • Family found • There are few people in life that you come across that love you unconditionally despite your flaws, motivate you by example, and are always there to listen. @eldiablo3806 is my clone and spiritual rock. She has been there through 3 moves abroad, running around 5 countries together, and countless late night pizzas and face masks. For my birthday she surprised me in Barcelona and joined us on a trip to Portugal to celebrate. Ellie is a self made chef, fashionista, and woman in charge. She is truly an inspiration. Here she is looking smokin’ hot by a fountain in Lisbon. To many more years of friendship and adventures ❤️ (Also I am late on these days but will still finish!) #30daysto30years #wethecreators #friends (at Alfama, Lisboa, Portugal)

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Day 17 • Cave Running • My number one bucket list item in Kuala Lumpur was Batu Caves. The Caves are nestled just outside the city and are home to spiders, monkeys, and some deities. Walking the up stairs into the Temple there are hundreds of monkeys that keep its pilgrims on alert. They are notorious for snatching bags, cameras, and anything that they can get their hands on. What this photo doesn’t capture well is the smell. Monkeys come with strong fragrance but combined with bat droppings and sweaty bodies it was a musk all its own. There are a near endless amount of stairs to climb but the views are so worth it. My favorite part of that day though we're all of my friends with me ❤️ #30daysto30years #wethecreators #Malaysia (at Batu Caves)

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28 • Shanghai leap of faith • China for me was the first time I traveled abroad to a country that had no relationship with my family. I had a longtime pen pal who had recently gotten a job there teaching english. He invited me and I told no one of who he actually was other than a “college friend”. We never met in person prior and with the help of @kellyisevil she got me a discounted standby ticket to Shanghai. I flew first class and during my flight I helped plan David Beckham’s after party digs with his manager next to me. She had attempted to assist me in getting to my destination in Shanghai as I am sure she could see the worry on my 18 year old face for the 15 hour plane ride. I declined as I was determined to figure it out myself. In High School I took Chinese for two years that my dad found in a newspaper ad at an old guys house near Hunting Park. Galvanized by my prior language knowledge and desire to really see the place I hopped into the first taxi I saw out of the airport. As the Taxi pulled away from the airport I leaned to look for the meter only to discover there was none. I was in some guys car that had fronted as a taxi service. He proceeded to offer me water that had already been opened. I declined. Then pulled over and picked up another man off of the highway that he knew. He drove me around for about 4 hours through Shanghai and dropped me off around 11pm and was out about $300. Live and learn. I originally set out for a 10 day visit but as it turns out this turned into 4 weeks as @kellyisevil had confusion with the time difference and I missed my original window back. In that month I learned the value of travel, made life long friends, and saw the place I dreamed of for so long and had the time of my life. #30daysto30years #Shanghai #wethecreators (at Yuyang Garden, Shanghai)

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Day 21 • Flying High Over The Nazca Lines • By far my biggest highlight from our time in Peru. I learned about the Nazca Lines after watching one of my favorite shows Ancient Aliens. I figured out how to get us to the remote desert town of Nazca by 10 hour bus ride from Lake Titicaca. The town was small but definitely an Oasis in the driest place on earth. To see the Nazca Lines you have to charter a small plane to fly above the ancient geoglyphs that date back some 2,000 years. They were only discovered in the 1970’s and no one really knows what they were for, but artifacts left behind there come from all over the South American Continent. Many surmise that it was a point of pilgrimage for people and others suspect it to be 👽. When it was finally our turn to board our plane everyone traveling with me had a muscle relaxer to calm their nerves as I had made mention of the numerous plane crashes that had happened before seeing the lines. I refused as I wanted to be fully aware of what was happening. Our plane that carried only 6 people was entirely full and you could feel every gust of wind hitting it. As soon as we got to a nice cruising altitude our pilot started talking of his recent previous job as a server on a cruise ship. I should have taken the muscle relaxer. Then he followed this up with stating that the lines were boring and asked if anyone wanted to do a trick in the air. I should have taken the muscle relaxer. But as we started to approach our first geoglyph the plane soon felt just like the TV show. There aren’t just a few of them but close to 1000 lines. The size and scale of them are awe inspiring and truly feel untouched. I can’t recommend this enough but unfortunately I am fairly certain it wasn’t 👽. #30daysto30years #wethecreators #Peru (at Lineas De Nazca)

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25 • Respecting Life • Camping in the Serengeti was an unforgettable experience. Waking up at dawn and staying out until dusk chasing wildlife and absorbing natures beauty. Our guides worked with cell phones having other guides letting them know where and what animals they saw. Our guides started following another group and we came upon a lioness hunting. Our loud and monstrous trucks left the lioness undeterred from her hunt. She carefully stalked her prey that revealed itself to be a small deer. The lioness lunged forward with a full audience that now encircled the scene. The grass was too high to see the chase but out she walked from the tall grass not proud but dutiful with the deer in her mouth. The cars full of people on safari started to cheer and clap and I paused. Something didn’t feel right. I looked to our driver and to our porter and they both were in tears. I turned to our porter with concern and he immediately responded without hesitation “The lionness must eat but the deer must sacrifice herself.” #30daysto30years #Tanzania #wethecreators #worldlionday (at Serengeti National Park)

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25 • Taking the local bus in Cuszco • When we went to Peru I had a long list of things I wanted to see. One of them being these terraces that collect salt from a spring on the mountainside. Getting here was an ordeal. I asked our hotel where it was and how to get there. She told me we were in luck that the local bus would drop us off there. I proudly led us to the bus which was more of a van. @johnpick @achenriqu all packed in the back with the locals and I somehow got shotgun. The van was careening through the Andes going 70mph around winding curves at dizzying elevations. Sitting in the front I was able to take in the views of the mountains totally unaware of the chaos happening behind me. A woman who fell asleep breast feeding had her child throw up onto her but then fell asleep still feeding. This statuesque moment caused the van to stink which we had to endure for three hours. We passed small village after small village hoping that we would finally make the turn to the terraces. My assumption that the bus would drop us off at the terraces was quickly proven unwise as it ended up just dropping us off on the side of the road in a small village. The initial reaction from getting dumped on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere was definitely in the WTF Gerry realm. I can’t recall exactly what we did if it was a taxi or a bystander who was sympathetic but we somehow took another ride and made it up to the terraces. It was worth the endeavor for this off the beaten path view 😍 #30daysto30years #Peru #wethecreators (at Salineras de Maras)

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Day 22 • My Biggest Fan's Birthday • My mom is my largest source of inspiration and strength having survived an earthquake, a civil war, losing her father to war, and living as a refugee. She’s received countless awards for her involvement in bettering the lives of others. My mother worked primarily in building low income housing for the underprivileged in Philadelphia; something that Rosa Parks recognized a week before her passing. She was honored by Mrs. Parks by having her name placed on the Wall of Tolerance in Montgomery, Alabama. My mom still works tirelessly in political campaigning and getting communities involved and active. She’s not only a model citizen but a model parent for teaching me to be compassionate, vocal, and to always percervere regardless of circumstance. I love you today and all days and you will forever be the best mother and person there is. #30daysto30years #wethecreators #portrait (at Clarion Alley)

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23 • Karen Hill Tribe Portraits • My second time back to Thailand I made it my mission to go to the Karen hill tribe villages. I was particularly drawn here because in some small way for me there is something relatable in being an outcast as a gay man; never quiet feeling like you fit in. The Karen hill tribe and many of the other tribes don't have a homeland and live as nomads between Myanmar and Thailand. When we finally reached the village in the mountains it was as though the people had carved out an oasis. Women stayed in the village to sell handy crafts and posed for photos while the men were out working the fields. Children start at a very early age wearing the rings around their necks that don't actually elongate the neck but rather push down the shoulders. It's done as a statement of beauty and something that is irreversible. If the rings are removed after a long time their neck cannot support the weight. It was magic to me to realize a dream but made even better by the people we met. #30daysto30years #Thailand #wethecreators (at Karen Rwammit Village Chiang Rai)

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24 • Istanbul's parks • While we were in Egypt, Arab Spring and protests were in full swing in Tharir Square. Because of the protests in Egypt our brief layover in Istanbul turned into a week. I’ll never forget the woman at the airport counter telling me, “You’re a big boy; go find a place to stay in the city.” So we did. And Istanbul easily became one of my favorite cities ever. The food, architecture, people, Istanbul really has it all. It was also during the Gezi Park protests which we also happened upon. It was a protest against turning a green space in the city into another mall. There were riot police stationed around the park with demonstrators and artists all fighting to maintain the valuable green space in the city. At first I understood the importance of fighting for green space but questioned the bloodshed involved. People were getting hurt during this protest. A little worried by what we saw we found our way back to Sultanhamet where the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia sit across from one another with a large park in between. The park at this point was packed with families on picnic blankets celebrating Ramadan and breaking fast together. I quickly learned how simple and amazing a good picnic really is and that Gezi park represented much more than just the trees.   #30daysto30years #Turkey #wethecreators (at Hagia Sophia)

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26 • Egyptian resourcefulness • I’m a sucker for a good hustle even if I know I am getting ripped off. Our time in Egypt had some of the best hustling I’ve seen. Going into the Pyramids there were carefully organized and placed guys working together to pick one off tourists to take their photos. I’m only at the pyramids once right? Going in I entertained one of these guys and he gave us the courage to pose for photos otherwise not allowed. I even got inside of the sarcofogus and laid like I was dead for him. Man tourists do some stupid stuff. Leaving and realizing we had no money to tip him definitely was a little awkward on our exit. Especially in the heat of the desert and scrunched over in a tunnel displaying our empty wallets. Later I was able to pay it forward when I encountered a kid that at first approached me speaking Chinese then Japanese then Korean and I responded in Spanish and he responded back in Spanish and then turned to John and spoke English all the while yelling at his friend in Arabic. He must have been 8. These wonders of the ancient world are captivating and awe inspiring but it’s their care takers who really shape the experience and make it memorable. #30daysto30years #Egypt #wethecreators (at The Great Pyramids Of Egypt)

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29 • Philadelphia late 90’s • I can’t fully recall how I got my first camera. I believe it was a birthday present around the time that I was 10. When I did get it though, my father always encouraged me to take photos; and not just of the mundane. On weekends he would take me with him to all of his record store haunts (a ritual he still follows every weekend to this day). This was my opportunity to take pictures along the way. Philadelphia will always be home and not for the liberty bell, the water-front, or Old City; but for the decaying victorian houses, public art, hand-painted store signs, and diverse communities. Forever grateful for this. Love you Dad. 🎶 #30daysto30years #Philadelphia #wethecreators (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

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27 • Cambodian border crossing • I am a huge art history nerd and I am always on the hunt to fulfill my mental checklist of locations that I need to see. Angkor Wat is a must see for everyone. We set off from Bangkok on a bus ride meant to be about 5 hours which later turned into 12. None of the windows opened, I got the seat with a tire beneath me, and the inside of the bus was clouded in a fog of mosquitoes. At one point our driver pulled over to roll a joint and take a breather; a luxury his passengers didn’t choose to take advantage of as the focus was just getting there. The entire time I was readily aware of the advice from my Lonely Planet book that insisted we be out of the border crossing town before 3pm. This town was a notorious hotbed for theft and criminals mostly drawn by the casino as gambling in both Thailand and Cambodia are illegal. With my luck we rolled up at 6pm. I was hoping for a speedy transfer through and was thankful we already had our visas. This didn’t stop them from charging us again. The scene was chaotic with lots of commotion crossing on foot in both directions. I’ll never forget seeing an ailing woman holding her own IV drip bag up with one arm and holding her papers in the other. An impatient Spaniard approached me that had been offered expedited service from a local to get his visa. Going against my advice, he watched his passport zoom off into the distance carried by a man on a motorbike. The Spaniard didn’t seem to make it to the group’s new bus. @johnnpick and I reached Siem Reap close to midnight with no bookings or internet and stayed at the first place we could find. A wild journey but completely worth it for the view. #30daysto30years #Cambodia #wethecreators (at Ta Prohm)

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Day 30 • Self Portrait • Today marks 30 days until my 30th Birthday. I am taking the time leading up to my birthday to reflect on some of my influences, travels, and memories that helped shape me as an photographer, artist, and person. Excited to recount old memories and dive into my photo archives to look back and open up about the journey I’ve had. ✌🏽 #30daysto30years #wethecreators #selfportrait (at San Francisco, California)

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Single file to jump head first. 🏊🏽 #france #nice #summertime (at Promenade des Anglais)

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The best relief from the heat in Morocco are the colors. #moroccotravel #travelmorocco #marrakesh (at Marrakech Museum)

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I couldn’t tell you exactly where I was when I took this photo. I had arranged a day trip to the Atlas Mountains through my Riad and a car was there to pick up me and @johnnpick in the morning. We drove for hours in the early morning from Marrakech and finally made it to a small resort village for locals that was complete with camping, waterfalls, and donkeys carrying luggage down the street. Our driver Muhammed handed us off to another Muhammed, our now guide, who quickly pointed us to a path in the woods leading up the mountain. We started hiking passing small village after small village. Neither of us knew our destination, but we knew it was going to be beautiful. At one point Muhammed took us off the main path to walking on top of a small cement aqueduct that zig zagged all the way up the mountain. Along the way we noticed that locals had broken parts of the aqueduct in order to have some of the water to feed into their farms. Muhammed would lift heavy stones into place to stop the flow of water so that the aqueduct could carry the water to its destination. I lost count of how many times he moved stones to help the flow of water. Muhammed did it with such diligence and duty it was satisfying to watch the water flow with us as we marched on. We did this for 3 hours until we finally reached Muhammed’s village and he invited us into his home where his wife and children served us a tagine. Almost immediately into breaking bread we were asked who we were voting for. We quickly learned that we shared a lot of the same principles even with the language barrier. I’ll always remember that conversation because even in the most remote mountains of North Africa the value our vote is ever present and it should never be taken for granted. #moroccotravel #travelmorocco #letsgosomewhere (at Atlas Mountains)