I can't remember a time ever not making art in some form. My mom was a professional artist, and she surrounded us with art. I remember going to galleries, visiting studios, and looking through big books of art as a child. I was a very introverted, shy child (and still am as an adult), and I found that creating art was a way of expressing myself that really resonated with my difficulty in finding words.

As a mother myself now, I really enjoy making art with my children. Like my mom, I tend toward using what is available, finding beauty in my immediate surroundings, so we have made paintings using condiments, baked collages out of wax, leaves, and chocolate—whatever inspires.

I enjoyed doing photography over the years, but it was a few years ago that I really started taking photos every day. Grief has a way of changing our perception. I realized—startled when I realized it—that of the things that brought me the most joy in my life, photography is one of them. This wasn't my intention. I hadn't thought much of it before. Most of my focus had always been on culinary arts.

I made a conscious decision at that point to pursue photography like my life depends on it, because I realized that, in fact, it does. Passion is like that. It sometimes grabs hold of you unexpectedly. It is like falling deeply in love—you may not be looking for it or even recognize it at first, but once you realize it, a very profound, irreversible awareness occurs deep within. There is then only the choice to trust that feeling and really see where it takes you, what it is revealing to you.

My cat. My books. My Music.

I carry a camera with me almost everywhere I go. Most of my photos are not pre-planned studio shots. Most of my photos are taken when something strikes me or moves me in some way. My youngest brother recently called me late at night to talk about awe. He knows I regularly meditate and was saying, "meditation is fine, but seeking awe is what really calms our mind. It makes us more compassionate. It opens us up. Forget meditation. Go hold a baby. Go deep into nature. Put your camera down. Don't record anything. Just take it in." This is what I do most times, except that I break the rules and pick up my camera. I have felt awe at a black metal concert and at work carrying heavy boxes of eggs. Life is profound in all its forms.

I find inspiration in people - in their thoughts, what makes them laugh, what drives them, what they carry that is unique. I find inspiration in literature and poetry. I find inspiration in music and art. I find inspiration most of all from seeing, listening and feeling, being receptive.

As Jerzy Kosinski said, "I always have a sense of trembling, but so does a compass, after all."