My motivation behind every shot I take is to tell a story, especially when it's a story worth being told. This image was shot at a peace rally in my hometown, Columbia Missouri. I can't explain to you what the connection in my mind goes through while I'm taking a photograph, but I can say that the ultimate goal for me is to create a captivating image while allowing personal expression to flow throughout the picture. The more outside the box and unseen the shot is, the better it is going to be. I always strive to do that.

I have always been a very strong promoter of peace. I oppose violence of all kind, especially extreme poverty, which Gandhi labeled "the worst kind of violence." I thought of how I could make a difference, and I've always wanted to go all over the world to bring back pictures of the afflicted, but I began to think of what I could do in my own community and getting out there and making pictures is the best thing I can do. I put the two together--I was just like "Let's do it."