My 30 Photographs That Show The Reality Of Flying Economy

My journey as a photographer started about 10 years ago when I bought my first camera. I was already being reprimanded daily for drawing in class, so when a short segment about cameras was introduced in IT, the puzzle pieces just fell into place. I immediately fell in love with the art form, and the IT teacher even invited me back to give a short talk on the subject a couple of years later!

The idea for the "Mile High Club" series stemmed from growing up and living abroad, as I would always have to travel to see my family, especially during my time at university when I constantly opted for the cheapest flights available to visit my parents between semesters. Naturally, I always had my camera with me, so I started taking pictures of the process! Initially, my focus was on the security stage, as you're not supposed to take pictures of this, and I'm drawn to controversial subjects. Before I knew it, I was always taking my camera every time I flew and would even arrive early sometimes just to make the most of that flight.

The toughest part of working on the series has to be avoiding confrontation and discreetly taking pictures of passengers next to me on the same flight—especially when using a massive DSLR with a loud shutter noise. I've been caught a few times and had to awkwardly explain myself, but once people realize I'm not a terrorist, I can usually de-escalate the situation quickly. As for the part I enjoy the most, I actually like the whole experience. Once I'm at the airport, I enter a form of flow state, and time just flies by (pun intended)!

I quite like controversy; I enjoy starting conversations and making people think. I love creating something new, exploring the unknown, and pushing boundaries. My passion for photography extends beyond simply creating pretty pictures; I aim to use the medium as a gateway for addressing sensitive topics without imposing my views on the spectator.