I can honestly say that I am proud of where I come from. Drawing inspiration from my surroundings, I seek to capture truth and beauty within the real lives of those who both inspire me and keep me grounded. In this series of photos I wanted to give a snapshot of what living in the heart of America is about. In my experience, it's about community, lifelong friendships and unique individuals that never fail to give a photographer something genuine to capture.

(View Full Series)

For this shoot, we followed upland bird hunters Frank and Steve and their four-legged partners. Our main goal was to capture the relationship between the dogs and their human counterparts, accentuating a bond that is built on training, instinct and mutual respect. Once we began photographing, each subject proved to deliver a unique personality that gave us a glimpse into the steadfast friendship that is built between dog and man. A special thanks to Steve, Frank, Kate, Brownie and Blizzard for giving us a peek into their world.