Physically Strong, Mentally Awake, and Morally Straight, 2022, 11 x 11"

Everyday Carry (EDC) is a collection of useful items that are consistently carried on person every day. This once niche sub-culture has transcended its survivalist roots (via social media and the aestheticization of everything) to become a fully developed hobby where deep fried HDR photos have given way to slick lighting and drop shadows. The journey from amateur prepper to serious photographer is evidenced through a new found appreciation of surface finish, design language, and material choices. These qualities are part of a complex cost benefit analysis designed to maximize utility and preparedness. And while the demand for loose screws outweighs the supply, EDC (no longer the domain of LARPers and “strong men preparing for hard times”) continues to grow and perpetuate a broader tactical aesthetic born out of the GWOT.