As a photographer, my goal is to use photography to draw the viewer in. I want to create an image that tells a story, captures a client’s vision or creatively depicts architecture, nature and still life in their most raw and honest forms.

Every day 5 a.m passes me by. While I am asleep there is a world that I am completely detached from. When I begin settling in for the evening there are countless others getting themselves ready to start their day. From bakers and farmers to gas station attendants and factory line workers, we live in a world that never truly sleeps. Productivity and services continue to be provided while many of us are asleep and dreaming. When I wake up in the morning I can, without a second thought, enjoy freshly made bread, produce picked hours earlier or even a newly paved road.

The 5 a.m. project developed out of an interest to step outside of my 9-to-5 world; to document places, people and livelihoods at — or as close as possible to — 5 a.m. The world may look very different when not congested with people and cars but that does not mean we have all settled in for sleep.

Welcome to 5 a.m.