"20/20" is a series of photographs that deals with bringing into focus the issues of stereotypes, perceptions, and the misconceptions of strangers. By exploring the uncomfortable unfamiliar world of marksmen and shooters, we find that there is more to the story of an individual than the superficial levels we tend to visualize at. Gun hobbyists are often ostracized in the public eye and subject to negative perceptions from the media, which together result in large misunderstandings of the community. By intentionally taking portraits of these shooters devoid of a context, the experience of meeting a person without any former clues to validate personal assumptions is reproduced. It is this exposure to a stranger that incorrect assumptions surface and can then be challenged and tested.
All together, this collection of individuals represents an unique and unlikely cross section of the population-at-large which would not have otherwise existed were it not for this one shared passion: a passion for firearms.
Photographs were taken at Westside Rifle & Pistol Range in New York City.
