Hello, and welcome to Celium Bound Studios. First, let me introduce myself to you. I go by Celium (See-lee-um); however, that is not my legal name. I practice photography; however, professionally I have been a social worker for the past 15 years. During that time I worked as a child welfare worker with a focus in child protective services and forensic interviewing. My job was to be a witness to some of the worst crimes humans can commit on other humans. As you can imagine, the toll that took was pretty heavy on my spirit.

In February of 2024, my life took an unexpected turn. I left the field of social work (at least in the capacity of a government worker), moved from Appalachia to Minnesota, and began to focus on healing. I needed to move my life toward a place that brought me more peace. While working on healing, I began to revisit a long lost love, photography and art. Two areas of life that always brought me interest and some joy, but no one ever told me I was any good at. Sometimes you have to recognize your own talent though, before others will recognize it in you.

Since May of 2024, I have been photographing anything, and everything, on my Fuji XS-20. I have been using editing software since summer of 2024, mainly Lightroom but am always open to exploring other platforms. My art tends to lean on the hyper realistic, with rich colors, tone and texture; to the abstract and experimental with uses of multiple exposures and exaggerated contrasted and colors. For the most part, it is rooted in nature, my sanctuary. However, I also love to focus on human nature as well, and opt to shoot Street Photography often. I want to highlight the interesting, weird, and beautiful lives people lead, to hopefully show us how alike we all are, rather than our differences. I love the life, death, and the love in between, and I feel that it is the job of the photographer to show it all. What we seek on the daily, is the exploration of the world around us, and our product is sharing our discoveries with you.

It is my hope that my art work inspires people to want to get outside, and explore the world around them. We as humans can get lost in our day to day lives, stuck in our brains, and before we know it life is passing us by. I know that I have missed a lot of life worrying or stuck somewhere else. My art is about healing, attempting to be more present, and thankful for what the world has provided, even during painful times. A reminder that we are all (My)Celium Bound, destined for death and decay, and that life is blessing to be enjoyed, not worked.

Much love and healing

-Celium