Covering Hurricane Ian was a whirlwind experience, and as always, I made sure to have my camera by my side. The relentless storm kept me on my toes, but in the brief moments between breaking news calls and chaotic updates, I found a chance to breathe and look around.

I met people whose stories needed to be told, not just for the news but for the human side of the disaster. I would approach them, listen to their experiences, and then—without hesitation—capture their faces, their emotions, the impact the storm had on their lives. The camera became my way of connecting with them, of preserving their resilience and strength.

Those quiet, personal interactions, in the midst of such a destructive force, reminded me of the power of photography. Not just to report, but to tell stories that go beyond the headlines, stories that live in the images I took.