V.S.: Tema, thank you for your admiration and support. This sentiment is mutual. Where do I be- gin? I've been most grateful to the people who have believed in me more than I have. Several years ago, when I'd experienced a profound loss and was reel- ing in its aftermath, I questioned my resolve to be a photographer. María Millán, a fellow photographer and friend, put the camera back in my hands. This I will never forget. The artist David Deutsch has been a longtime mentor and has taught me the meaning of commitment and work ethic. And my close friend, writer and educator Maria Jerskey, has pushed me in profound ways personally and professionally. There's a wonderful story that when I was applying to graduate school, she refused to read over my application essays unless I applied to Yale. We fought, she won, I cried. But I also ended up getting my MFA from Yale, where I met photographer friends I'm still close to; they engage me in talks about the state of photography and are there for me every step of the way. I think we encourage and challenge each other. And keep each other questioning.

Tema Stauffer