who is she | a reintroduction (five years later)
who knew so much could change in five years
Villa Almerico Capra in Vincenza, Italy
A quick recap of what I am doing here:
Five years ago, I launched my new website and decided to share in my first blog post how I honestly felt as I started a new chapter as a post-grad. One year later, I responded with an update on my life. I missed 2021 + 2022 and returned last year (2023) for a decade review, where I summarized everything that I had been up to since 2014. The original concept for the “who is she” posts was to pull back the curtain and let people see what was going on in my life. However, they had become letters to my future self and a little time capsule of where I am at in life. So, here I am, for a reintroduction five years later
Hello!
I am Casey Lee Cole, an environmental portrait photographer who loves to travel with my decades-old Hasselblad 500 C/M to create images. Five years after graduating from VCUarts, I started my own business, went into a wedding photography business with my sister, and began pursuing a Master of Architecture (four semesters down, two to go). Currently, I am based in Clemson, South Carolina, but I seem unable to sit still for more than a month. My first plane ride was in 2019 (after I had written the first introduction), and since then, I have visited 21 countries.
In my decade review, I left off in June 2023. Since then, I had a tough fall semester but flew to Genoa, Italy, when January rolled around for my semester abroad! While there, I traveled to f i f t e e n European countries. I saw a wide range of architecture, from Pompeii to monuments for past dictators to neo-futurists to contemporary projects. It wasn’t all about the built environment though! I went on hikes, snowboarded, scuba-dived, and visited multiple national parks across the continent.
Venice, Itlay
Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico
After my semester abroad, I had three weeks at home, and then I was off again to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. I had my first architectural internship there for a small firm, CLACLÁ. I learned so much over the summer about architectural design and a way of life that aids one’s mental and physical health. The people there may be the nicest, most welcoming people I have ever met. I am so so so grateful for that opportunity!
So, how do I feel? I feel like life is going by so fast. I cannot believe it has been five years since I launched my website (which has had many makeovers since then). I cannot believe I have been to 16 countries this year. I cannot believe I will (hopefully) graduate with my Master of Architecture in May 2025! There are so many things I am grateful for: my improving health, my family and friends, my dog, my program, and all of the opportunities that find me.
In the first who is she, I mention a complicated relationship with social media. This comes in waves. On Instagram, I share the film images I create. Sometimes, I am consistent at sharing and posting every day, and other times, I let the likes and follows get to my head. When I had a video go viral - I mean uber viral at 38 million views - I was excited that more people would see my work, but it also brought more pressure, and I spent too much energy looking at the numbers. So, I took a break.
2024 has been an absolutely crazy year for Casey. I have been traveling constantly, learning more about architecture and myself, and really feeling so truly grateful. Thank you to all of those who support me now and have been for the last five years or longer - I appreciate you!
Until next year,
Casey