One of my favorite parts of being a photographer is experiencing the beauty found in other people.

Today I had the opportunity to photograph Denton Carney. I remember seeing him dance more than a year ago at a dance competition. I knew that night that I wanted to photograph him.

He is an incredible dancer.

I knew this before the shoot, but what I didn't know was that he is also an incredible human being.

I meet a lot of people through my line of work, but I can't say I have ever met someone who is so open-minded and accepting as Denton. From the beginning of the shoot till the very end, he was so open and receptive to the questions I asked.

Since I am a journalism student, I naturally bombard people with questions.

Denton's openness is incredibly encouraging. His story is beautiful and his willingness to share it is a gift to those who meet him.

My interaction with him challenges me to be a better person and to open my mind to the endless possibilities that surround me.