Airline Pilot for The Financial Times
Photographing Chris was a quiet, heavy assignment. His home is filled with reminders of a life spent in the air — wings on the wall, logbooks, pieces of a career paused not by lack of skill, but by honesty. After Covid left him struggling with brain fog, panic attacks, and depression, Chris did what we’re told to do: he sought help. That decision ultimately grounded him.
What struck me most wasn’t anger, but resolve. Chris speaks openly about how therapy became a double-edged sword, and how a system meant to ensure safety can unintentionally silence the very people it’s meant to protect. Photographing him was about restraint — letting the space, the objects, and the pauses tell the story. It’s a reminder that behind every uniform is a human being navigating vulnerability, consequences, and the long road back.
