In the summer of 2021, amid a surge of interest in "the metaverse," I embarked on a journey to document emerging virtual worlds from within. Across a multiverse of persistent virtual worlds, from blockchain-based voxel landscapes to immersive VR environments, I searched for ways to bridge the gap between traditional photojournalism and emerging digital narratives. By October, I had convinced National Geographic to fund my exploration as an assignment for the magazine.

Photographing in virtual spaces demanded a fundamental reconsideration of the photographic act itself. While the manipulation of light, framing of moments, and the photographer's presence remained crucial, these elements were now governed by the unique physics (code-defined limitations) of each digital world. The concept of the 'decisive moment' took on new meaning as I found myself collaborating with other users and the environment in ways impossible in physical reality. This required developing a new instinct for timing and interaction, attuned to the rhythms and social dynamics of each virtual space. The project also necessitated a reevaluation of photographic ethics in digital spaces, where questions of consent, privacy, and representation took on new dimensions. Ultimately, this journey became an act of translation and transformation, challenging me to preserve the core tenets of photographic seeing and storytelling while embracing the unique affordances and limitations of virtual environments.