
Elizabeth's Garden
Transitions - Columbia, SC
Transitions serves men and women across the Midlands of South Carolina, helping them transition out of homelessness by stabilizing their lives, increasing their income, and securing permanent housing.

August 2025 - Videographer & Editor
What began as a simple conversation in a garden became a profound narrative of transformation. Elizabeth, a participant of the Transitions program in Columbia, SC, sat down with us to share the impact of her journey. In a beautiful moment of self-discovery during our session, she realized the garden around her was a mirror, a symbol of her own growth and resilience. This film is a testament to the fact that no story is too small and that the most impactful narratives often bloom from the quiet, day-to-day beauty of a life reclaimed.
In documentary filmmaking, the comfort of the subject is the highest priority. For this project at Transitions, we stripped back the production to the essentials to maintain an intimate atmosphere. This "lean" approach allowed for a 20-minute unscripted breakthrough about the symbolism of the garden—even if it meant I was personally tasked with holding the diffuser for the duration of the talk. It’s all part of the commitment to capturing the most authentic version of a story.
I hope this film inspires viewers to see the potential for growth in their own communities.
Shot on:
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Panasonic Lumix x5II
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Panasonic Lumix G7
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Panasonic 70-200mm f/4
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Sigma 24-205mm f/4
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Sigma 18mm f/1.8
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DJI RSC-3
