“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” 

- John 17:3.

This is Life Eternal; The Story of Andrew James Marcus Petersen, through his eyes - rather, my eyes along with the stories that are at times to be told, to help you understand who I am, and aim to be. An autobiography, in sense.

Life Eternal—or TILE, as I’ve come to call it—began as a capstone project during my time at Utah Valley University. The initial collection of images, spanning 2013 to 2015, documented a specific chapter of my life. They captured moments from my time in New York City working under the late Rodney Smith, a photographer whose influence still resonates with me today, and extended into the early days of my marriage to my wife, Chloe.

As the years have passed, this project has grown into something far greater than a collegiate assignment. I’ve come to see Life Eternal as a way to document not just isolated events, but the flow of my life as a whole—moments I sought out intentionally, and others I stumbled upon unexpectedly. Each image serves as a witness to the adventures, challenges, and gifts God has given me. I believe that everyone’s life, no matter how ordinary or extraordinary it seems, is a sacred gift.

It’s worth noting that not all of the original images from the capstone project are included here. Instead, I’ve chosen a core selection of photographs that I feel have shaped me into the man I aim to be. These images act as guideposts, reflecting pivotal moments that continue to inspire and define me.

In this volume, I reflect on a broader span of time—a full decade—while still honoring the roots of this project. When you encounter images that were part of the original collection, I’ll make note of them, preserving their place in the timeline.

To truly understand where this all began, I invite you to first read the original artist statement that accompanied my capstone project. It provides insight into the vision and intent behind those early images and the foundation they laid for what Life Eternal has become.