Sea, Sand and Sun

I recently came back from a quick getaway to Jamaica! I had never been to the Caribbean before and so I was excited to finally be able to take a trip to that part of the world. My grandparents escaped Cuba when my mom was a child and I grew up hearing stories from them about what it's like living on an island. The water is crystal clear and the sand is as white as snow. Being in Jamaica reminded me of those stories and of the memories I cherish of my grandparents. I thought about them the entire time I was there and felt close to them even though they've passed away now. I hope one day I can go to Cuba and visit all the places they told me about growing up. Until then, I've got these images to remind me of the beauty island life has to offer.

This trip, I tried to pack light since it wasn't a long vacation. I decided not to take my regular DSLR with me and just use my iPhone 6 to capture any shots I wanted. I was a little nervous because I never go anywhere without my gear, but I'm surprised at how well the iPhone's camera worked! It was great to be able to capture images and edit them on the same device and it was pretty easy to find some great camera apps to try out. I don't think I'll ever stop carrying a camera around, but it was a nice alternative to the regular gear I take with me.

Going on a Bear Hunt

I've been trying to stay healthy a lot more recently because most of my work requires me to just sit behind a computer all day. I try and take advantage of the recently good weather by doing outdoor activities in the spring and summer time, so I've taken up hiking! There are a ton of places to hike wherever you go, but recently I've been trying to walk some trails whenever I'm traveling too. It allows for a great moment to disconnect from the craziness that sometimes comes with my day job and just focus on the natural surroundings around me. These photos are from a recent trip near Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

Spring is in the air!

I was lucky enough to have Aisha and Omar entrust me with shooting their maternity photos. It was a first time for me and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. Both Aisha and Omar were so calm and collected during a very busy day at the Library of Congress. Aisha's grace was so captivating that I somehow forgot we were in a huge building filled with people. It was such a pleasure to get to know them and capture this special moment. I wish them the best of luck on their new adventure this year!

The Flower Fields

Last year I had the opportunity to visit the annual Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California. The Flower Fields are about 50 acres full of colorful giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers. The Ranunculus flower is also known as the Persian Buttercup and is native to Asia. The Flower Fields on Carlsbad Ranch bloom once a year for about six to eight weeks and are open to the public. Carlsbad Ranch overlooks the Pacific Ocean and in addition to the fields, has a wonderful Orchid nursery and a sweet pea maze! I had such a wonderful time enjoying the view and capturing the colorful details of the flowers.