About Me

I love photography. I love life and the world around me. For that reason, I spend hours every day with a camera taking photos and learning the art-science of capturing moments.

My love for photography comes from my artistic side, which I inherited from my Mother. When we were growing up she had a camera (I don’t know the brand name) that took beautiful black and white photos. I still remember her struggling to get the perfect combination of light, focal points, and composition. Those photos are part of my memory of my family, my city, and my house when I was a child, and I will always treasure them.

Then, my best friend at Law School had the soul and the skill of a photographer, and he took amazing photos. One day he came to my house and offered to take a photo of me, each of my brothers and sister, and my parents. He framed them and gave them to my Mother as a present. Until the day I left my house to get married, those photos were hanging in the stairs going up to our rooms. I still have them!

My first “serious” camera was a Sony, which was with me for a long time. Then, I upgraded to a Kodak Advantix C-400 (which I still have) that allowed me to take panoramic (I had a lot of fun with it). Then, I bought my first digital camera, a Sony Cyber-shot 5.0 mega pixels, with a memory stick. What an amazing discovery! Together with the camera, I had the first software that allowed me to enter into a digital dark room to play with my photos. At that time, I was convinced I was doing a decent job as a photographer, but, as I see the photos today I realize how much I had to learn, starting with having the proper equipment, understanding how the equipment works as it relates to the basic principles of art (light, composition, focus), and then releasing my creativity (and not the other way around). I have since learned that taking a photo of a beautiful tree is not as simple as standing in front of it and taking the photo. I have learned, like my Mother before me, that light is the magic ingredient of any photo, and composition is what makes us go back again to the photo, over and over. And I have learned the importance of finalizing the photo as close as possible to the way it was originally taken, with limited (but effective) digital dark room manipulation.

In 2008 I purchased a Canon Rebel XT, and started my collection of lenses and filters. My self-education as a photographer, commenced with studying basic material about the art and science of photography. I have not met anyone that could approach a photo without having a good fundamental knowledge of what would happen when we “click” the camera.

Then, in 2010, I felt confident enough to invest in a Canon 7D, and install Photoshop in my computer. Then, I upgraded to a Canon EOS 5 Mark III, and later a Canon EOS 5 Mark IV. I also use a FujiFilm XT-10 (Mirrorless), and now I also have Lightroom. I am constantly refreshing my knowledge of the Camera and the art of Photography, through books, magazines, and online classes.

I am a photographer. I like very much what I can accomplish with the tools and knowledge I have acquired as of today. I know that with every photo I take, I learn something new, I feel more confident about what I am doing. I am open to the advise of other photographers that have done this for a long time, and I always pay close attention to the photos that say something to my spirit, no mater where I find them.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I do.

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My Dogs

Everything started the day I saw my neighbors’ Maltese dog, Charlie, sometime in 2003. I immediately felt in love with the face, the size, the spirit of this breed of dogs. Lucky for me, by husband (who is a certified dog-trainer, among other things, and a close follower of Cesar Millan), agreed. We first purchased Joy-Si (a.k.a “Joey”) from a breeder in West Virginia. Joey was a pure-blood Maltese, coming from a long line that is impossible to follow. Joey was an American Kennel Club Champion, and he would have followed his career as a champion except that we would have missed him too much. Joey was born in November 2003.

Then, we purchased Midnight Cherokee (a.k.a “Cherokee”)

Cherokee was born on May 5, 2004, in Lake Cherokee, Texas, and she was also a pure-blood with an impressive lineage. The original idea was to name her “Jackie” but we felt in love with her original name. When we decided to keep her name, we also decided that from that moment on her offspring was going to be named in honor of a Native American tribe (whose History I constantly study). Cherokee was, as Joey was, an American Kennel Club Champion.

Our original idea was to have only two dogs. However, as Cherokee got pregnant (twice), we were not able to sell all of her puppies. We were always particular as to the family that was going to have one of our puppies. I guess, this made the entire process more difficult. After Cherokee’s second pregnancy, we had her fixed, as well as Joey and the rest of the puppies.

Cherokee’s puppies are:

Comanche Warrior. Born in April 2006; Navajo Dreamer. Born in April 2006. He lives with us; Cheyenne Grace. Born in November 2006. She lives with us; Inca King (a.k.a. “Angus”). Born in November 2006; Maya Queen (a.k.a. “Mia”). Born in November 2006; Lakota Dancer. Born in November 2006. Died on June 2, 2013.

Our dogs are our family, and for all intended purposes, they are loved like human beings.

On June 2, 2013 we lost Lakota Dancer. On July 9, 2013 we lost Joey. On May 15, 2018 we lost Cherokee. They were our companions in this journey called Life. Their spirit will live forever. We are convinced they will be waiting for us after we leave this earth.

On December 2013 we got a new puppy, named in honor of an Apache peacemaker: Cochise. He is now a full member of the pack, and his spirit has taken us (the entire pack) to levels never thought before.

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The Texas Hill Country

I live in the Texas Hill Country, right in front of Lake Buchanan. I am grateful to God that I can say this is home. I live here with my husband of more than 28 years, and my four dogs (Midnight Cherokee, Navajo Dreamer, Cheyenne Grace, and Cochise).

If you want to have a general idea of what is the history and present of the Texas Hill Country (with its heavy and colorful German origin, serious Cowboy / Cowgirl culture, and TexMex flavor) , I recommend that you buy a magazine called “Texas Hill Country”. Also, Victory Publishing Co publishes a quarterly free magazine called “101 Fun” dedicated to the Highland Lakes (Lake Buchanan is the first of the highland lakes). We constantly refer to both magazines for information on things to do around the area. And there is always something to do!

If you want to come and visit, there are two good ways: Go to Austin or the San Antonio, and then drive on a loop that will take you all the way to Salado on the Eastern side, to Brownwood and Comanche on the Northern side, and to Uvalde on the Western side. In the middle you will find a system of man-made Lakes created in the 1930’s to control the Colorado (lower) River. Lake Buchanan is the first one of those Lakes.

I can say that the area is rich in its history, diversity, taste, and views. We have wineries, Spas, cactuses, and bald eagles. And we have lakes and hills! Almost every weekend there is a festival, a gathering, a celebration of something. And there is wonderful food! As an inhabitant of the Texas Hill Country, I can only say: come to visit! (or to stay!)

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Equipment and Software

Equipment is, for me, the Science part of the world of Photography. I think this is a great time, technologically speaking, for anyone wanting to jump into this world and start spending money in hardware. There are so many options available in the market, at so many price-ranges, that it is almost impossible not to find something that accommodates pretty much everyone’s budget.

Having said this, Photography is not a cheap hobby (or profession). If you want the best, be ready to spend a lot of money. If you want to work within a limited budget, be ready to spend even more money as your increased knowledge demands that you upgrade to a more expensive tool. The fact is that everything related to the technology associated with photography is expensive. But, worth it!

When negotiating the fees for a photographer to take your wedding pictures, or to take photos for an advertisement piece, you must take into consideration the up-front investment in equipment this photographer already paid for in order for you to have amazing photos. I am not a professional photographer, yet; however, I am very much aware of this reality.

I strongly recommend that before you start purchasing expensive equipment, get in touch with a reputable camera shop or person that can point you in the right direction. I was lucky to have the team of Houston Camera Exchange in Houston, Texas helping me the moment I decided I was ready to spend serious money. Today I rely on the team from Precision Camera in Austin. Yes, you can also do it yourself by reading specialized magazines that will evaluate and provide recommendations on which lens, camera, tripod, filter, is the best in the market. However, in my experience, nothing replaces a good and meaningful conversation with a knowledgeable person.

I am still building my tool box. As technology changes (so fast!), you will find it difficult not to follow the urge to continue upgrading your equipment.

As to software (my black room), I have Photoshop CS6 and Lightroom installed in my computer and I have an Epson Sure Color P600 printer. That is sufficient, for the time being, to manipulate and print my photos enough to render what I originally had in mind when I took them.

My Dogs

The Texas Hill Country

Equipment and Software