Introducing my Portraits Gallery with a dear friend, Tato. I met Tato in Puerto Rico in the summer of 2017. His story and this specific portrait became the catalyst of my photographic journey.
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The best portraits are the ones that include a conversation before, during or after the shot. Whether my subject and I are already acquainted or meet for the first time in that moment, my camera better captures a glimpse of who they are when we get to know each other first.
Libaniel. My husband's uncle. Every time we go to Colombia, he shows us around his beautiful and lush coffee plantations with pride and joy.
La Habana, Cuba. He stopped in his tracks and looked at my camera as I held it on my side. I brought the camera up and gestured for a shot, he nodded and continued to stand still until I was done. A wordless encounter that spoke volumes.
Rainbow Mountain - Cusco, Peru. My husband's horse guide. As my husband and I struggled to breathe in such high altitude, we were thankful for him and his partner for leading the way.
Pereira, Colombia
Jackson Heights, Queens, NYC. She walked up to ask if I could fill out a survey. We got to talking about our love for Queens commonality, and then the portrait naturally happened.
Kambua. Photographer friend in Oaxaca, Mexico during our trip with The Giving Lens.
Tayrona, Colombia. I observed how this toddler played in the sand with sticks and branches for many minutes before his mom called him to have lunch. He was then pretty upset at having to stop his very fun game. It was beautiful to see how he entertained himself with no screen in his hand, but just nature.
San Andres, Colombia. He saw me walking around with my camera, ran up to me and posed with his dog!
Little Andean Princess in Cusco, Peru
Cusco, Peru
Tato showing us his new piglets in Puerto rico. 2020.
Leyder. Street vendor in Playa Blanca, Cartagena, Colombia.
Mahdu. Monk that we met in Cathedral Rock in Sedona Arizona. Madhu played his guitar and sang in Sanskrit while we listened in awe.
National strike in Pereira, Colombia. He pointed to his shirt, as if knowing I was American, and stood still for the shot.
Hat maker in Oaxaca, Mexico. I purchased a beautiful hat made by him.
Little sisters in Cusco, Peru. I took sheets of stickers to Cusco, Peru in an attempt to give them out to children street vendors, instead of buying candies every time I was stopped by one. These little sisters took two sheets each saying they needed more for their other siblings.
Proud grandfather showing off his grandson. Oaxca, Mexico
Arequipa, Peru
A special mention for nurse Alexis.
She was our guardian angel while my dad was hospitalized in April 2020 with Covid-19. Even when he was in ICU and no longer in her unit, we would still have our 3 pm 'phone dates' as she called it, everyday where she detailed and explained everything that was already said to me by ICU doctors. Her voice was comforting and gave me hope. She took me by the hand to see him for the last time before he passed away, because I needed her there with me. And when my dad took his last breath without his family by his side, I felt gratitude that she was around when we couldn't.
Thank you nurse Alexis. You are loved.
