Photographs are stories told in light.
I am a San Francisco-based photographer, fascinated by the faces I see all around me as well as the natural beauty of my city.
I especially enjoy making environmental portraits. These are photographs of people in their natural setting.
I have been snapping photos since high school. Some even nick-named me the Ametralladora (machine gun in Spanish.) I felt a need to hold on to people and places via snapshots.
As a retired nurse and teacher, I have listened to people's stories for about 40 years. Working for the school district, I listened to stories and had to figure out what was at the heart of the student’s issue and how I could intervene as quickly as possible so he or she could return to class. My goal was to find “the kernel of truth” in the story. Often, simply reflecting this truth back was all the student needed.
As I approach 70 years old, I am slowing down and am more interested in remembering moments than in recording entire events.
A good photograph captures the kernel of truth of a moment. This is what I strive to do. Reflecting that moment back to the viewer of a good photo should touch an emotional nerve.
Roaming the city and beautiful countryside around San Francisco, meeting people or simply observing has brought me so many moments. My goal is to photograph them and share them with others.