About me

Making pictures is fun. 

Making pictures that move you is an art.

It takes composition, understanding of how light affects the subject and an eye to see the finished image through the camera lens.

However; the most important element in the process of creating memorable pictures is working with a photographer that is passionate about the art and takes time to listen to its clients to get a clear understanding of what they want the image to accomplish.

My first introduction to the art of photography was in high school in Puerto Piritu, Venezuela where I attended Liceo Militar Anzoategui.  One of the faculty, Colonel Martinez, loved photography and created a small photography club.  We  met once a week to go over the fundamentals of capturing an image and the developing process.  We did not have very much to work with as far as equipment went; but we had tons of interest and curiosity about making pictures.  That love for the craft stayed with me through the years. Every time I could, I would be taking pictures.  In college I took 2 years of photography as electives.  I  was putting twice as much time on the dark room as I was putting on my business and marketing classes. I eventually had to put photography on hold so I could complete my business and marketing education.  Photography through the years was a hobby.  After close to 20 years of working in corporate America, in advertising sales and new media, I decided to start my own business and pursue photography as a profession.   I  have relied on two great organizations to help learn the business and expand my knowledge of photography: ASMP and PPA.  I have also had the privilege to work and learn from several passionate photographers. The knowledge and encouragement I have received from these groups have helped me get to where I am today.

Bio

I was born in Caracas, Venezuela on March 15, 1962.  I lived in the East part of Caracas in El Cafetal neighborhood with my father Luis, my mother Ana, my younger sister Luisiana and younger brother Victor.  At the age of 12, I  attended a 5 year military boarding school, Liceo Militar Anzoategui, located on the Eastern coast of Venezuela in the town of Puerto Piritu.  Puerto Piritu is located at about 120 KM West of the city of Puerto La Cruz.  After high school, I moved back to Caracas and attended the Venezuelan Catholic University.  After 1 year of trying to understand calculus and chemistry, I decided to quit Industrial Engineering school.  I wanted to do something more creative.  I had a good friend that was working for an ad agency and invited me to visit the company where she worked at. After  talking with several ad people , I was hooked. I looked into pursuing a career in marketing and advertising.  I found out that the Venezuelan government was offering scholarships for people interested in pursuing an education in this field in the US. I went through the application process and was accepted.  I went to school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  I attended Coe College where I learned English and then Kirkwood Community College where I earned an AA degree in pre business.  I then attended the University of Northern Iowa where I earned a BA in Marketing and an MBA degree.  After completing my university education, I moved back to Venezuela where I worked  for the American Express card company as the supervisor of the marketing department.  After two years in Caracas not being able to have enough income to see ends meet, my wife and I decided to move back to the US.  I went to work for the Des Moines Register in Des Moines, Iowa.  I worked in the advertising department selling and designing ads for local and national businesses. That was the beginning of a 20 years career with newspapers. In 1997, I moved to Yakima, Washington where I worked for the Seattle Times Co owned newspaper the Yakima Herald Republic as the New Product Development manager. I was responsible for developing and implementing new products.  In 1998 I was awarded a Newspaper Association of America New Media fellowship. That gave me a great introduction into the new media world.  I learned a great deal from the fellowship.  Through the experience gained during the year-long program, I was able to create a team that developed the Yakima Herald Republic first webs site.  After three years in Yakima, I was promoted to online sales manager for the Seattle Times.  We enjoyed  living in Washington; but after 6 years my wife and I decided to move to Phoenix to be closer to family.  I ended up  working for the Arizona Republic internet group as the Sales Operations manager for close to 4 years.  After 20 years  of corporate life,  I decided to follow my passion and decided to take the plunge to pursue photography as a profession.