My Sanctuary
Hawaii is the place where I rekindled my love for photography. During this time, I couldn’t drive and rarely left my country home. I spent almost every day outside in the backyard from the ages of 19 to 21 taking photographs.
“Found this little guy hiding in the ti leaves on the front porch. He was very patient with me and allowed me to take this photo! The aperture was wide open to capture this very soft blur effect.”
“Ever since I was a kid I loved dew drops. It was an early, brisk morning, and this leaf immediately caught my attention. So many perfect little drops!”
“I love how somber this image feels. The way the flower looks faded and slightly drooping, the limited color palette, and the ever-so-slight muddiness. ”
“Boredom can turn into the ultimate form of creativity. I took over 100 photos of this flower, trying out different camera movements and setting combinations. This image really stood out to me.”
“This is actually a tiny weed called “porterweed” that grows along fence lines in overgrown areas. I just love capturing the intimate details of ordinary and often overlooked subjects. ”
“Where I live rains almost every day, so it’s quite uncommon to see bees. I just love the soft pastel background and the slightly wilting gardenia, and again limited color palette!”
“I truly believe each animal has a unique personality. The eyes exude an undeniable intelligence and tranquil gaze.”
“This was one of my favorite flowers from the backyard. It grows like a weed in the fields of Hawaii. The day I took this image was very dark and moody. I believe I was able to accurately capture that feeling. ”
“This image is everything to me. The lighting, the minimalist composition, and the fiery magenta! ”
Actually Leaving the House
I gradually became less inspired by the backyard and started taking my camera out more often. I found it quite challenging at first to photograph in new locations, as it was way out of my element. This time really helped me grow as a wildlife photographer and greatly pushed me out of my comfort zone.
“Java sparrows are an introduced species to Hawaii and are quite prolific. I still find them gorgeous and get excited every time I see them. ”
“This image was taken from Kapiolani Park in Honolulu which was a short walk from where I lived at the time. Kolea migrates all the way from Alaska for part of the year. ”
“This image was taken of the iconic Goat Rock Beach during pupping season. It’s a protected area so all the marks in the sand are made from the seals with no human disturbance.”
“On this day, I was in search of burrowing owls. We hiked till dusk and saw nothing. It was getting dark, and on the way back to the parking lot, I saw red-winged blackbirds singing their last songs of the evening. I love the silver tones I was able to capture with this image. ”
“I will never forget this day. To be in the presence of a Pueo is supernatural. She was very stoic and confident while hunting on the side of the highway, unbothered by the traffic noise. ”
“Point Reyes is my absolute favorite place to see wildlife. As we were driving to Chimney Rock, we stumbled upon this beautiful, older-looking coyote from the side of the road. ”
“This photo was taken Dec 26th, 2024 in Volcano National Park. The Halemaʻumaʻu Crater is in the background. The lava had stopped flowing that morning. I remember as I was leaving, I heard an ominous rumbling sound. ”
“After a full day searching for wildlife in Point Reyes we decided to stop near the lighthouse for sunset. The light was beautiful that day.”
“These little troublemakers have become quite the problem in Honolulu. Despite their negative impact, they are very entertaining to observe. ”
South America
In July of 2025, I spontaneously decided to move to Mindo, Ecuador, for 3 months alone to pursue photography full-time. Those 3 months quickly turned into 6 and counting. I traveled through Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Bolivia where my heart currently resides. Though photography was my original intent for visiting South America, I never could have predicted the crazy life experiences, opportunities, and family I would find here.
“I had made friends with my Uber driver in Ecuador and he had planned a multi-day excursion to find wildlife. As we were driving to one of the locations our guide noticed an owl! ”
“I was staying on the island of San Cristobal, Galapagos, which seems to have more seals than people! I absolutely loved observing all of their quircky personalities”
“I was able to visit an island in the Galapagos with nesting frigate birds. It was amazing to be so close without disturbing their natural behaviors.”
“I was able to witness the beautiful Ecuadorian Hillstar with my Uber driver friend in the Andean region of Ecuador.”
“I saw this cute little guy jumping through the dense foliage during one of my walks through the forest in Mindo, Ecuador.”
“I had gone hiking alone in the late afternoon and soon realized it was getting too dark for comfort. I started heading back down the trail system and could barely see the path. Suddenly, something swooped in front of me and landed in a tree. All I could see was a silhouette. My camera was able to capture more detail.”
“I was fortunate enough to visit a tortoise sanctuary on the island of San Cristobal, Galapagos. ”
“This toucan was right outside my lodge in Mindo. He was trying to steal eggs from a bird’s nest above. ”
“I observed this woodpecker in the first week of my trip to Mindo. I remember it being eerily quiet, and from the corner of my eye saw a flash of red that was jumping from tree to tree. ”