Category Archives: Main
Spruce Knob
At 4,863 feet, Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia.
Summer Storms
I sat out on the porch at 2 a.m. with my Dad and watched a wicked light show. Though there were some bolts like the few I was able to capture, it was more of the entire sky just flashing with light. Continue reading Summer Storms
Wild and Wonderful
There are a slew of West Virginia posts coming your way, but before this “series” gets underway, I thought I’d explain to you, dear reader, how this all came about. Continue reading Wild and Wonderful
Out for a stroll
I have so many pictures to post, from wild and wonderful West Virginia to pride in the streets of Santiago. But in the midst of those hundreds of photos, I randomly shot and had to share this gem: Two little old ladies strolling down Miguel Claro in Providencia. 
If you open your eyes and walk around a neighborhood, you´re sure to come across so many interesting things…
Pittsburgh
I’ve always loved Pittsburgh. And for as long as I’ve been going there, I had never been to the Mount Washington viewpoints. Continue reading Pittsburgh
The Earth laughs in flowers
Thank you for that analogy, Ralph Waldo Emerson, it does indeed.
Well here we are again, with enough flower photos from a trip to make an entire phlog post out of them. Continue reading The Earth laughs in flowers
Key West
Ah, Key West. You know, there are so many places to go and see, so much to do, that you could easily never repeat the same trip twice…yet sometimes you find yourself in a place to which you’d happily return, where you think, “Oh I’ll be back.” Key West was that for me. Continue reading Key West
A Winter Wonderland
I can hardly contain myself these days, the recent winter weather making the Andes more dignified than ever. The beauty overwhelms me.
A decent rainfall finally came to Santiago, cleaned the smoggy skies and left us with a striking panoramic view, as even the coastal range is snowcapped.
Rosaries and ovaries
Alejen sus rosarios de nuestros ovarios.
Get your rosaries away from our ovaries.
Ah the ever-convoluted topics of abortion and women´s rights. It´s been the subject of nearly all Chilean conversations these days as President Michelle Bachelet fights to make abortion legal in the case of rape, unviable pregnancies and if the mother´s life is in danger. Continue reading Rosaries and ovaries
Outside Perception
Throughout my travels, it´s always been interesting to hear/see others´ perceptions regarding my home country, the United States of America. I think in some ways, you don´t really know and understand where you´re from until you leave it, see it from a different point of view. Continue reading Outside Perception
Cerro Bellavista
Valparaíso truly is an awesome place.
Color. Cables running all over the place. Art and culture. A wild nightlife. Grunge.
Jahuelito
Not too long ago, I accompanied my man to a little public school in Jahuelito, a rural town about two hours outside of Santiago. He went to volunteer his lawyer skills while I enjoyed taking photos. The kids put on a show in celebration of April 23’s International Book Day. They were absolutely fantastic. Reading is power.
Cuatro Años
Today marks four years of living in Chile.
Though I had spent five months prior in 2009, it wasn’t until my return to Chile on May 21, 2010 that I decided to take a risk and come make a life here. Nothing worked out as my 23-year-old mind had pictured at the time –imagine that!– but as I take a pause and look at where I am now, I realize it all worked out just as it was meant to be. Continue reading Cuatro Años
May you revel in life.
It disturbingly came to my attention the other day that life can be so unpleasant for some that they no longer care to be a part of it. Ok, so I´ve known that for a while now, but sometimes you get so caught up in enjoying life and forget that others are so troubled. This reality greatly saddens me, one I cannot comprehend.
May you be able to stop and appreciate the perpetual beauty this life presents on a daily basis.
That magical golden hour right before the sun goes down.
That moment you look another creature in the eye and have a brief understanding.
Silence.
Peace.
May you revel in life.
La Serena
I´ve been to La Serena/Coquimbo quite a few times now, and yet I still couldn´t tell you much about the place. They have a lighthouse…
You see, for me La Serena is a good friend´s house, a sanctuary of laughter, relaxation, beauty, good food, good wine…
The Blood Moon
When the sun, Earth and moon align, be it 3:00 a.m., I just have to get out there and see it. Though I didn´t get to bed until 5:30 a.m. and I am ridiculously tired, it was worth it.
It´s funny how something so scientific, so predictable, can still be so mystical, so intriguing. Continue reading The Blood Moon
Puerto Rico
At this time a year ago, I was just getting back from a fabulous trip to Puerto Rico. I have no clue why it’s taken me so long to do something with all the photos I shot there…nonetheless, here they are.
The Goliath Worm
So we were out on the patio, eating cheese and sipping some Pinot Noir, when I notice this guy moseying along.
Intrigued, I ran to get my camera and 100mm macro lens to see what I could do. Fact: Caterpillars can book it, and getting a good close-up is not as easy as you would think. Continue reading The Goliath Worm
Río Clarillo and Life of Pi
I took these pictures at a hike in Río Clarillo a while back, and I read Life of Pi a while back. Two unrelated things that I’m now relating.
“All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness can be saving; it is part and parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no species would survive.” Continue reading Río Clarillo and Life of Pi
Last night in El Norte Grande
Beautiful sunsets are one of my greatest pleasures. I feel like anytime the sky is pink, purple, orange and red, we all need to just stop what we’re doing and gawk. It’s happened to me before that upon mentioning “O wow! Look at the sky!”, the person looks, says “oh yeah, that’s pretty” and just carries on. This is not a response of which I would be capable. Continue reading Last night in El Norte Grande
Productive restlessness
I had a bit of a restless night last night. Tossed and turned and tossed and turned. And while trying to think about nothing, I kept noticing the moon, nearly full. And that got me to wanting to take a picture of it. So finally I gave in, got up and photographed it.
I only have a 200mm zoom lens, so I thought it turned out pretty nice considering.
Pica
Named after the limón de pica (basically a key lime), this little town in Chile’s Norte Grand professes to be an oasis in the middle of the desert. And it is. Continue reading Pica
Cuzco flora
I remember being a little girl and digging holes in the dirt for my mom to then place a flower in it before I pushed and patted the earth over petunias, impatiens, geraniums…memories I really treasure.
Flowers, and especially hydrangeas, remind me of my mother. They were my first subjects when I became interested in photography.
So I guess what I’m trying to say is that I really love flowers and have since the beginning.
Aguas Calientes
The only good things about this little town are its proximity to Machu Picchu and the views. And there are some gorgeous views.
This is a tourist trap type town. You´re forced to go there before heading to Machu Picchu and everything from food to lodging is significantly more expensive than the rest of the Cuzco region. And getting there via Peru Rail? One of the most expensive train rides of my life! Continue reading Aguas Calientes