Personal · Welcome, 2016!

I just wanted to take some time to write this personal blog post to start off the new year, so I could properly bid farewell to 2015 -- a truly, truly remarkable year. Not only was 2015 the year that I graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BS in Chemistry, but 2015 was also the year that I decided to take Instagram much more seriously, after contemplating it towards the end of 2014. I know what you may be thinking - a simple mobile phone application? What could that have possibly done for you?

Well, in doing so, I've been allowed opportunities to not only partner in collaboration with some awesome companies (Google & BorrowLenses, to name a few) via Instagram, but doing so also sparked an ever-growing passion for landscape photography, as well as a respect for nature and urban landscapes in general. Simply put, 2015 fueled my wanderlust and made me more eager to explore the world outside of just the San Francisco Bay Area (although don't get me wrong, the SF Bay Area is absolutely beautiful and I'm nothing short of blessed to have the privilege to call this amazing place home). Sure, I've made a couple trips up to the Pacific Northwest in the last couple of years and find myself in Southern California roughly 3-4 times a year, but one would already know that this newfound desire to explore and see the world has made an impact on me given that I've got trips to Oregon, Los Angeles, Utah, Chicago, Washington, and two international countries in Japan and the Philippines, already planned for the first half of 2016... Hopefully with much more to come!

2015 also allowed me to link up with numerous creative individuals that I've met through primarily Instagram (although Facebook and Twitter are definitely noteworthy mentions, as well), many of whom I use for daily inspiration with my own work. The best part of it all for me, however, is that these aren't just people that I only get a chance to converse with whenever one of us wants to talk photography or social media/networking. Rather, we engage in regular, humane conversations almost daily and actually have gotten to know each other outside of being known as just photographers, creatives, and/or artists. I can surely call a number of these great people my friends, and to those who are reading this -- I'm positive that you know who you are.

To say that it has been a wonderful journey thus far would be an understatement. The best part of it all, however, is that we're all just getting started! With that said, I would like to bid farewell to 2015, while welcoming 2016 with open arms!

Here's one of my personal favorites from 2015 - unexpected light rays from an unforgettable sunrise in Yosemite National Park, CA. Here's to many more sunrises and sunsets in 2016!

Travel · Yosemite National Park · December 2015

Made a trip out to Yosemite National Park for the third time in the year, this time during the winter season! Had the pleasure of taking Rolo (@dunksrnice) and Don (@donmiguelluis) for their first time to this beautiful park, and it definitely didn't disappoint this time around -- I honestly don't think it ever really does! We were greeted with a seemingly endless amount of snow just upon driving in, and pretty much throughout our entire stay. Unfortunately, Taft and Glacier Points were closed off (and pretty much everything up Glacier Point Road & Upper Yosemite, due to snow), but that gives us enough of a reason to come back. We'll hopefully see you come Spring '16, Yosemite NPS! 

Senior · Anessa

Sometimes even in seemingly undesirable photographic conditions, one's attitude can truly make or break the quality of the images they take. Met up with Anessa on a busy Monday afternoon at USF's campus, ready for senior portraits, despite having to reschedule two times due to weather complications. This time around, it was cloudy out (and had just rained a few hours prior), but we decided to stay optimistic and take advantage of the nice, cloud-diffused lighting as much as we could. To our surprise, towards the end of the photoshoot, over at Gleeson Lawn (right by USF's iconic Saint Ignatius church), the sun began to peak out a bit and gave a nice backlight to Anessa's silhouette, allowing for some interesting compositions with nicely-lit backgrounds. Special thanks to Morgan & Carlo for the referral, because if it wasn't for their couple session a couple of weeks back, Anessa & I probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to shoot together! 

Travel · Helicopter Flight over San Francisco · December 2015

Went up on a helicopter flight over San Francisco with my buddies Rolo (@dunksrnice) and Viet (@richhomiehua) on a chilly Tuesday evening just as the sun was beginning to set. It's always a wonderfully exhilarating time going up on a helicopter, despite this being my third time, but I was honestly a lot more excited for my friends given that this was their first time ever going up. The smiles and conversations we shared on the helicopter alone were worth the experience.

 I have to say, though - it was definitely a nice treat being able to see the Golden Gate Bridge from different unique vantage points, because on my first flight over San Francisco back in February 2015, that entire side of the city (sunset/upper richmond) was completely fogged out and thus inaccessible. Not a bad way to spend the first day of the last month of 2015!