Behind “Cinco Lustros de Sueños y Aventuras”
Turning 25 feels like a turning point—still young, yet rooted in a growing sense of responsibility, and a little wiser thanks to a few years of adventures and unexpected challenges. To celebrate this milestone, I’m launching a collection that captures my first two and a half decades of dreams and explorations. These are the memories and moments that have shaped my life, now on display in Cinco Lustros de Sueños y Aventuras.
Behind “The Substorm of a Generation” May 2024
Growing up in Bogotá, Colombia, elevated by mountains and surrounded by clouds, my world felt expansive but grounded. I spent hours watching nature documentaries on Discovery and NatGeo with my father, who shared his love for the wild with me. I’d imagine myself as part of those expeditions, uncovering untamed landscapes and hidden worlds.
Those early dreams planted a seed that has grown into this lifelong pursuit: chasing light, adventure, and stories across every landscape I can reach.
When my family moved to the U.S. in search of peace and opportunity, my dreams were still a work in progress. I went through phases, from wanting to be a YouTuber, an architect, and even striving to be some kind of businessman.
One ordinary day in June 2017, I spotted a Spiny Orb Weaver spider with a fascinating, face-like pattern on its back. I tried to capture it with my phone, but it was too small, the background too cluttered—until I found an app with manual focus. When the spider came into sharp clarity against a blurred backdrop, I was mesmerized.
That tiny moment sparked a deep love for the art of noticing, for seeking out the overlooked, and for finding the beauty in even the most finite things in front of me.
Spiny Orb Weaver, the spider that started my photography journey, June 2017
Giving Back to Protect the Places We Love
With a deep love for nature and a commitment to preserving the landscapes that inspire my work, I’m thrilled to share that 5% of each sale from “Cinco Lustros de Sueños y Aventuras” will be donated directly to Protect Our Winters. This organization is advocating for climate policies that protect our winters and natural spaces. Their work supports sustainable solutions and environmental education, ensuring that future generations can experience the same beauty we cherish today. By contributing to this cause, each purchase not only brings home a piece of nature’s magic but also helps protect it for the future.
To preserve moments like this, we must protect our winters and combat climate change.
The First Choice
Selecting the photographs for “Cinco Lustros de Sueños y Aventuras” was a journey in itself. Each image represents a piece of my story, but finding the right balance was challenging. The only one I knew would make the series from the start was Winter Road.
This image was taken after an intense adventure in the Eastern Sierras after a 54-inch snowfall left us stranded in a van for 2 days. After being rescued by some crazy snowboarders in huge trucks, we hiked through untouched snow, taking care not to leave marks, and arrived at Movie Road before sunrise. The whole landscape was blanketed in white as the first light hit the peaks—a morning that felt like pure magic, captured forever in that photograph.
“Winter Road” February 2023
A Stellar Pick
There are pieces of media that impact our worldview and our aspirations, and Interstellar has been one of these mediums for me. With every astro shot I take, I can hear the Interstellar soundtrack slowly playing as I click the shutter and I can feel that sense of wonder I first felt in my initial watch of the film.
After experimenting with the star trail technique over the years, I set out to create a piece that would capture the magic of the night sky in a way I could truly be proud of. I returned to a secluded fire lookout I’d scouted before, knowing its perfect alignment with Polaris, the North Star. By shooting a series of images over hours, I stacked them to reveal the Earth’s rotation around its axis, creating a hypnotizing, circular effect.
This image was largely inspired by both Christopher Nolan’s film and Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night
“Polaris Lookout” June 2024
My Favorite Conditions in One Photograph
I find that landscape photography is both an art form and a way of preserving fleeting moments; a way to capture the beauty of nature in constant change.
Of the five photographs in this collection, A Clash of Seasons was the first I captured—and it marks a significant leap in my craft. This image showcases a rare overlap of fall and winter, a phenomenon I set out to find.
In October 2022, I spent the month driving across New England, exploring one of the world’s most vibrant regions for fall foliage. Amid all of this beauty, my main goal was to capture ‘snowliage’—the magical blend of fresh snow on autumn leaves. Vermont rewarded me with just that, giving me one of my favorite photos to date.
“A Clash of Seasons” October 2022
21 Years in the making
Capturing the northern lights had always been a dream, but this display surpassed anything I could have imagined.
Known as a “substorm of a generation,” it broke a 21-year record with an eruption of vivid greens and purples, the aurora’s colors intertwining in an exceptional display. Standing beneath this light show felt surreal, a reminder of nature’s power and unpredictability.
This image represents one of those rare moments where all the elements align—a cosmic performance that left me in awe and continues to inspire my work.
Mt. Baker Ski Area with awe-inspiring Auroras - May 2024
A Night of Surreal Beauty: “Cosmic Beach”
In this night of surreal beauty, the ocean and sky seemed to mirror each other in a magical display.
Above the clouds, the Milky Way stretched in breathtaking clarity, while below, bioluminescent waves pushed their electric shimmer onto the shore. Standing between these two worlds felt like stepping into a scene from Avatar.
“Cosmic Beach” August 2024
Thank You
Thank you for joining me on this journey through Cinco Lustros de Sueños y Aventuras. Each image in this collection represents a piece of my story and a moment in nature that I found permanence in fleeting time.
Your support not only brings these stories to life but also helps protect the landscapes that inspire them.
For stories, collections, adventures, new releases, and more like this, stay connected with my monthly newsletter. Here’s to many more adventures—and to the beauty of nature that connects us all.
