How Photography Changed My Life

When people ask me how I keep myself grounded, especially when overwhelmed, I tell them that photography has been a tremendous therapeutic tool. It keeps me focus and it also has improved my mental well-being. At the same time, it helps me appreciate the beauty in everyday life.

To me, photography is more than just taking pictures and creating/documenting my life. It may sound silly, but photography has made me feel alive. I think it is fair to say that getting involved in this hobby, has saved my life. It isn't just what I do; it is who I am. Photography defines me, I know that it has changed my life for the better. It has taught me how to live in the moment and look for beauty where others may miss it.

Now that I am turning my old pictures in a cartoon or AI caricatures of myself, it has added a new dimension to it. Not only I am having fun taking pictures, am also personalizing them by creating unique funny cartoons and inserting myself into them. I love it!

This last picture if of la Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The Catedral was built in 1763.

Throwback Thursday

This picture was taken in 2020 at the George Washington Bridge overlook in New York. That weekend I traveled to NYC specifically to take pictures of the GWB, the Statue of Liberty, Coney Island, the Brooklyn Bridge from the top of the Manhattan Bridge walkway, and a couple of sunset pictures from Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center.

It was a lot of fun to travel all over New York to photograph those locations. Just for fun, last night I created this AI caricature of the same picture. Enjoy !!!

The Mark of the Beast

Wearing baseball caps since my Little League days, has become an everyday thing for me. I even used baseball caps for business. I have a photo collage where the first pic was taken in 1996 during my second year working in the HIV/AIDS field. These days baseball caps are acceptable gear for casual, and also business attire. 

Have you noticed? Since the Orange Turd decided to enter politics, wearing a MAGA red baseball cap is the "mark of the beast". It is viewed as a symbol of divisiveness, or a "cult-like" and blind loyalty to their "really smart - a very stable genius" leader. 

Now I can't wear a red baseball cap in public (which happen to be my favorite baseball cap color), to prevent being mistaken of supporting the MAGA movement. The Phillies team uses a red baseball cap, and my favorite Yankees hats are also red. It has become politicized due to the popularity of the MAGA hats. To avoid confrontations during my daily commute, I stopped using my Yankees red hats as the MAGA red hats became popular. 

I just spent a couple of hours editing some of my earlier photos from past years, turning my red baseball caps into dark blue or black. What a conundrum.

Venezuela Es El Nuevo Campeon del Clasico Mundial de Beisbol

Venezuela vence a Estados Unidos 3-2 en el Clasico Mundial de Beisbol. 

Venezuela beat United States 3-2 at the World Baseball Classic.

Dominican Mangu

After confessing that I never tasted this particular breakfast dish before, I was challenged to order a dish of Mangu at my favorite Latin restaurant yesterday morning. After admitting to never having tried Mangu, I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. 

Ayer por la mañana en un restaurante de comida Latina que frecuento, acepte que nunca habia probado el desayuno de Mangu. El empleado del establecimiento me reto a probarlo y me sirvio un plato. Me sorprendio gratamente la experiencia. Todavia no puedo creer que es la primera vez en mi vida que he probado Mangu.

Let The Good Times Roll

Finally got the paperwork out of the way and renewed my motorcycle registration and insurance documents. I am officially ready for the riding season.

Not sure how other states handle their vehicle paperwork, but when it comes to vehicle and insurance renewal here in Pennsylvania, everything can be handled online. At the end of the transaction, you simply print your credentials, and you are done. 

I am looking forward to this year riding season. Let the good times roll !!!!

Amanecer en Mayaguez

Llevo un tiempo tratando de acostumbrarme a salir temprano en la mañana a tomar fotos. No voy a negar que mi preferencia es tomar fotos durante la puesta del sol en el horizonte. No hay nada mas deslumbrante que los colores de la puesta del sol, principalmente los rojos, naranjas y amarillos.

Dicen que al capturar amaneceres, las fotos pueden ser impactantes. Muchos fotografos dicen que el mejor momento del dia para tomar fotos es media hora antes o despues del amanecer o el atardecer.

El problema de la fotografia es que uno como fotografo tiene que estar preparado a que el tiempo coopere. En ocasiones he viajado a un lugar en especifico a tomar fotos y de repente llueve o ocurren otros percances.

Anoche hize esta foto imaginaria AI de un amanecer en la plaza de mi pueblo. Es la plaza donde se encuentra la catedral de la Iglesia y las oficinas del ayuntamiento del alcalde. Quizas esta foto creada en AI me inspire a salir mas temprano en la mañana a tomar fotos. Veremos a ver, solo el tiempo lo dira.