Eclectic is probably the best word to describe me. And quirky. Yes, quirky is a word many people associate with me as well. Perhaps because I was born in New York, and moved to Mexico with my family when I was only three (yes, I am bilingual). Perhaps because I am equally comfortable with milk being delivered on donkeys, and cooking with microwave ovens. Or patting out corn tortillas on a Cinco de Mayo parade float, or dancing Tango. I love adventure, the unexpected, happy surprises. I love being surprised. I have a very strong relationship with my inner child and let her play all the time; I have no fear of appearing silly. I tend to be extremely enthusiastic and puppy-like (even though I prefer cats). If you know the cartoon character, I'm very "Marmaduke". I think I can be exhausting to a lot of people.

When I think back about my childhood, one of my first memories is of my father constantly pursuing us with his camera. At the time, this weekly chase (hourly if on vacation) was met with corresponding wails of "daaaaaaaad!" from my brother and me. So I'm surprised that it only recently dawned on me that I do have photographic roots after all. Even though he was strictly amateur, my father was very deliberate about posing, backgrounds, light metering, etc. Perhaps wishing to instill a love for his hobby, I received my first camera - a Kodak Instamatic - when I was 10. I remember the immense delight I felt by just pushing that little button, knowing that with the sound I had preserved an instant in time, recorded something I had seen, the way I had seen it.

Nothing came of my early photographer days, which is a pity, as we were avid travelers. There was ballet to study, math tutoring to endure, flute classes to toil for, and then the avalanche that is pubertyhighschoolcollegelookingforajob. Photography was something done on special occasions, on vacation, a recording of the activities that make up one's life. Even inheriting my dad's Minolta 101 did nothing to dislodge me from this place. But I do recall the moment in the Loire when I realized I'd become my dad: we were outside one of the chateaux, and I found myself posing my (groaning, protesting) family for a picture. The first inkling of my future as a photographer!

Although I have "taken pictures" most of my life, I did not really become a "serious" photographer until about 2+ years ago, when I joined an online photo community as a way to improve my photography. And it didn't kick in full force until June 2010, when I did my first studio session. I never imagined I would enjoy studio photography. I somehow thought it was too strict, too structured, too inflexible. "Out there" there were so many more interesting things to see, and of course, capture. But that first studio session showed me that if I can imagine it, I can capture it. That very day I knew that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Portraiture and fine arts are what I am most drawn to, but I take pictures of everything. I like surrealism. I adore optical illusions. I really enjoy levitation images. Currently, I am exploring underwater portraiture, even though my first (and only) such foray destroyed my camera. (Don't worry; I've since replaced it.)

I am at the beginning of my photography journey. I am a sponge. An enthusiastic, silly, quirky, Marmaduke-ish sponge, excited to meet you, bend your ear, pick your brain. And maybe, some day, my work will be as good as yours.