Pine in Rock Baby Onesie

I always find it inspirational to see plants growing and thriving from seemingly impossible locations. There are many pine trees like these throughout the mountains of Big Bear Lake, California. They remind me that despite impossible situations and difficulties faced, growth can always occur if there is a will.

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California, but I'm a country girl at heart. I am happiest when hiking in the mountains or wandering through green open fields. Photography has always been a part of my life, mostly as a tool to help me remember the people and places I encountered in my travels throughout Peru, Mexico and Europe. As a high school Spanish teacher, I used my photogrpahs from my travels to show students the life and culture in other parts of the world. As a mom, I always had my camera with me to freeze time and help me hold on to those fleeting moments. When my daughter became an elite ballerina, I had to improve my skills to provide pictures that captured movement and precision. I started to study...