Ometepe, Nicaragua Part 1

Do you want to see the Garden of Eden? Well, I officially have located it on the island of Ometepe located in the large fresh water lake of Lake Nicaragua. I don't think I have ever seen so much vegetation and natural beauty in my life. Technically, Ometepe is composed of two volcanoes, Concepción and Madera, which feels like two islands but really it's just one. I discovered petroglyphs and went to Ojo de Agua (which I will show in Part 2). Anyway, I will let the photos show you the beauty...

The view from the shore of Rivas

The dock on the island

The ferry we rode on

The busses to take you around the island (we had a truck we brought on the ferry).

My Tio David hold a parrot at the restaurant we ate at.

My Tio Daniel and my Dad holding parrots.

One of the many small churches located on the island.

Concepción

The room we stayed in that night.

Yasmin

On the shore...this lake has small waves.

Concepción again.

Maderas hiding behind a cloud

Running!

Yasmin and my niece Anita running!

Concepción once more

Sunset

My uncles and fathers watching some boys play soccer on the beach.

Yes, I am the nerd that did that...

See what I mean? Wouldn't you agree that  Ometepe is the Garden of Eden?

The Lambda Fall Spectacular at McGeorge School of Law

This is probably the most fun event I have ever photographed. If you think law school is all about serious and studious students this show would make you think otherwise. In the celebration of "Coming Out Week" McGeorge's own Lambda put together this wonderful show. This program was filled with laughter and great entertainment--Drag Queens, Drag Kings, same-sex ballroom dancers took the stage and our breaths away. This is an event you won't want to miss next year! Bravo to the McGeorge Lambda for putting on such a great show!

And the following are my favorite shots of the night:

Protest against CA Supreme Court Decision

I have always been interested in doing photo-journalistic work--and I hope these images evoke the quality of work that a photojournalist would expect to get from such an event.
I remember always being fascinated by National Geographic, in fact, I still drool over their images in National Geographic and patiently wonder at the ArtStor's photojournalism collection. The images produced by historic events always contain an immense amount of emotion. I love how the photographer is sometimes ignored and at other times engaged with the subject. Some of the most powerful images, in my opinion, is when a single person in the frame is staring directly with at the camera. It feels like the gaze is so penetrating that it reaches beyond the lens and personally touches each viewer of the image.
In this particular case, there was of course an immense amount of emotion both of sadness and hope. I feel that despite the CA Supreme Court's decision spirits were high and I believe the energy of the rally can truly be felt through the images.

I just love the look of the man holding the, "Why are you judging us?" sign.

My adopted little sister

Tina Reynolds, from Equality Action Now.