Field Note #1 — Returning to Wonders in Nature

Years ago, I began a project called Wonders in Nature with a simple idea in mind. I wanted to document the vast landscapes and natural environments that this island has to offer. Puerto Rico is small in size, but it contains an incredible variety of mountains, forests, rivers, coastlines, and wildlife. I felt that many of these places deserved to be observed, respected, and photographed.

My relationship with photography began after I arrived in Puerto Rico following my retirement from the military. At the time I was studying mechanics and trying to figure out the next direction in my life. Photography appeared almost unexpectedly, but it quickly became something that felt meaningful. Instead of following whatever path seemed to have the fastest demand, I chose to follow something that genuinely interested me.

One of my early inspirations was National Geographic. I admired how photographers documented wildlife and environments with patience and curiosity. That inspiration led me to one particular idea that stayed with me for years. I wanted to photograph every species of coquí frog in Puerto Rico. In the back of my mind was also a quiet hope of encountering the elusive Coquí Dorado, a species believed to be extinct. Whether that hope was realistic or not did not matter as much as the journey of looking.

Over time, however, the project slowed and eventually stopped. Photography began to feel discouraging rather than inspiring. Most people were not particularly interested in the work I was doing, and many suggested that I abandon the idea entirely. When something you care about seems to have no audience, it becomes easy to question whether it is worth continuing. Eventually I stepped away from the project.

For several years Wonders in Nature remained silent.

Now, in 2026, I find myself returning to it with a different perspective. Part of the reason is simple. I want to reignite the passion I once had for photographing nature. More importantly, I want to finish what I originally set out to do. Some goals remain with us quietly for years, and completing them becomes a form of personal fulfillment.

Looking back, I realize that when I first started this project I approached it with the wrong expectations. I was experimenting in many directions, hoping that something might become a sudden success. That mindset eventually drained the joy from the process. Photography became tied to the idea of recognition rather than the act of observing.

Today I see things differently. After focusing on improving my mental health and stepping away from the pressure to prove anything, I feel more aligned with the original vision of this project. Technology has also changed in ways that make creative work easier to navigate. There are now better tools available to help organize ideas, refine direction, and move past the endless questions we often create in our own minds.

Wonders in Nature will move forward with a clearer purpose.

This project is not about chasing recognition. It is about documenting landscapes, nature, and people across Puerto Rico with patience and respect. Some places will remain unnamed. Some photographs will be simple observations rather than dramatic scenes. The goal is not to expose every location, but to appreciate the environments that exist here and to leave them with minimal impact.

Through this site I will share exploration notes, photo stories, and reflections on photography itself. Some entries may describe a quiet morning in the mountains. Others may reflect on the experience of waiting for light or listening to the sounds of the forest. Each entry will simply be part of a longer journey of observation.

In many ways, Wonders in Nature is beginning again. The island is still here. The landscapes are still here. And there are still countless moments waiting to be noticed.

This field note marks the return.