ACK IN 2009, I founded the Wild Image Project in Sausalito, an ongoing multimedia narrative
that focuses on highlighting the true essence of nature and its teachings. Through my pho-
tography, writing and videos, I try to provoke a dialogue that forces the viewer to reevaluate
his or her relationship with the environment.
Totems are what I photograph. Through my creative process, it is important that I don’t
hide from the animals — I want them to see me; I want to meet their gaze and share that deep
ancestral sense of commonality we have.
Spending so much time in nature has taught me three very important lessons about life. The first one
being humility. Out there you quickly realize that the world doesn’t revolve around you. There are many
things that are much bigger than you, conceptually and literally.
Hence I’ve also learned to wait and go with the flow. Rarely does anything go according to plan. Animals
are not known to perform on cue and the weather usually doesn’t cooperate either. But for those who can
wait and welcome the unexpected, life is an endless source of wonderful surprises and magical encounters.
Finally, all these hours observing wildlife has proven one thing to me — that every single species
on earth is exceptional in the sense that it has achieved mastery of its survival by acutely occupying a
specific niche within the planet’s ecosystem. Everything and everyone, including us, has evolved and
survived by becoming the best at one thing. The indigenous cultures understood and honored this way of
looking at the world. They didn’t see themselves as better or above any other species, but alongside all the
others, part of life’s complex cobweb. Animals, plants and insects were respected, honored and recog-
nized for their particular abilities and were often named as totems.
This collection is my attempt to present these animals with respect and honor. My goal is not to
beautify or humanize them but rather to recognize their respective success of survival in relation to a
humbling way of looking at the world that I fear is on the verge of disappearing.
B
OWL (right)
Burrowing owl, Mar Chiquita,
Argentina, 2008
Silent and still, the owl is the
bird of magic and darkness,
of prophecy and wisdom. She
gives one the power to extract
secrets. The owl teaches us
to be perceptive and intuitive. She can hear what others
can’t and can detect subtleties
when others won’t.
HAWK (far right)
Black-and-white hawk eagle,
Guira Oga, Argentina, 2010
Swift and cunning, the hawk
is the messenger, the protector and the visionary of the
air. He holds the key to higher
levels of consciousness. Soaring
high above the mundane and
everyday problems, the hawk
observes and studies, reminding
us to accept things the way they
are, rather than forcing change.
FLAMINGO
(opening spread)
American flamingo,
Bronx Zoo, 2008
Delicate and flamboyant, the
flamingo teaches how to maintain balance and movement
through the emotions. She aids
in intuitive filtering and spiritual discernment. Flamingos
help to bring color and vivacity
into one’s life and to increase
community activities.
