4x6” Photo of the Day printed on thick matte paper

6.1 Pico do Arieiro, Madeira, Portugal; A full moon memory… Back in July, when I was here, I booked a group tour through the hostel I was staying at (group tours are honestly not something I typically do, but I’m glad I did this one), and Pico do Arieiro (this viewpoint/trailhead) was the final stop of the night. Just after the sun had fully set, this was the view behind me when I turned around to leave.

6.2Pico do Arieiro, Madiera, Portugal; Sunset

5.2 Arrival to Madeira, Portugal

5.1Arrival to Madeira, Portugal; Just a short flight from Lisbon, i arrived early morning and took a taxi from the airport to my hostel first thing. Even though I was running on only a couple hours of sleep, I decided not to sleep the day away and instead walk about 3 miles down into the city of Funchal. I couldn’t choose just one photo to fit my arrival experience, it wouldn’t tell the story well enough. The winding road that led to the city center gave vast overlooks of the terracotta roofed homes splattered closely together, and the lush biodiversity coloring amongst them. The walk took me at least two hours because I was pausing so often to photograph its beauty and uniqueness, and so I want to share a couple of my favorite captures just from this short walk to give you an intro to Madeira! It was only my first few hours being on the island and I hope it makes you excited for what more is to come :)

4. On the Edge of Europe, Cabo Da Roca, Portugal; After a few days in the city of Lisbon, I wanted to get to some nature and what better place than directly west to the edge (literally the westernmost point) of the European continent, in Cabo Da Roca. I rode the local bus from Sintra (a smaller town sprinkled with castles outside of Lisbon, that I accessed by train) winding through and over the beautiful, lush Sintra Mountain Range. A lot of my decisions on this trip were made spontaneously and instead of going down to one of the pristine beaches on this coast, I chose to go to the westernmost edge and wander among its rugged landscape. The cliffs over the Atlantic Ocean reminded me of California and the west coast of the United States. To put simply, it felt like home. 

3. Bigger Picture Lisbon, Portugal; to see the city from above now after seeing from within and in between. There are so many ways to see a place, so in the literal sense I’ll show you different perspectives and I’ll be curious about what you see and feel differently between them all. Do they feel connected? Would you know it is the same place? What other perspectives would you like to see?

2. More Lisbon, Portugal; Where the streets are steep and narrow, and the stairs and cobblestones are plentiful. The light and shadows change with every turn you make and the street lights deserve their own portrait really. Peek down every walkway and street, you’ll likely find a view of the layers of the city. Walk slow and don’t trip, take each step with care ;) 

1. Lisbon, Portugal; the colorful buildings being vibrancy all throughout the city and had me stopping around every corner to photograph the feel of it all. The trees stand strong out of the cobblestone streets and sidewalks, adding more natural texture and aliveness to the city. 

4x6” Photo of the Day - a ‘Postcard’ to you from where I am, and how I am seeing the world. Ever-changing perspectives that give you new ways to experience the world. My hope is to bring inspiration and light to your day, and potentially to your everyday, because you will have the opportunity to bring them home. As many artists have said before, art is not just about what you see but how you see it. May these postcards broaden your perspective in life, in the simplicity and complexity of it. Most especially may these photos remind you that everything shares the characteristic of impermanence; let us feel each moment as new, even when we think we have experienced it already before.