It all started out back in the summer of 2024 when I was selected as an Artist-in-Residence by the Port Austin AIR in Port Austin, Michigan. That summer I learned many things while enjoying summer in a rural Michigan lake town. I learned about the local wildlife, improved my technical skills and also how to fabricate an outdoor gallery for my art show during the last week of my stay. It was a truly amazing four week adventure.

Typically, an Artist-in-Residence is asked to give back to the community during their stay as a way to say that you for the experience. My way to give back was to offer one 2 hour photography tour at a different local outdoor art installations each week for a total of four classes. See below.

It turned out to be an incredibly rewarding experience. The participants not only enjoyed themselves but also picked up new skills along the way. I found real satisfaction in helping people grow, and their appreciation made it even more meaningful. Connecting with and teaching a group of students artistically was something entirely new for me—and it was fulfilling.

I returned home to Valencia, Spain a better person and a better photographer which were among my goals from the residency. Even though I am a nature and wildlife photographer, I also enjoy capturing images from cities once in a while just to mix things up.

And all this got me thinking. There’s a version of Valencia that most people experience.

It’s the landmarks, the busy streets, the places that show up on every itinerary. And while those places are beautiful, they’re only a small part of what this city really is. The first time I walked through Valencia with a camera back in 2017, something shifted.

I slowed down and started to observe and there’s a massive difference between seeing and observing. I started noticing how the light moved across a wall in the early morning. The way shadows stretched across narrow streets. People walking past a small alleyway and their movements reflecting in a puddle. The quiet moments that exist in between the noise—moments most people walk right past without ever seeing. These photographic experiences in the city changed the way I experience a place.

After all, it’s not that different from waiting patiently for an Iberian lynx to stroll by. If you have a shot that you imagine then you just have to be patient, observe and wait for it. And Valencia, in the off the beaten track places that I know, that way of seeing is often rewarded.

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There are layers here—subtle, fleeting, easy to miss if you’re moving too fast. But once you begin to notice them, the city opens up in a completely different way.That’s why I started leading photography tours. Not just to show people where to go, but to help them see what’s already there. Because the truth is, you don’t need to be a professional photographer to experience that shift.

You just need to slow down enough to notice—to pay attention to light, to details, to the feeling of a place as it unfolds in front of you. And it also helps if you know where to go to enjoy this experience which is where a good local guide can make a huge difference. And when that happens, something changes. You’re no longer just visiting Valencia. You’re experiencing it.

I have friends in the wine business and I remember one specific conversation back in New York during a wine event. I asked her: “What do you drink when you go out and socialize with colleagues and competitors in the wine industry? She smiled and said: “We drink beer so we can enjoy the conversation without talking about wine”. 

Similarly, it’s fun and refreshing not to be waiting for a Bengal tiger to stalk her prey but instead capture images of people and objects in an urban environment. Another helpful hint especially for those under 30: put your phone in your pocket and pay attention to your surroundings.

You might just see something amazing right in front of you instead of watching a kitten chase a rolling Oreo cookie on social media.

When it's all done and dusted, I won’t become wealthy from leading one-on-one photography tours in Valencia—but that was never the goal. What matters is helping people sharpen their ability to capture meaningful images and see their surroundings with greater depth and awareness.

These tours give me the chance to share a craft I’m deeply passionate about—something I’ve dedicated myself to and genuinely love. And if, in the process, I can enrich my small corner of the world and help others discover joy in something that inspires me, then I’m doing exactly what I set out to do.

And that’s why I lead photography tours in Valencia.