MY JOURNEY...

My name is Lorenzo Menendez and I have been on this wild journey for over 30 years now. Most in my line of work would classify themselves as an artist or more to the point a photographer, society would say that I’m one of those two or both...I hesitate to call myself either. While photography is my profession I feel it is far more than that . I see myself more as a documentarian of nature, it is my most cherished belief that my sole purpose in pointing my camera at something is to capture is as it is, to preserve every detail as much as I can. If a scene captures my imagination enough for me to point my camera at it then it is already perfect and it doesn’t require my help to make it look better than what is presented. In an age where any and all imagery is questioned I believe that authenticity and transparency are more valuable than ever. 

I discovered photography my senior year of High School. It was one of the darkest times of my life and I was at a crossroads, continue my destructive path  or  find something to pour my energy into. Many photographers will tell you that they fell in love with the craft when they heard that shutter click. For me it wasn’t that, for me it was the darkroom. Exposing  photo paper to light and seeing my image appear as it sat in the chemicals was absolute magic. Something I had laid my eyes on was captured on that negative and now in my hands as a tangible print, the process was mesmerizing. From that moment I began a transformative journey that would change my mind, my heart and my very soul. Photography opened my eyes and made me aware of the world around me in a truly special way. Seeing not only the grandness of a landscape but also the smallest nuances, the building blocks that make up the whole. 

Over the years I have grown in my proficiency, my techniques have changed and the gear has improved. What has not changed is my absolute obsession to photograph our ever changing world and its ability to always grip my heart. After 30 years of shooting I can still say that I truly love what I do and to get to share that with all of you is a privilege I don't take lightly.

No journey worth taking is ever easy nor can it be done alone, in that regard I have had the great privilege and blessing of sharing it with my beautiful wife and kids. My wife Jennifer and I have been married for 22 years, through the ups and down she has been my constant companion and the voice that keeps pushing me forward. After 10 years of marriage our family grew and we welcomed our beautiful daughter Kealia who is now 13. Shortly thereafter we welcome my son Eli who is now 11. Both my kids are voracious readers and developed a love for the arts and history. Kealia enjoys drawing, baking, sewing and making jewelry and crafts with mom. Eli loves legos, music, 3d printing and drawing. To my surprise both of them enjoy photography and I have had the privilege of passing on my knowledge to them as they have accompanied me on many adventures and have accumulated some incredible images of their own. We share our days with our two energetic dogs Bear and Abby, they keep us on our toes.

This is not only a passion for me, it is an obsession, something that I must do. Not to satisfy some hunger but to show everyone that there is beauty everywhere and that sometimes the most mundane of things can be a masterpiece in itself. I do it to show you that what we stand to lose is truly precious and worth fighting for. Not just for us but for future generations.