Nature Through My Lens

How did I get into nature photography?

I didn't set out to become a photographer. I set out to remember things. The first time I hiked Cedar Ridge Preserve and saw the Dallas skyline from the overlook, I pulled out my phone and took a picture. It wasn't artistic — it was just so I wouldn't forget that moment. A guy from Palo Solo, Mexico City, standing on a Texas hilltop, running his own business, sober, free.

Over time, those snapshots became more intentional. I started noticing the light. The way Texas sunsets turn the sky into layers of orange and purple. The way morning mist sits on Grapevine Lake. Bluebonnets lining a highway shoulder in spring. I wasn't just documenting anymore — I was paying attention. And for someone who spent years not paying attention to anything good, that shift matters.

What gear do I use for photography?

Nothing fancy. I use my phone. That's it. No DSLR, no tripod, no lens kit. I'm an HVAC technician and business owner, not a professional photographer. My hands are usually covered in something — refrigerant, sealant, dirt from a crawlspace. I'm not carrying delicate equipment around.

The truth is, phone cameras today are incredible. The best camera is the one you have with you, and my phone is always in my pocket. Whether I'm driving between service calls in Farmers Branchand spot a sunset, or I'm at the lake on a rare day off — the phone comes out, I take the shot, and I move on. No fuss.

What are my favorite things to photograph in Texas?

Sunsets.Texas sunsets are absurd. The sky gets so big out here, and the colors are different every single night. I've pulled over on the side of I-35 just to capture a particularly ridiculous sunset. When you live in DFW and the sky opens up like that, you stop what you're doing.

Bluebonnets.Every spring, Texas turns blue. Bluebonnets are the state flower and they blanket highways, fields, and parks from late March through April. There's something about a whole field of blue flowers under a Texas sky that never gets old. I've been photographing them every spring since I started paying attention.

Wildlife. DFW has more wildlife than people realize. Hawks circling over Lewisville Lake. Herons standing perfectly still at the edge of a pond. Even the occasional coyote crossing a trail at dusk. These are the moments that remind you the natural world is right here, even in the suburbs.

Landscapes.The red walls of Palo Duro Canyon. The riverbed at Dinosaur Valley. The view from the Arbor Hills observation tower. Texas isn't all flat — and even the flat parts have a beauty to them when the light is right.

Why does nature photography matter to a business owner?

When you run 4 businesses, your brain never stops. There's always a quote to send, a call to return, a system to diagnose, a crew to manage. Photography forces me to stop and look at one thing. To notice a detail. To wait for the right moment. That patience and presence carries over into everything else — including how I run Frosty's HVAC.

It's also a way to share with my family. My kids get to see that their dad notices beauty, not just broken AC units. My wife Mariafernanda Jacoboand I have had some of our best conversations walking trails while I stop every few minutes to photograph something. It's a hobby that costs nothing, requires no equipment, and gives back more than it takes.