Giving Back Through Photography

Where It Began

The idea started with a simple question I asked my mom while photographing birds: How do I spread awareness to a larger community? That question sparked something bigger than photography. I began by turning my images into notecards and calendars small, tangible ways to share stories beyond the photos.

More Than Just Pictures

Over the past 15 months, every notecard and calendar has opened a conversation. These aren’t just photos. They are stories about birds, about ecosystems, and about the journey it takes to reach these moments in nature. Each image carries meaning: why I was there, what I observed, and what the picture is trying to say.

A Community-Driven Journey

Through these conversations, I have learned that I am not doing this alone. The community has taught me just as much as I have shared.

When people see my photos, they often tell me stories of their own, like the time they had a hummingbird nest in their backyard, or a place they once visited where they remember seeing a bird that stayed with them.

Every interaction brings new ideas, special memories, and motivation for me to keep going. That shared feeling is what Memories with Rasa is all about creating meaningful connections that turn moments into lasting memories.

Conservation Through Connection

Along this journey, I have had the chance to meet and learn from organizations that work really hard to protect wildlife and restore habitats.

A chance visit to OPERA (Otago Peninsula Eco-Restoration Alliance) in Dunedin, New Zealand gave me my first real look at how much effort goes into caring for nature. I got to see how people protect and restore habitats and take care of yellow-eyed penguins so they can grow up safely and future generations can enjoy them too.

Experiences like this helped me understand what conservation truly means, from local places to global efforts like the World Wildlife Fund.

Organizations We Support

Through focused research and alignment with causes I deeply care about, I support initiatives within:

  • OPERA - Eco Restoration and Habitat Restoration for Yellow eyed Penguins.

  • World Wildlife Fund - across select conservation efforts.

  • Audubon Society - bringing together birders worldwide to protect ecosystems.

  • Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance - restoring and raising awareness of local habitats

These organizations reflect a shared belief: birds are essential to a healthy planet.

Looking Ahead

This is only the beginning. My goal is to make giving back a consistent, long term commitment one that grows year after year. By transforming photography into a regular cadence of support, we can create meaningful impact together.

I invite you to join me one notecard at a time, one calendar at a time, one picture at a time as we work toward preserving nature for future generations.