Carmen Polanco has always had a camera in her hand for as long as she can remember. Her grandpa gifted her with her first camera, a simple automated point-and-shoot. Her family was ecstatic and eager to pose for her; creating stances that give the images an air of candidness, readily posing for birthday shots, and striking every conceivable pose possible! Polanco pursued photography with the encouragement of her family.
Summers in the Polanco home included preparing vacations to East Coast national parks. Carmen will always be appreciative of these visits since they not only brought the family closer together, but they also instilled in Carmen a passion for wildlife photography. Carmen fondly recalls these family vacations from Acadia to Biscayne.
Photographing the Atlantic coast from Acadia National Park to Biscayne National Park's mangroves and Everglades National Park's wetlands is an experience that Carmen will never forget.
Carmen has taken it upon herself, in line with tradition, to provide her children with the same experiences she had growing up. She wants children to share her passion for nature, and as a result, excursions to national parks have become a family ritual in her own family. This time, though, their journeys would lead them to West Coast national parks.
Her family has already visited Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Redwood National Park, and the Grand Canyon National Park.
They're planning a vacation to Utah's Mighty 5 national parks this summer.
Carmen Polanco discusses her visits to national parks as a child and her excursions with her own family on her blog page. You are welcome to visit the website and learn about her photographic exploits in these parks.
