As a Filipino American and former chemist, I’ve rediscovered my artistic roots through the lens of photography. My journey began on Long Island, where New York City’s vibrant art scene sparked my creative curiosity. During graduate studies in Madison, Wisconsin, I reconnected with analog photography, darkroom techniques, and my violin—rekindling artistic passions temporarily set aside.

After returning to western New York and dedicating years to raising my son, I found my true calling in photography fifteen years ago. My artistic vision flourished when I discovered toy digital cameras with their unique visual effects. There’s an unexpected freedom in using these basic tools—tiny, fixed-lens experimental cameras that transform ordinary scenes into extraordinary visions.

I delight in lo-fi surprises. My chosen cameras convert mundane reality into color-saturated dreamscapes or bold, high-contrast monochrome imagery.

Why chromasapien? As a woman of color who loves color photography, “chromasapien” represents my identity—a human of color capturing the world through a chromatic lens.