Carmen Polanco Lugo has always had a camera in her hand for as long as she can remember. Her grandfather gifted her with her first camera, a basic automatic point-and-shoot. Her family was ecstatic and willing to pose for her; striking poses that give the photos an air of candidness, willingly posing for birthday photos, and striking every other pose imaginable! Polanco pursued photography with the encouragement of her family.

Summers in the Polanco household entailed planning trips to East Coast national parks. Carmen would always be appreciative of these trips because they not only brought the family closer together, but they also instilled in Carmen a passion for nature photography. Carmen fondly recalls these family outings 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 keeping with tradition, to provide her children with the same experiences she had growing up. She wants them to share her passion for nature, and as a result, trips to national parks have become a family tradition in her own family. This time, however, their journeys would take 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 trip to Utah's Mighty 5 national parks this summer. Carmen Polanco discusses her visits to national parks as a child and her trips with her own family on her blog page. You are welcome to visit the page and read about her photography adventures in these parks.