Welcome dear photography lovers !!!

May 23rd was a very special day for me, it marked the beginning of an incredible cyber-adventure. I never imagined how my life would change, opening the doors to a new facet in me, writing. But not only that, it has also allowed me to develop a passion, which since my youth was latent, without finding, the opportunity to shine, to flourish. It seems unbelievable that two years have passed since that significant day, when I formally began my story in the world of the Blockchain. Infinite thanks @tpalomo, @lanzjoseg, for introducing me to this wonderful world and guiding me through my first steps.

Although it may seem silly to some, that very moment when I pressed the PUBLISH button, I felt a mixture of fear, indecision and uncertainty envelop me. After 2 years of walking, I still have that feeling, every time I'm about to publish a new post. You may say it's crazy, but that effect on me is one of the reasons that have allowed me to keep publishing, despite the uphill road that this world represents.

Touching on this subject, it is necessary to make a parenthesis, which perhaps clarifies a little, what I propose in the previous text. One of the great teachings that I left behind when I was a university student in the theatre. It was a small talk that he gave us, before I began my first participation in a play, the then director who was also the founder of the theatre group at my university. An excerpt from that conversation follows.

_{"... I know you're scared, don't worry about it. Worry about the day when, in those minutes that precede your departure to the boards, you are not invaded by fear. When you stop feeling that your heart is about to burst and your stomach is full of butterflies. Because that will be the unmistakable indication that your love for the theatre has died. The day I don't experience that fear, that adrenaline in my veins, will also be my last day on the stage.}

_{Julio Rincones}

Those words changed my perception and my relationship with stage fright, which paradoxically had been the reason for my incursion into the world of theatre. I realized that I could not get rid of it, but learn to use it to my advantage. Because that adrenaline rush that accompanies it makes us feel more alive. That's why, no matter what the obstacles are, as long as I continue to feel that sensation coursing through my veins at the moment of publication, you will continue to see me walk through this beautiful world of the Blockchain.

Looking back on those previous days, I have to admit that it was very hard for me to make my first publication, I didn't dare to take that first step. I did not know what to write, nor that I would continue to write, until that moment, I had only written, on academic issues, or related to my profession. But I was very clear that I would not write about these subjects in my blog. I was looking for a kind of escape valve, although I love being a university teacher, sometimes it stresses me out, especially at the end of the semester.

I aspired to create a kind of special corner where I could share with the community the other passions of my life. It took me, more or less two weeks, to organize my ideas and be clear about what I would write about... I know sometimes I'm a bit slow, hahaha. But when I understood, that I could focus my blog on my passion for photography, everything was clear, starting this wonderful journey.

I'm aware that I've repeated ad nauseam that I'm passionate about photography, and I love photographing the world around me. And on one occasion, I think I have told you, about the crazy idea that gives meaning, at least for me, to the passion that surrounds me for this fabulous art... I happen to love to think that, through the lens of my camera, I can stop time.

I know it sounds absurd, and even crazy, hahaha, but from my perspective, when we take a picture we encapsulate moments of our lives. Experiences, to which we can later return, simply by evoking memories when we look at our photographs. That philosophy is another reason that has given and will continue to give meaning to my journey through these cyber-ecosystems, hoping that it will be for many years to come.

In short, my Blog "ESSENCES AND IMAGES", took shape, being framed in my passion for photography. During this adventure that has reached its 2 years a constant, is the sharing, the images captured by the lens of my camera. Photographs that try to show the beauty and miracle that offers us day by day the nature that surrounds me. My more than 300 publications have dealt with many subjects.

To recapitulate, I have told you about my life and my family whom I love madly. There are so many beautiful places in my wonderful country, Venezuela, that we went through the lens of my beloved camera and there is still so much more to show you. With my series "COLLECTION OF VENEZUELAN BIRDS", we have learned together about some of the birds, which fly across the majestic blue Venezuelan sky. What can I tell you about the flowers that adorn the soils of my beloved country, their beauty is indescribable. I have even shown you a little bit about my other passions, sewing and manual arts.

One thing I've always done in my blog, even though it represents a hard work, is not to limit myself to show only pictures. I love to tell the story behind them, which allows, in some way, to contextualize the images. And not only that, I regularly share with you interesting information, about the topic on which my photographic work is focused. It takes time to research, however, and it is satisfying because it has allowed me to learn many things I did not know before.

In spite of the two years I've spent there, I must admit, although I'm a bit embarrassed, that I'm still a neophyte in many aspects of the Blockchain. Furthermore, I must emphasize that it has not been an easy journey, contrary to the time and effort invested, my publications went almost unnoticed, for a long time. Situation, that discouraged me, but thanks to God, I found Mr. @r2cornell, his words of recognition, for my photographic work, were crucial, not to give up. He helped me to become aware that it was worth continuing to share my work. Infinite Thanks.

Another crucial factor in moving forward is the constant support and encouragement from @amart29. My partner in this virtual world, and in real life, would not be the same without him. More than once he has had to endure my traumas in the real world, because nobody reads me. To you, beloved husband, friend, whom I admire infinitely, for his wonderful mind, capable of creating captivating and amazing fiction stories. Stories set in unimaginable worlds, and incredible in very distant futures, lost, in that infinite universe and unknown to most. Thank you for always being there and encouraging me to write and share my work.

I believe that the support I have received, my stubbornness, among other factors, has allowed my publications to achieve a certain level of visibility today. I am aware that they have not yet reached the level of "TRENDS", unfortunately in these ecosystems, for that, you need a lot of money or to be well connected. But, my few or many readers and followers, apparently, enjoy my work, for now, with that I feel satisfied. I know that my constant work, little by little will bring me good results, positioning me, sooner than later, in that rating of the most read.

The Blockchains, during this time have represented for me, a window to the world, which has allowed me to have the luck to interact in several different ecosystems, some more successful than others, even some, I have had to abandon, because they were already uninhabitable. They lost their way, being submerged, in absurd power struggles, leading them to failure.

However, I do not regret any of these experiences, they allowed me to meet, even if virtually, wonderful and supportive people. Life, put in my way people who believed in me, gave me the opportunity to work as a curator, content reviewer, supervisor. I even became a manager in a community oriented to Spanish-speaking content, how about that? I want to believe that, even if in a small way, I supported that great majority of wonderful content creators, to gain a little bit of visibility, while those responsibilities lasted.

During this time, there have been many valuable content creators that I have been able to meet. I have even had the pleasure of working side by side with some of them, of which I have beautiful memories. Some of them, @sol25, @reyvaj, @jotakrevs, @samic, @oizaguirres, @kantos, @carlagonz, @latino. romano, @blacklux, @idafc, Ms, @sacra97, @surika, @purrix, @felixgarciap, @vgalue, @pablo1601, @zhanavic69, @marybellrg, @carolinacardoza; in general to the whole family of @topfivefamily, @hosgug, @marpa, @txatxy, @miguelmederico, @juancar347.

I apologize a lot, because I know that my lack of memory, makes me leave out many. To all of you, infinite thanks, for accompanying me during this beautiful journey. I must also highlight the important work of communities such as, @cervantes, @curangel, @dsc-r2cornell, @talentclub, @gems, @ocd and important users such as @appreciator or @theycallmedan, have been essential to my growth, as well as to other content creators.

I only have to say goodbye, hoping that you enjoyed this remembrance, for what these two years of life have been for me, in the cyber world of the Blockchain. Also, I hope of course, you will enjoy the compilation of photography that I made with love for you. It is only a small extract of my work during this incredible adventure, in this, my magic corner of Essence and Images. From where I hope to continue sharing with you my vision of the world through my camera lens.

Content and photographs of my intellectual property

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