How we portray ourselves to the world is ... well, it’s “who we are” so to speak. People know me as a photographer. They’ll say to a friend who doesn’t know me, “You know, Eric the photographer, the guy who takes the pictures.” Or, “Eric? Eric Zamora? I know that name from somewhere, I’ve seen it. Have you been in the newspaper.”

I am in the business of photography. That is how I portray myself. When I write these blog posts, I write about how to be a better photographer, some of the places I’ve traveled to recently to photograph, or publication that my photographers are featured in, and, most importantly, how people can support my work.

You must understand that I started out in photography simply as a nature lover and an adventurer. It was a curiosity for me and an art. It was, and still is, a way for me to share all the crazy adventurous ideas that bounce around in my brain. It’s only because humans are screwing up the environment so badly that I felt compelled to use my photography to help fight the good fight. 

Doing photography as a business was never a question in my mind, but then again my mind, or my thoughts rather, were not complex enough to see how digital would change the business of photography forever. I’m a simpleton and hard-headed to boot. I don’t care about many of the things regarding digital trends in photography and yet it was all I was ever willing to do for a living. Until now.

I am sick and tired of scraping by as a photographer. That’s the honest to gods truth and the only reason why I’ve not said as much is because of this “image” I seek to portray to the world that everything is all well and good in the life of being an independent photographer trying to save the world. Six months ago, I was close to a breaking point. Living at home as a 30-year-old, not able to support myself, working 80 hrs a week and going nowhere fast, in debt and feeling beholden to “the man”, stuck in a cycle of work for pay while the world is falling apart WAY faster than I can ever get ahead. Man, I had dreams once! Big dreams, dreams of traveling the world, of documenting far-away cultures and bringing them into the homes of millions. What happened?!

Well, I am not going to let those dreams go to waste. Three months ago I did something I never thought I would do. I changed careers. Or, rather, I added a new career to my life, one that is more lucrative, one that will give me the tools I need to succeed financially in ways that I never dreamed of and therefore succeed in my career is ways that I’ve ALWAYS dreamed of. Welcome to the world of Qivana!

I am an Independent Business Owner with a network marketing company called Qivana. Qivana produces high-end nutraceutical products that fight everything from cancer to diabetes. I’ve been around eastern medicine and all-natural supplements (including organic and all-natural food products) for a long time, and Qivana’s products are second to none. They’ve made a big difference in my life and a big difference in the lives of my family and friends. 

This is the ticket! Qivana is the answer to all my doubts about my career – where I was going, how to best help my fellow man, how to rekindle my smoldering goals and dreams. I could write another 10,000 words about why Qivana is a great business, how network marketing is a great opportunity, and how much I love these products, but that’s not the purpose of this blog entry. The purpose of this blog entry is to start the process of living my life in truth! The gap between my entrepreneurial pursuits as a photographer and as a Qivana IBO must be bridged. It’s about time. I’ve given this A LOT of thought. And I know I face ridicule. But if it’s one thing I’ve learned during the past three months of my new business training it is TO NOT HAVE FEAR! Do not fear putting yourself out there. Do not fear the opinion of others. Do all that you can, and in the words of Art Williams, “All you can do is all you can do!”

So ... stay tuned. I have entered a whole new era. I will continue to photograph, after all I am a photographer! But I am also much more than that. You will not see this web site change very much. All of the galleries will remain in place. I have a Qivana web site where I maintain a blog about everything I’m learning about being a Qivana IBO, which includes some cross over into my photography. The only place on ericzamora.com where you will see information about Qivana is in the blog. The blog is a chronicle of my  professional AND personal life. It was never meant to be a front for all things good at Eric Zamora Photography. I’ve always wanted to open myself up to the world, to tell the truth, which includes the BAD with the good in living the life of Eric Zamora.

Before I close, you should know that the health crisis in this country, and being someone who sells health care products, is parallel to the environmental crisis, and being someone who sells conservation “products.” So much of what I will be posting about Qivana on my blog here will be about current health trends, product or lifestyle facts that fight those trends (including conservation related fixes), and how this “means to an end” is getting me closer to the “end” (my goals and dreams).

Please feel free to ask questions or make comments. I welcome your challenging thoughts, questions and inquiries.

Hey Eric,  Nice pics dude.  Really amazing.  Hope you enjoyed your stay here in my home state of Georgia.  Look forward to the calendar when its available as well.  Keep on keepin on!  Dale Karr,  Flowery Branch, GA

In late March, John Moran and I spend about four days photographing Tampa Bay, the Hillsborough River, and the Withlacoochee River.

Raccoon tracks etch the white sand bar lining the lagoon of Georgetown Park, a project surrounded by Tampa Bay – both urban and natural – that the state will hopefully acquire. This image was captured during my photo shoot for the 2011 Florida Forever Conservation Photography Calendar.

Bending shadow, light and color in the warped mirror of the Hillsborough River.

This famous scene at the Hillsborough River normally appears as rocky rapids around the buttress and knees of a cypress. With elevated water levels, the rapids are all but gone.

Morning light streaming through the canopy above the Hillsborough River.

Crystal Springs Preserve is owned by Zepherhills, a company that bottles waters, and is used for nature education, primarily for Florida's aquifer.

This has a funny story behind it. John, being quite spontaneous, asked me if I wanted to climb the windmill tower by his friend's gallery, which is located along HWY 441 near Melrose and provides a stunning view of Orange Lake in the distance. Of course I said yes! So Within a minute we were both near the top of a rusted, thin-metal tower, shooting images of the sunset light on the distant lake and pasture land of north Florida. Within a few minutes after that, a man, disturbed by our brazen act, called the owner, who promptly arrived with his wife. Luckily, John did indeed know the owner. We you chastised with a smile. It was fun while it lasted.

The jungle-like oak hammock of the Tsala-Apopka Lakes.

I brought John to this oak hammock in the Tsala-Apopka Lakes because it was the most beautiful I had ever seen. It did not disappoint. The resurrection ferns stood on end. Everything was moist. And that morning, fog enveloped everything in sight until almost noon.

I enjoy the telephoto look of a forest canopy, because it's easier to avoid the typical point of view of tree and forest photography – looking up from the ground.

A snail kite, endangered in Florida and very rare along the Withlacoochee River, leaps into flight from a branch.

Mating dragonflies. If anyone has any more information on the mating habits of dragonflies, please contact me.

A purple gallinule feeds along the shore of Lake Panosoffkee.

This image is one of my favorites for the way it uses the underexposed water and framing of the highlighted moss to help focus the eye's attention on the cypress buttress.

St. Joeseph Peninsula State Park and St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge are two of the most stunning Florida landscapes I have ever seen. They both feature trackless, wild beaches that stretch on for miles. They both have beautiful dunes. St. Joe's are like small mountains of sand and St. Vincent's are serpentine waves bisected by pine forest. I actually photographed these places just before the BP Oil disaster. Now, soon, they will be lined with the black greed of mankind. Enjoy what you see in these images because soon it will change for the worse and stay that way for a long time to come.

St. Vincent NWR

St. Vincent NWR – Pygmy Rattlesnake

St. Vincent NWR

St. Vincent NWR

St. Vincent NWR

St. Vincent NWR

St. Joe Peninsula State Park

St. Joe Peninsula State Park

St. Joe Peninsula State Park

Just a few fun macro shots, reminding me to zoom in and explore the world "at small."