My camera gives me freedom and an excuse to explore the world. This photo was taken on my first visit to San Francisco, Chinatown for the 2017 Chinese New Years celebration. I went to San Francisco to create images of several different cultures that make up parts of the city. This was a great adventure for me, as I am a Hispanic high school student from an small isolated rural town. The people, food and customs were wonderful to experience and capture in images. My dream is to travel the world as a professional photographer. I am working on a photography portfolio about California that is an exploration and celebration of the cultures that make up our state.