They seem familiar most of the time, his photos, like a quiet moment in the stairway after all the sound of all steps have subsided or the mental but continuous trickle of water over the waterfall in a canyon. These photos have a way of taking you to a place that lives somewhere deep inside of you that you may never even visit but somehow feel connected to. That's what makes the photography of Moises Gomez special. He takes these beautiful but common moments like a sunset on the beach or a snowy morning in Utah and captures their essence in a way that allows all of us to find some attachment to this time and this place.
Gomez has been a lifelong traveler not only in his home state of California, but to other states across the US and Mexico. “I grew up in Paso Robles, California,” said Gomez. “As a child, my parents took me to Mexico frequently to visit family as well as numerous road trips here in the states. I’ve always loved to travel for that reason.”
Travel he did, but like many of us there was a place that has a special place in his heart. The first place Gomez recalls instantly casting a spell on him was Yosemite National Park in Central California. Gomez said, “My first trip to Yosemite National Park. I recall distinctly seeing the Yosemite valley as you exit the tunnel for the first time and how blown away I was by it’s vast beauty.”
Yosemite may have been the first place that captured the young Gomez's imagination but in Middle School it was a Fuji camera that first got him interested in photography. “In middle school with my fuji film point and shoot camera was when I first took interest,” Gomez continued, “but the last three years has really solidified my appetite for landscape/travel photography.”
Over the last few years he has developed and improved his skills immensely. “Capturing the mood is like an impulse buy, you have to go with your gut instinct on the spot. First mentally visualizing the shot, secondly capturing it at the right time and lastly developing the mood in Lightroom,” Gomez said.
Gomez truly captures magic in this moment. In a fairyland environment of the Redwoods the sun cuts through thick forest to illuminate the dust of mist in the air. There is nothing extraordinary about these moments, but there is something that captures you when you see photos like this on a deeper level.
This cat is not your cat, you may not have ever had a cat in your home but at this moment you can almost feel the cat's hair as you reach out to pet it. His photos take you to a place you have never been, like a dream. Gomez said, “Capturing the mood is like an impulse buy, you have to go with your gut instinct on the spot. First mentally visualizing the shot, secondly capturing it at the right time and lastly developing the mood in Lightroom.”
Just to highlight this, look at this photo from 2019 of a cat asleep as the light wraps them in a warm blanket. This painting-like photo can somehow radiate out the moment and make you feel like you are in that room with all the warmth hitting you as well. Gomez said this about what he believes makes a good photo,“Capturing the right moment that can tell a story. Whether you’re catching an incredible sunset, or stargazing at the milky way."
So how does he capture these amazing moments? The old fashion way, “It’s all about perspective,” said Gomez. “I capture as many angles as it takes whether that be up high or down low. I’ve even been on my stomach to get the right shot.”
It may take some effort but for Gomez it’s just a part of the passion. “I don’t consider it work because I have such a passion for travel and photography,” he continued. “The one thing that I can attest to in my growth is the continuous trial and error in my photography. As with all skill sets, if you don’t frequently use them, you will lose your touch, so I’ve been persistent in working on it and taking pictures whenever I can with my Canon or my Iphone.”
Gomez over the years has stayed an avid traveler. He has also photographed many of these travels and highlighted the essence of the location to life in his photos. “It’s like living in a dream when you visit these gorgeous locations,” Gomez said, “Feasting your eyes upon sandstone arches, canyons, waterfalls & mountains. It’s like a child’s first trip to Disneyland, everything is exciting and your body is flooded with joy and anticipation.”
He has some tips for you if you are looking to head out on an adventure of your own and get some amazing pictures to keep with you for the rest of your life. “Take a road trip,” Gomez continued. “Find a place on the map that’s far enough to endure a lengthy car ride and pick out two states you can travel within a six day time frame. Research the areas you plan to visit such as State Parks, National Parks, etc. and map out your journey. I also really encourage everyone to talk to the locals. Ask them where’s a good place to catch a sunset or sunrise. Get inside information that can’t be found online. Also remember that when you’re out exploring, leave no trace behind!”
Gomez has a long list of places he is planning on traveling to in the future from the PNW to the Devil’s Tower and the Badlands National Park all the way to the Smoky Mountain National Park. “I hope my photography will continue to inspire me to explore areas and create more memorable experiences to share with everyone,” he said.
Thank you Moises Gomez for adding locations to Know Now Go Later. We love to feature those who have contributed to this website because without them, this website would not be as big as it is. If you have some great places that you have explored, please feel free to add them to the website with the link below. You never know; we might feature you next!