Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Gomez.
Hi Daniel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I was like most kids—uninterested in birds and the great outdoors. However, my family always had a deep love for gardening, hiking, and bird watching. My curiosity about bird photography was first piqued during high school when my family and I visited the Rio Grande Valley. We explored several well-known birding centers in search of rare South Texas species unique to the area. I vividly recall the excitement shared by birdwatchers, including my family, when spotting birds like Green Jays and Great Kiskadees for the first time. While I was fascinated by the experience, I dismissed birding as something I wasn’t interested in at the time.
Fast forward to December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic I sustained a knee injury during a basketball game that required surgery. During the lockdown and while recovering, I decided to give bird photography another try. I purchased a starter Nikon camera and lens kit and began photographing birds in my backyard. From that moment, I was hooked. I clearly remember my now-wife, then-girlfriend, driving me to various parks around San Antonio, Texas while I had my leg propped up on a pillow in the backseat. Together, we spent hours exploring the local parks so I could capture local bird species.
Since then, my passion has taken me across every region of Texas and beyond. I’ve had the privilege of photographing hundreds of bird species across the U.S., and I’m continually inspired by the beauty of the natural world.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Overall, it’s been a smooth road, but there have certainly been some interesting experiences along the way. One memorable trip took me to South Padre Island. I had driven deep into the island, far beyond cell service and away from other people. I pulled over on the shoulder to photograph some shorebirds, but unfortunately, I got my car stuck in the sand. Without cell service and no one around, I genuinely thought I was stranded. Thankfully, after a while, a kind family came by and used their truck to tow me out. It was a scary moment, but one that ultimately turned out well.
Another time, I was photographing some songbirds deep in the Texas Hill Country, well camouflaged, when suddenly a coyote came running toward me at full speed. At first, I thought it had spotted me, so I jumped up, hoping to make myself appear larger. To my surprise, the coyote hadn’t seen me at all, and I ended up scaring it probably more than I was!
By nature I am not a very creative person, so it is difficult for me to find that true artistic scenery when out in the field. For some photographers, it is a natural gift they possess. They are able to go out to any place and find beauty in it and capture something amazing. For me, that is not a natural talent and I am always working to achieve that ability by learning new ways to see the world around me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an accountant working in corporate taxation. I specialize in ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations while optimizing tax strategies to support our companies goals. Throughout my career, I have honed my expertise in various tax and accounting software, coupled with a deep understanding of complex tax codes. My analytical skills enable me to identify opportunities for tax savings and process improvements, ultimately contributing to the financial health of my organization and clients.
I am most proud of being able to help save my company thousands of dollars in tax savings every year. I am very passionate about the success of my company and always working hard to make sure we are in compliance with regulations.
I am able to work well with all types of personalities. I have met numerous people throughout my career and thankfully there has not been a single person I have not been able to work with.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am very passionate about wildlife conservation. I am a member of the San Antonio Audubon Society and Bexar Audubon Society, and we work on many projects in the local area and across the state on conservation efforts for many endangered birds and other wildlife.
Also, I offer photo and bird watching tours for anyone interested in visiting the Texas Hill Country, as well as South Texas. My most popular tour is the Golden-Cheeked Warbler tour, where participants can come with me to get up close and personal looks of this rare and endangered species. I teach people where and how to find these birds, what their preferred habitat is, and how they can also practice conservation efforts on their own to help protect this native Texas species.
If anyone is interested in my conservation efforts, or would like to go on a tour with me, I can be reached on my website: www.dgomezwildlife.com or on my Instagram: @dgomezwildlife and we can discuss opportunities.
Pricing:
- $250.00 – Golden-Cheeked Warbler Tour (10% is donated to Golden-Cheeked Warbler conservation efforts)
- $300.00 – Lower Rio Grande Valley Tour (10% donated to Rio Grande Valley conservation efforts)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dgomezwildlife.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dgomezwildlife/
Image Credits
Daniel Gomez
