The title of this book comes from a favorite, childhood classical piece of mine. In 1878, the composer, Tchaikovsky, went to Italy for a vacation. Capriccio Italien (Capriccio translates to whimsy/fanciful) was inspired by folk tunes and various street songs he heard during his trip. He combined the disparate sounds he heard throughout Italy into one orchestral piece that premiered in Moscow in 1880. Like a Beatles song, it is multi-faceted with many different rhythms and chord changes. It is almost danceable. The ending is about as dramatic as it gets. Give it a listen.

My first visit to Mexico was in 1956. My family was vacationing in San Diego for Christmas and my father thought it would be fun to explore Tijuana on New Year's Eve. Looking back, I realize it's outrageous to think taking a 10-year-old to Tijuana for New Year's Eve was a thought that crossed anyone's mind. But this was the innocent 1950s. I can still remember walking down the main drag in Tijuana and feeling like I was in the middle of a pinball machine--bouncing through sound and light. The sidewalk barkers were yelling into their microphones pleading for you to visit the bars and clubs inside, the blaring of mariachi trumpets, cowboys on ornate saddles riding horses and shooting pistols, people selling tequila shots, tacos, balloons, and inexpensive silver trinkets. Fireworks were exploding everywhere and it was pretty exotic and exciting for a young boy from Kansas City. It made quite an impression that I still vividly recall. I had to wait 16 more years before my next visit to Mexico in 1972. Sandie and I stayed at The Palmilla Hotel near San José del Cabo. At that time, the daily room rate was $75 a day. That hefty fee even included all our meals. Margaritas were extra at $4 per drink. Try finding that in Cabo today! The hotel had no phones or television, just quiet solitude in a beautiful, natural setting. If you ask most tourists what initially attracted them to Cabo, their response usually centers around consistent warm weather. Once you spend more time in Mexico you realize that great weather just begins to scratch the surface of what makes this place so magical. It’s the genuine friendship of the Mexican people and their culture that makes the lasting impression. There’s so much more than just sun and water. Thirty years ago we bought a home and now spend the better part of the winter in Cabo. We happily host family and friends throughout the season, eager to share this special place with them. We've been fortunate to visit other beautiful areas in Mexico: San Miguel de Allende, Colima, Oaxaca, and all around the Baja Peninsula. I can attest that Mexico just gets better the more you see of it. This book captures just a few scenes, colors, and people of this incredibly diverse and beautiful country. A place we now call home. John Valentine

Everyone sees the same thing a little differently. That’s the magic of photography. Everyone shoots from their own point of view - from their own aspect. And everyone has the ability to see something in a shot no one else may see.   So, what’s the difference between just an interesting photo and a photo that moves your spirit? As I learned in a lifetime of advertising, it’s emotion; connecting with something deeper, beneath the surface. This book is a collection of images that tapped into that deeper emotion for me. Some were shot over ten years ago. Others just recently. As I revisit some of the older ones, I’ve discovered new emotions and meanings. It’s one of the great joys of photography that images never grow old, they simply shift, tilt, and focus in new ways. There is always another story to tell. I’ve intentionally departed from the practice of naming my photographs. I believe the person who views the image should put their own label on it. Some may just be pretty or interesting, but I hope one or two strikes a deeper chord.

What drives and inspires me to shoot is no different than the urges that motivated the cave painter. The need to connect with others, to move them emotionally, is universal and timeless. By sharing a photo I am saying, “I captured this image, this moment in time. This particular combination of light, color and composition came together and it makes me feel a certain way.” Perhaps one of these moments will lead to a more intimate conversation about what moves you. These are the images from my book, MOMENTS. You may purchase prints of any of the images in various sizes here.