I used to be afraid of inversions and a year ago, I never would have imagined being able to hold a handstand. I was always that kid that was too scared to do a flip into a swimming pool.

My inversion journey began in parkour class last year, where I started learning how to front tuck off of a mini trampoline. Then I started taking yoga inversion workshops and started breaking, exploring alternate forms of movement. I was amazed by how interwoven and connected the disciplines of yoga, breaking, and parkour can be. I realize that I still have a long way to go especially with my form, but I’ve definitely faced my fear and I’m making progress.

This post is dedicated to my parkour, yoga, and breaking instructors that continue to inspire and push me @fitqueenirene @felixs_journey #BreaksKru. Thank you.

#antarcticaordie

(at Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia)

¿Cómo se llamas? #antarcticaordie (at Bolivia)

Creativity is absolutely necessary when attempting to exercise in the Bolivian salt flats. Here’s my first attempt at a Superman, inspired by @rockadeezy

#antarcticaordie #ibelieveicanfly (at Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia)

The landscapes in Bolivia are absolutely breathtaking. At nearly 16,000 ft above sea level, we visited some Inka ruins and got caught in a nasty hailstorm. I was only wearing a t shirt but at least I walked away with this image. #valelapena #antarcticaordie (at Bolivia)

Happy Friday! I just arrived at the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, which is allegedly the driest place on earth, but it’s pouring rain right now!

So over the next few days I will be posting some photos of Bolivia, which absolutely captivated me. I truly felt humbled by the heartwarming and kind Bolivians, and also by the majestic landscapes and mountains that surrounded us in the wild. We even went up to 5,000 meters (16,404 ft) and my head felt like it was about to explode.

This is Josefina, our talented chef, Bolivian mother, friend, and partner in crime. We felt such a genuine connection to Josefina and she truly took such great care of us. This is hardly a surprise coming from a mother of 10 kids. She’s usually smiling ear to ear, contrary to this photo, but perhaps she got a bit annoyed that we asked her to sit on the salt flats while we walked across her braids, especially after waking up at 3 am to bake us a cake. Pedro would have been really proud.

#antarcticaordie

(at Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia)

This morning I walked to Bolivia from Argentina and stumbled upon this captivating landscape surrounding the small town of Tupiza.

As I was sitting in the town square I observed some locals playing with their kids and some local women dancing and singing in the streets. Locals greeted and smiled at me. It was beautiful and raw and it made me realize why I enjoy traveling so much.

This world is so much bigger than NYC, Orange County, or even the US; it’s so easy to get caught up in our everyday lives and lose sight of the rest of the world out there. There is so much beauty everywhere on our planet and I want to discover it, experience it, and be transformed by it. I want to have a worldview that transcends cultures and continents.

I have a feeling that I will come home after these 2 months abroad completely transformed.

#antarcticaordie

(at Tupiza “la Joya Bella De Bolivia”)

| WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME |

Today I walk into Bolivia after wandering around this Argentine wilderness

#antarcticaordie (at La Quiaca- Frontera Argentina/Bolivia)

Take me away #antarcticaordie (at Salinas Grandes, Jujuy, Argentina)

A boy and his llama #antarcticaordie (at San Antonio, Salta, Argentina)

Glad to be up in the mountains. This is Salta unfiltered #antarcticaordie (at Cafayate, Salta, Argentina)

A self portrait on Caminito in La Boca, Argentina using a trashcan as a tripod #antarcticaordie (at La Boca, Distrito Federal, Argentina)

Cruising to the beach in Uruguay and thankful for my first summer of 2015! #antarcticaordie #endlesssummer (at Colonia Del Sacramento, Uruguay)

The view of Buenos Aires from my rooftop #iaintmad #antarcticaordie (at Buenos Aires, Argentina)

The best part about being self employed is that you get to choose your own adventure.

Tomorrow I will hop on a plane bound for South America and embark on a journey to Antarctica, my final continent, where I will be the Photographer in Residence onboard an expedition ship. Antarctica has been on my bucket list ever since I was in 4th grade, so this will be quite a meaningful adventure.

I’m incredibly grateful and excited for this opportunity, and it all still feels a bit surreal.

Follow my adventure here #antarcticaordie

(at New York, New York)

Exactly 4 years ago today I relocated to NYC, fresh off of a plane from Sydney, Australia, and literally started over.

I’m incredibly grateful for this journey, and all of the people I’ve met along the way.

People often ask me if I see myself staying in NYC indefinitely, and the answer is YES.

#canigraduate (at New York, New York)

My first task of the year is to plan out my 5 week trip around Argentina and South America before I head down to Antarctica for a month long photo residency.

This year I will slow down and live in the moment, take more photos, and do more personal projects. I think 5 weeks on my own is a great way to kick off the year and dive into these resolutions.

It’s snowing right now in NY and I’m excited for summer again in a few weeks!! Do you have any recommendations and/or suggestions in and around Argentina for me?

#WHPresolutions2015
#antarctica (at New York, New York)

This was my final image of 2014. Every time I look up at the moon, I can’t help but be mesmerized by our universe and in awe of the explorers that landed on the moon in 1969. It’s hardly a surprise that my fellow explorer @laurenfarmer coincidentally took a very similar image from halfway across the world.

As I look back and reflect on 2014, I’m surprised by how quickly the year flew by, and also grateful for all of the beautiful moments I experienced and the people I shared them with.

Thank you for following and for allowing me to share some of my favorite moments. I wish you and your loved ones a beautiful 2015 filled with adventure and exploration.

All My Best,
Reuben (at Los Angeles, California.)

The first light of 2015 #happynewyear #losangeles ✌️ (at Griffith Observatory)

2014 A Year in Review

2014 | A Year in Review

Greetings from California! When I look back at 2014, I can’t help but be surprised by how quickly the year flew by. It’s quite startling actually. I’ve decided that moving forward I need to reevaluate and work on my relationship with time. I need to savor the adventures a bit more and stop more frequently to soak up, enjoy, and live in the moment.

I’m also incredibly grateful for all of the beautiful moments I experienced and the people I shared them with. One thing I’m proud of is how much time I was able to spend with my friends that live on the west coast. I took 7 trips out west to CA this year, mostly for work. But more than ever, I realize that cultivating friendships and community takes a lot of work and energy, but is also meaningful, necessary, rewarding, and quite possibly the most important aspect of life. I want to be intentional about cultivating relationships and one way I will do this is by designing adventures specifically for that purpose. This past year I finally summited Half Dome with my friend Matt and in 2015, I will head to South Africa, Tanzania, and Zanzibar with my friend Drew to conquer Kilimanjaro and hopefully get some great views of “big cats playing ball”. 

One of my major highlights of 2014 was the time I spent as the Photographer in Residence onboard the M/S Expedition ship in the Arctic, 600 - 800 miles from the North Pole. It was truly a transformative experience spent in the wild, beautiful, and fragile polar environment, and made me realize firsthand the importance of safeguarding the future of our planet. I’m so excited to embark in a few weeks on a 2 month adventure and photo residency back onboard the M/S Expedition down in Antarctica, which has been on my bucket list ever since I was in 4th grade and is also my final continent to explore. It will definitely be a meaningful experience that will undoubtedly shape my life and future work.

Thanks for joining me on this adventure and for allowing me to share some of my favorite moments. I wish you a beautiful, adventurous, and transformative 2015! 

The photos above are my top 10 favorite images of 2014 with captions below.

All My Best, 
Reuben

1. Polar Bears in the Arctic, photographed about 100 meters away from a zodiac and one of the most challenging images I’ve ever captured (Svalbard, Norway)

2. Dr. Tom Smith, rifle master and naturalist, once saved a polar bear’s life by punching it in the face (Svalbard, Norway)

3. A mountain peak emerges in Inglefieldbreen, Svalbard, less than 800 miles from the North Pole

4. NYC Ballet, Jen Trahan for Reuben Hernandez Studios, NYC

5. Yosemite’s Half Dome summit with Matthew Morgan (California)

6. Blood Moon/Total Lunar Eclipse, photographed from Southern California

7. Christopher “Push” Costa at PMT Dance Studio, NYC

8. Spiderman Parkour Self Portrait, Brooklyn, NY

9. JR’s Inside Out Project at Millions March NYC 

10. 9/11/2014, NYC

PLW Blog | Share Your Thirst: Reuben Hernandez

Project: Living Well asked me what I thirst for and this is what I said.