My name is Rachael Rogers, and I’m a hobby photographer from the tiny ranching town of Adin, California—population 300. Growing up in such a rural place, there isn’t always a lot to do, so I learned to make my own kind of magic.

I first started taking senior portraits for the local kids because, in a town this small, it can be hard to get photos done. Once I had a camera in my hands, though, I found myself wanting to explore even more. I’d drive through the valley and take pictures of whatever caught my eye—golden fields, moody skies, longhorns standing proud in the pasture. That’s when my motto really took shape: find a little sparkle wherever you go.

One of my favorite “sparkle moments” became my photo Longing for Spring, a shot of a longhorn bull I found while out driving. I entered it in the Eye of the Lens art gallery contest and ended up winning the People’s Choice Award—a huge honor for someone who simply loves photography as a hobby.