Lark O’Hora

Creative Strategist & Storyteller

Lark’s Why

This life was gifted to me to explore – every corner, facet, face, and object deserves its moment to shine if only given the chance and time. Every day, I try to give the ordinary a story. Through visual concepts, writing, photography, videography, travel, illustration, and storytelling, my creativity blossoms.

From the pages

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from the pages

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From the pages ⦁ from the pages ⦁

  • The windows always made way for the crisp air; allowing it to gently release from the sage brush through into the concrete walls, filling your lungs with the most wonderful wet scent. Not many wet scents are gentle to the nose… but this one. This one was compellingly delightful. One that every day I’m away I wish I had stored in a small corked bottle that never released that scent. We have thought about ways to make candles or air fresheners, but nothing could compare. The wet petrichor: a scent of juniper brought to life again, the stones washing their cheeks, the small spits of grass soaking up as many of the infrequent drops they could get. Rain in Santa Fe was never dreary. We looked forward to it, like the blessing it was. In the desert, we needed it. But it was never too much. Always just right. Enough to wash away the thin layer of dust from the face of the earth, and let the arroyos rage for a brief second. While in a desert, one would never imagine the water to equal power. But the first lesson we learned is to never cross the raging rivers. Short and small, but can capture you away with one ill-placed step on the fragile clay banks. The rain was never dark either. Maybe a thundercloud or two that resembled the deep blue-gray mountains. But more frequently, the rain came with the sun. Monsoon season was always a spectacle— golden sleets of rain pounding down to the terracotta earth, like confetti streamers after a big show. It would come for fourteen days, and we wouldn’t see it again until next year. 


    Most run from the rain. Get inside before they are soaked through. 

    I didn’t own my own umbrella until I was 21 years old. 


    It was in this juxtaposition of a land I rested my bare feet on sharp rocks and cactus spines. Through barefooted expeditions across ridges of rounded hills through cragged mini-arroyos, you could trace the curvatures until your toes sunk into the softest sand. As if you were the size of a pinto bean and you stepped into a bowl of cinnamon. So soft it took the unique print off the base of your toes, leaving your tracks, but only for a little while until a whisper of a breeze erased the fact you were ever there. And that is how it felt. Every day in the land was new. Every morning brought a new sunrise, powerful and rich like the coffee that brewed every day at 6 a.m. Rich reds and oranges like the chile you’d find on your plate at dinner. The air was void of vehicle noises, machinery, voices. The coyotes sang for us. The cicadas and crickets were our white noise machines. The hummingbirds were reminders we lived somewhere warm. And that was it. A rare plane flying overhead reminded us we were human and we’d run outside to watch it. And at night, when the heat flew away like the sheet over my head as a child being tucked around me for the sweetest dreams and happiest thoughts, the cold settled in, allowing every night to be the perfect night’s rest. The blinds were always left open. You never needed them to drown out street lights or passing cars. And through the windows you could watch the stars, spread thick across the midnight blue canvas, like the sprinkles I would dump on cakes. Shooting stars would trickle through the sky, always reminding you of how lucky you truly were to be laying there, in that moment. The coyote, alone at night, would sing you a lullaby, harmonizing with the soft plucking of the guitar. 


    The cinnamon wasn’t just sand… it was clay. 


    Pottery sherds reminded us we were never the first to be there. Nor would we be the last. The pristine, smooth surfaces are only slightly weathered by the two weeks of rain a year. Their black zig-zag patterns pay homage to the cultures they came from. Some day, kids will run to their parents with a button or small fairy figurine that I left behind in my strolls across the land — they’ll imagine what kind of ancient world that button must have come from. To me, it was my fairy’s cake platter. Maybe someday archeologists will unearth the stuffed animals my first dog buried and analyze them. Anthropology.

Taste Test Travels • Paros, Greece

We opted for the long ferry from Athens to Paros. I would not have travelled there any other way. Experiencing the boat, the people, the islands floating past and the fun on board only added an intimate touch. We landed in Parikia, Paros, ferry doors descending, granting all of us a tempting view of the days to come. A big, old windmill, white buildings, and rugged terrain promised a time well-spent. The port town, like most, was bustling. Cafes, ATV motor rentals galore. We hopped into a taxi, which wound us through villages and up steep inclines to Kalypso – a beautiful hotel in Naoussa. Welcomed in by friendly faces and the property cats (who, respectfully, are treated as valued community members in Greece), we felt right at home. Waiting for our rooms to be ready, we opted to change into swimwear and sit water-side on their beautiful seafront property. We indulged in local drafts, fresh-squeezed orange juice, tzatziki and pita, a Greek salad, or more locally known as ‘horiatiki salata’. Using the small dock, we refreshed ourselves in the lapping turquoise water.
A wooden dock with metal railing extends into the clear, greenish water of a lake or ocean, with gentle waves. 
Their breakfasts were wonderful– hardboiled eggs fresh from the island kept warm on baked salts, fresh baked bread and fruits so sweet you find yourself craving nothing else. The most divine greek yogurt, feta and other local cheeses, and eggs scrambled with vine-ripened tomatoes. Our first dinner was at ShoSho. The service: wonderful. The atmosphere: beautiful. The food: out of this world. Dolmadakia I wanted to order again and again, feta me meli – a fresh slab of feta wrapped in a layer of phyllo dough, baked, and drizzled in local honey and black sesame seeds. It lights up your heart. Dips with pita that you want to carry with you forever, traditional moussaka with incredible spices, and the freshest wild-caught sea bass. Paired with a local Paros white, this meal will forever live in my dreams. And if the dream couldn’t get any sweeter, the most wonderful desserts soon followed. The first: a play on the combination of two traditional Easter desserts in Greece: Galaktoboureko and Tsoureki. A light, floral custard, topped with a tsoureki bread pudding soaked in a sweet citrus syrup. Bedazzled with light chantilly cream and fresh chopped pistachios, I hope to someday find this dessert served at my wedding (and every other event I may host). The second dessert was a nod to one of their Christmas classics: the Melomakarona cookies. Soft semolina olive oil cookies soaked in an orange and honey syrup and topped with crushed walnuts were served on top of a fresh ball of ice cream. Both were beautiful odes to classics – something the Greeks do exceptionally well. Every restaurant treats you with a post-meal glass of Mastiha – an herbal liqueur made from the trees of Chios. We wandered the bright, winding streets, every night discovering something new. The town comes alive still bustling at midnight, making for a blissful lost perception of time. In a small window, a family-run business – a girl and her parents – were serving their loukoumades: fried honey balls drizzled with cream and hazelnut chocolate sauce, some with a ball of delicious ice cream, to their line of giddy patrons. Via ATVS, we took the time to explore more of the island. We wound through tiny, narrow lanes among olive trees and small, lush farms. At points, the road dropped so close to the lapping turquoise sea it almost kissed our toes. To Kalogeros Beach – a raw, rugged beach with stark white clay bluffs that made the turquoise green waves saturated. We mixed the fresh, cool and very salty sea water with ground up clay, and covered ourselves for a natural spa moment. After rinsing off, we were so soft, and in awe. A reminder of nature’s healing powers. Paros has made its way to my favorites list, and I look forward to seeing its face again soon.

A scoop of vanilla ice cream garnished with whipped cream, crushed pistachios, and chocolate shavings.

Taste Test Travels • Naxos, Greece

Just across the strait, a ferry will take you 45 minutes to Naxos. The port town instantly informs you of the antiquity of this island, with the iconic white buildings nestled up the hill to the stone ruins of a Venetian castle. This town was swarming. We made the decision to rent a car, as Naxos – the birthplace of Zeus – is the largest island of the collection. It requires a form of transportation to explore all of its facades. While many opt for the bus system, there is something wildly more personal about weaving your own way through tiny villages, and having the freedom to pull over at every outlook, beach, or farm stand. We stayed in Villa Thea Naxos, a heavenly Airbnb placed just outside the village of Vivlos. It sits high above the farms, where goats, dairy cows and roosters are always chatting up a storm. The beautiful, well-designed and serene home offers a panoramic view of the west coast of the island. A rare car, tractor or scooter may interrupt the symphony of animals and breeze, but most of the time is spent basking in the sun watching tiny sailboats navigate the deep blue Aegean, ferries dropping off fresh batches of wandering eyes and the locals working their daily lives among the golden stone landscape. Tales tell that Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy, fell in love with Naxos for its spectacular wine, and blessed the land with endlessly fertile soil. The tales are true. Every bite of delicious food is the freshest, most flavorful morsel. You find yourself scraping every plate clean. The locals here suggest you eat your way through the island – so we did. From our
A rustic kitchen shelf holding vintage metal kitchen utensils and containers, with a stone wall in the background and woven baskets with dried flowers in the foreground.
A calm ocean with a sailboat near rocks and several swimmers in the water under a partly cloudy sky.
A flowering bougainvillea plant growing against a white wall with small, irregularly shaped openings and a window.
A collection of three potted plants, including a tall cactus, a textured ceramic pot, and a bunch of rocks, arranged against a light-colored wall.
A close-up view of a bunch of grape berries hanging on a vine with green and yellow leaves, growing against a light-colored stone wall. 
town, the most delicious coconut cake and kataiki from a local bakery. A little further south towards Alyko Beach – a cedarwood forest wrapping calm turquoise water and white sands – and Pyrgalki – a beach with no one else and decorated with beautiful stones and tiny vibrant seashells – you will find Faros Tou Alykou. We indulged in the fava puree, freshly made dolmadaki, fresh beetroot salad, fried zucchini rounds, roasted eggplant with Naxian feta and cinnamon, and Kefalotyri saganaki with local Naxian honey and black sesame seeds… to name a few fan favorites. Always accompanied with horiatiki salata, we left perfectly nourished. Up in the mountains in the sweet town Filoti, we found our new favorite salad and Amvrosia. Fresher than fresh greens, with Naxian dried figs, cherry tomatoes, Naxian gruyere, rusk croutons and a mint vinaigrette. To finish, a traditional Greek coffee, boiled over heat in a copper cup – so sweet and creamy I could drink it black. To move away from the topic of food is a challenge, but Naxos has some of the most beautiful beaches. As described earlier, Alyko and Pyrgaki are rustic and raw –untouched and quiet. While Plaka remains the most popular beach on Naxos, its long stretches of soft sand leaves plenty of space for everyone – perhaps slightly less populated for a September visit. It offers small beach bars and rentable sun chairs and I can imagine in peak season it is bustling. Beautiful with the same touch of rugged nature that makes Naxos unique nonetheless. A local recommended Mikri Viglia – a smaller cove with stunning blue and green waters and soft sand. You can rest here for the days and pop in and out of the beach taverna, finishing off with a delicious dinner. It seems this is the spot the residents all make their way to at the end of their day. Just up the coast is Agia Anna, a sweet beach nestled up to a cute village which offers a strip of seafront restaurants and tavernas. The Greek islands are known for their beaches and beautiful waters, but I could not emphasize enough how imperative it is to make it up to the mountain villages. In Chalki, beautiful local shops sell delectable goods, and sweet cafes and tavernas serve traditional mountain food you will not find on the coast. Filoti has rustic tavernas and cafes and wonderful shops, and Aperanthos, known for its marble-cobbled streets has beautiful shops selling selling ceramics from local articles, plates and figurines carved from Naxian marble – known and loved across the world – and taverns looking out onto the valley. Take your drive to the northwest coast through the mountains and you will find yourself in an old fishing village – Apollonas – that offers even more rustic and untouched views and beaches. Take an evening to drive into Naxos Town, and explore the winding streets that lead you up to the castle. Make your way through the Old Market and pop into the family-run shops to find delightful woven goods, ceramics, and every other possible gift or trinket you might have your heart set on. This island encompasses the pride the locals feel for their lands and their goods. They will offer you fresh desserts, aperitifs, samples of honeys and pistachio pralines, fresh pistachios from their gardens and the richest foods. Agriculturally, resourcefully and culturally abundant, Naxos will take your heart and fill it with gold, leaving you craving for more. 

Gallery

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Gallery

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Gallery ⦁ Gallery ⦁

A man walking alone across a vast sandy desert with mountains in the background and a partly cloudy sky overhead.
Aerial view of a snow-covered mountain landscape with ridges, valleys, and forests.
A boat with people onboard near a rocky coastline with clear blue-green water and a distant sailboat under a clear sky.
Two people sitting on a sandy landscape with mountains in the background under a blue sky.
A men's winter jacket with a black and tan polka dot pattern, white fur trim on the front panels, and fluffy white fur at the collar.
A row of shawls or blankets with geometric patterns in shades of beige, brown, black, and white, hanging on a rack against a wood-paneled background.
A close-up of a decorative white object with fuzzy and netted textures, including a beaded hanging element, against a plain background.
An adobe-style building with a ladder leaning against it, a small window, and two smoke vents on the roof under a clear sky.
Various small buildings or booths with signs, including a lobster-themed sign on top of one building, located along a parking lot with painted space lines and concrete wheel stops.
A woman with blonde hair smiling against a sunset sky with mountains and a canyon in the background.
A black wooden chair with a scarf draped over the backrest, a large beige, white, and brown striped tote bag hanging from the side, a textured stone wall background, and purple flowers in the background.
A citrus tree with orange and yellow fruits growing in front of a building with a yellow window and barred door, with a small bush underneath and fallen oranges on the cobblestone ground.
View of a beach scene through vertical wooden beams, with a man wearing a face mask sitting at a table in the lower left corner. The ocean and sky are visible in the background.
View from a boat showing the water splashing against rocks below, with a metal railing and part of the boat's structure visible in the foreground.
An assortment of fresh fruits including tomatoes, strawberries, pineapples, and melons displayed on wooden shelves at a market. Green leafy plants are also part of the display, along with handwritten signs in Spanish listing prices.
Colorful houses stacked on a hillside in a coastal town, with green mountain slope in the background.
A landscape scene with a cat walking along a stone wall in the foreground, a green shrubbery and rocky terrain behind it, a body of water further back, and hilly terrain with buildings on the hills in the background under a pale sky.
Colorful multi-story buildings with balconies, decorative elements, and a street lamp in front, under a clear blue sky.
Colorful buildings with shuttered windows and balconies, built on a stone bridge over a river, with trees and sky in the background.
Close-up of an open window with white shutters on a white stucco wall, with rusted hinges and a rusty latch.
White buildings with arches and crosses, blue sky and water in the background, typical of Greek island architecture, at sunset.
A person sitting on the beach with long dark hair, painting on a canvas placed on an easel, near the water's edge. The scene includes a beige umbrella, rocks, and clear shallow water with small waves.
Sliced cherry tomatoes, a fresh basil leaf, and a ball of mozzarella cheese on a speckled white surface.
People shopping for clothing in a store, browsing racks with beige, peach, and cream-colored dresses, and woven fabrics in the background.
A wall-mounted art piece featuring a humanoid figure with a skeletal face and intricate details, surrounded by a textured, bark-like structure, and a rusty metal abstract face sculpture to the right, with pink flowers and green leaves on the left sid
An elderly woman with curly white hair shopping at an outdoor farmer's market, looking at baskets of strawberries, peaches, bananas, and cherries on a table.
A wall with pink and peach bougainvillaea flowers climbing on it, an open window with black bars, and potted plants with purple and white flowers in the foreground.
People swimming in clear water near a docked small boat with a net and striped cushion on the deck.
Close-up of a beige stucco building with wooden beams and a small window, against a clear blue sky.
Close-up of a modern chandelier made of pink glass tubes with curved ends, arranged in a spherical shape, illuminated from within, hanging above a polished wooden surface in a room with glass block windows.
Clothing items hanging on a rack in a store, with a decorative orange light fixture on a reddish-orange wall above.
Bar scene at Salon Vert featuring a variety of liquor bottles on shelves, hanging wine glasses, and a bartender preparing drinks beneath a decorative floral wallpaper and a neon sign that says "Salon Vert."
Close-up of a traditional Andalusian building with ornate carvings, intricate wooden latticework, and a terracotta tiled roof under a blue sky.
View through a window showing a woman with bunny ears and pink antennas, holding a pink item, with colorful balloons in the background.
Boats docked in a rocky coastal area with people climbing rocks in the background.
Woman standing inside a rounded opening looking out at lush green tropical plants.
A woman wearing a decorative, tiered hat resembling a cake with colorful icing and a small yellow chick on top.
Historic building with ornate architecture, brick and stone facade, black wrought iron balconies, and a flagpole with a red flag on a cloudy sky background.
A woman with dark hair tied up, wearing a red velvet dress with white frills on the neckline, sitting against an orange-brown textured wall, peeling fruit or preparing food, with a basket of orange and yellow papaya slices on a table in front of her.
A dark sandy beach with gentle waves washing ashore under a cloudy sky.
Close-up of intricate architectural details on a historic building, featuring a tiled roof, arched windows, and ornate decorative elements on columns and balconies.
People at a party or gathering, with a woman in sunglasses and a blue bandana talking, surrounded by others, some holding drinks, and decorative string lights.
A spider hanging from a web above green and yellow leaves against a pastel pink and purple sky.
Man standing on a small red boat, wearing a hat and casual clothing, paddling on a calm body of water with mountain and cloudy sky in the background.
Mountaintop view with clouds at the base and a clear blue sky, viewed from a tiled roof.
A woman dressed in traditional Mesoamerican attire carrying various buckets and baskets, walking past a wall with a tree and some greenery in the background.
A pumpkin placed on the beach with people and dogs in the background, some sitting and some playing, shrouded in fog.
A yellow building with a clock tower and a dome, with an arched structure underneath, and a row of street lamps along a cobblestone street.
Close-up of a red brick wall with a narrow opening, possibly a window or doorway, with some handwritten notes and drawings on the wall. There are wooden and metal elements protruding from the wall, and a small sign with text is visible on the left si
A woman wearing traditional clothing and sandals stands beside a small cart filled with bags of snacks and candies on a cobblestone street, with a yellow wall and wooden door in the background.
A decorated truck with colorful designs, chrome accents, and a license plate from Guatemala parked on a cobblestone street with trees and buildings in the background.
Clear water with swimming fish and colorful coral reef beneath the surface.
Close-up of a cream-colored leather bag with red stitching and gold hardware, sunlight casting shimmering reflections on the surface.
Close-up of two white horses decorated with red and black flower garlands, bridles, and harnesses, part of a parade or festival setting.
Close-up of a decorated horse with colorful pom-poms and bells, part of a parade or festival, with trees and people in the background.
A building with multiple circular balconies painted in a light color, set against a clear blue sky with a visible waxing gibbous moon.
A man in a red jacket and blue cap cooking food in a black frying pan over a fire with ashes outside on a cobblestone street, with a large fallen tree and a group of people gathered in the background at an outdoor event.
Colorful flags hanging across a stone building with a tower and a small circular window with bars, under a cloudy sky.
Ice formations with a small body of water at the base, featuring large, textured ice blocks and rocky hills in the background.
A calico cat with orange, black, and white fur lying on white stairs, partially in shadow, outdoors with trees in the background.
A black bicycle parked on a dirt ground in front of a beige building with two windows, one with blue shutters, and a small blue door with a decorative metal railing.
A stone structure with columns seen through the branches and leaves of trees and bushes.
A wooden dock with metal railings extends into clear, turquoise water.
A coastal scene with a large rocky mountain in the background, ocean waves in the foreground, and a bird wading in the shallow water near the shore.
Close-up of a calico cat resting under a blue wooden staircase, with a white wall behind it.
Three men sitting on rocks at the edge of the ocean, relaxing and one using a smartphone, with clear turquoise water and rocky shoreline.
Close-up of a tan dog with floppy ears resting outdoors with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
A white church with a bell tower and cross, set against a cloudy sky with hills and scattered houses in the background.
A red lifeguard station on a white sandy beach with the ocean and cloudy sky in the background.
Person flying a paramotor along a coastline with grass and water, sky in background.
A boat docked near a rocky shoreline with two people on board, looking out over the ocean under a clear sky.
A view of a beach with orange and green plants on a sand dune in the foreground, a lifeguard tower with the number 25 on it, two people standing on the beach, and the ocean with small waves in the background.
Three pairs of sunglasses on a light-colored textured surface.
A lighthouse on a rocky hill overlooking the ocean with mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A bright orange scooter parked against a rocky, dry landscape with sparse vegetation and a distant hillside with some buildings.
Clear ocean water with rocks and coral on the shoreline.
A scenic coastal view of rugged cliffs along a beach, with waves crashing against rocks and a winding road cutting through the hillside under a blue sky.
A close-up of a brown and white cow with large horns, standing behind a barbed wire fence in a rural landscape under a blue sky with a few clouds.
A window with wooden trim and a flower box filled with bunches of white and pink grapes growing over a white wall. The window has multiple small panes and reflects trees and a blue sky.
Close-up of a rusty, weathered metal door with a black handle and visible bolt heads, joined to a rough concrete wall.
A sailboat with white sails floating in blue water near rocky coastline with a large, rugged mountain in the background under a clear sky.
A close-up of several figs in a clear plastic container at a market. The figs are various shades of purple, green, and pink.
Close-up photo of an old wooden structure with weathered beams, alongside a rough stone wall. The scene appears to be in a rustic or abandoned building.
The sun with a rainbow halo appears behind clouds over a mountain landscape with pine trees and rocky terrain.
A person walking a dog on a leash along a boardwalk near a large red ship docked at a harbor, with city buildings in the background and a cloudy sky overhead.
A brown dog lying down on a textured surface with a gray and white pattern, possibly a blanket or rug.
Orange car parked in a lot, partially obscured by tall green leaves and orange bird-of-paradise flowers in the foreground.
A seagull peeking from behind tan-colored rocks and boulders, with rough, textured surfaces and some layered formations.
Coastal scene with waves crashing against rocky cliffs, sparse vegetation, and a misty horizon in the background.
Close-up of a white fabric with a red tag reading 'Salvatore M...' and 'Made in Italy' stitched onto it.
A person carrying a surfboard walks along the sandy beach near the ocean with seagulls on the sand, under a clear blue sky.
A colorful bird of paradise flower with orange and blue petals growing next to green and yellow leaves and a gray wall in the background.
Ancient stone ruins with stairs and architectural details against a dark sky.
A woman with blonde hair, wearing glasses, a white top, and black pants, standing on stone stairs and taking a photo with her phone in a white-walled building with textured walls and rusted metal objects.
Red and white wooden chairs with woven seats lined up against a stone and white wall.
A person with glasses and a baseball cap looking at a sunset sky with clouds, overlooking a hilly landscape with trees.
A man sitting in front of a barbecue grill with a steak on the fire. The man has a tattoo on his neck that reads 'Good vibes' and short, styled hair.
Close-up of a cat's face in the foreground with blurred ancient stone columns and a stone wall in the background.

final note


I aspire to build a career where I can bring my spirit, creativity, and skills to every project.

And have fun along the way!

 

A woman standing in profile against a plain white background, wearing a cream-colored oversized jacket, dark midi skirt, and sneakers.