Go See Do Explore

Snowfest

On February 1, 2016

This past weekend was Zehnder’s Snowfest in Frankenmuth. I really wanted to go and get some shots of the action! We chose to go on the coldest day but I’m glad we did because I didn’t want any sad, melting sculptures (this weekend we got temps in the 50s!). Frankenmuth holds a special place in my heart (and I’m sure I’ll share why in a future post) so I will take any excuse I can to visit. As expected, it was packed and all the restaurants had long waits, but that didn’t matter, I had my camera in my hand!

I wanted to focus on getting environmental portraits of the snow carvers because I feel it adds more story to the image. This was a lot trickier than I thought. Many of the sculptures were surrounded by ladders and other clutter. Tourists were taking selfies and there were piles of discarded snow everywhere!

About the Photo:
Since we were visiting at night and I knew I was going to try to capture the carvers at work, I grabbed my fastest lens and was prepared to crank my ISO, although some of the sculptures were well lit enough to bring it back down. This was shot wide open (f/1.8) with 1600 ISO to get my shutter speed fast enough for my 50mm lens. Luckily I was shooting towards the sky, so I was able to crush the blacks in Lightroom and get rid of any noise without worrying about losing my background. I planned on bringing my tripod but I forgot it at home and I was glad I wasn’t lugging it around. It would’ve been a pain to set it up and take it down at each sculpture. This is a time I feel I could’ve benefited from the added stability of a monopod.

Camera Gear:
Nikon D3100 with 50mm f/1.8 lens handheld

Date Taken:
January 29, 2016

Thanks for stopping by! If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page, follow me on Instagram, and Flickr! Check out my new Gear page to see inside my camera bag! For more information on Snowfest and other Frankenmuth events, visit Frankenmuth.org

Wordless Wednesday: Moody Windmill

By Ashleigh

On January 27, 2016

In Michigan, Wordless Wednesday

Duke Chapel

By Ashleigh

On January 25, 2016

In Travel

Durham, North Carolina is home to Duke University. The one thing that sticks in my mind about Duke is how stunningly beautiful the campus is. From the gorgeous architecture in Duke Chapel to the natural beauty of the Sara P. Duke Gardens, Duke’s campus stands out in its beauty. When I visited the chapel, the choir was practicing which really adds a haunting element to the architectural beauty.

About the Photo:
This photo has been one of my favorites for a while. I love how the light comes down by the steeple; it adds an angelic nature to the shot. This photo was taken with my first digital point & shoot camera and edited with Google’s free photo editing software, Picassa. I’m not saying that my photography hasn’t improved with a DSLR, the ability to shoot in RAW, and Adobe editing software, but I strongly believe you can take a quality image without all of those things, especially when you have a beautiful subject.

Camera Gear:
Kodak EasyShare CX7300 point & shoot

Date Taken:
March 2008

Thanks for stopping by! If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page, follow me on Instagram, and Flickr! Check out my new Gear page to see inside my camera bag!

Wordless Wednesday: Snowy Squirrel

By Ashleigh

On January 20, 2016

In Michigan, Wordless Wednesday

Clingman’s Vista

By Ashleigh

On January 18, 2016

In Travel

The hike up the 375 ft ramp with a 12% grade to the Clingman’s Dome viewing platform was much harder than I expected. At an elevation of 6,643 feet, Clingman’s Dome is the highest mountain in the Smokies. It was 20 degrees colder up there than it was at the campground the previous night and it started raining on the walk up. Despite all that, the view was totally worth it!

About the Photo:
Because of the fog and rain, I wish my lens had windshield wipers on it; I had to keep wiping droplets off of it. One thing you will learn about my photos is that I don’t tend to do a lot of editing. This photo was edited from a JPG with Photoshop Elements.
Camera Gear:
Nikon D3100 with 18.0-55.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens
Date Taken:
June 21, 2014

Thanks for stopping by! If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page, follow me on Instagram, and Flickr!

Wordless Wednesday: Savannah Sunset

By Ashleigh

On January 13, 2016

In Travel, Wordless Wednesday

Disney Magic

By Ashleigh

On January 11, 2016

In Disney

Walt Disney World is a place I’ve been more times than I can count. Growing up, we visited every year. The Disney parks are one of the few places I can successfully navigate without a map (or GPS). There is something about seeing Cinderella Castle that just makes me feel like I’m home.

Not to get too Disney Nerdy on you but I love what Disney is doing with technology right now. At first, when I heard about Magic Bands (for those of you who are not in the Disney loop, you wear a bracelet that acts as your ticket and your room key) I was skeptical. I’m not someone who typically likes to wear things on my wrist. I was not a LiveStrong bracelet girl, but maybe I’m changing because I’ve had a FitBit on my wrist for over a year now. When we were in Disney, I LOVED my Magic Band! I didn’t need to carry a wallet to hold my ticket so if I didn’t want to bring my camera, I left the bag in the room and went into the parks with nothing. The super planner in me loved that I had everything planned in advance. Yes, some people feel like spontaneity is ruined with the pre-planning of meals and fastpasses, but I think the planning adds to the fun. And with all the additions and changes they’re making to the parks its hard to wait a few years between trips! If you’re thinking about a Disney vacation, I highly recommend talking to a travel agent. They really do take the stress out of all the planning that goes into a Disney vacation these days. I’m not affiliated with any agency, although if you’re an agent and are looking to advertise, send me an email!

As always, thanks for stopping by! If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page, follow me on Instagram, and Flickr!

Wordless Wednesday: Abstract Water

By Ashleigh

On January 6, 2016

In Michigan, Project: State Parks, Wordless Wednesday

New Years Resolutions

By Ashleigh

On January 4, 2016

In Flowers, Michigan

The Dali Lama said, “Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before”. This has been a resolution of mine each year for as long as I can remember. In 2015, that one place was Holland, Michigan. The Tulip Festival has been on my bucket list for so long and I can’t wait to visit Holland again!

In 2016 I plan to hit several spots in Michigan that I’ve never been before! I’m planning a road trip this summer to the U.P. I’m going to stop at Sault Ste. Marie and Copper Harbor. I also want to spent some time in the North Eastern part of the state, the “Sunrise Coast” as its known. I’m so glad that I live in a state that has so much to do and see. From the big cities of Detroit and Grand Rapids to the beautiful beaches of Lake Michigan and the wilderness of the U.P., its such a diverse and breathtaking place! Not to mention, you can drive for 5 hours and still be in the same state. How many states can say that?

Thanks for stopping by! If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page, follow me on Instagram, and Flickr!

Happy New Year!

By Ashleigh

On January 1, 2016

In Disney, Travel