Author: DG

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Phoenix and the Apache Trail

http://gradsgate.com/technology-used-security-protocols/ I headed out to Phoenix for a workshop…I stayed a couple of extra days. I had only seen Phoenix from the air before this…and wow, I love the desert!  And Phoenix! (now, it could be that it was almost 80 degrees and it was 20 when I left Virginia) There were so many kinds of cacti. I drove on parts of the Apache Trail and then took a jeep ride with Dusty Bottoms into the desert, where I got to eat a cactus, a teddy bear cactus to be exact. He burned the spines and then cut the cactus in half…Dusty said that this is what the Native Americans ate to get vitamin C, twice as much as an orange. It was kinda slimy and tasted like a cucumber. And who knew there was desert mistletoe!! I saw one of the most beautiful sunsets ever over the city of Phoenix. And met some amazing women photographers!!

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Engagement Photos

Every year I try to step up my photography and learn new things to include in my photography tool box. This year I decided to attend the MJ2day Workshop. Melissa Jill is an amazing wedding photographer based in Arizona and an even more amazing business woman! I learned some really great business tips and spent time with 12 other photographers (only one other Nikonian and she was from Germany!, but alas we Nikons played well with the Canon kids). The talent of these ladies was impressive and I was glad and honored to have shared this workshop with them. Here are some of my shots of our mock engagement shoot…

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A Chilly Engagement | Engagement Winter Photos

It was my pleasure to take Cerrena and Austin’s photos today! Never mind, that it was 26 and snowing like crazy!! Cerrena wanted a snowy engagement session because winter is her favorite season…and when it comes to photography, I am willing; ) We had so much fun…but I knew we had to be quick, so the normal engagement session can last for two hours, but this one was done in 40 minutes, just in the nick of time before the hypothermia set in; ) I just love the energy these two had, honored to capture their love!

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Covered Bridges | Manassas Photographer

In the last two years as a personal photography project, I have been trying to photograph all the covered bridges in Virginia. There are 8 …5 are open to the public and the other 3 are on private property (if anyone knows how to get to see the other bridges, lawfully: ) please get in contact with me). I have photographed 4 of the “public” bridges in Virginia. One more to go…Sinking Creek. I am not sure what draws me to these bridges. I do love bridges in general, but the beauty and history of these covered bridges resonates with me. Here are some stats on the bridges that are featured in this post: (the bridges are in this order in the photographs)

Bob White is located in Woolwine, VA, built in1921, 80 feet long, spans the Smith River

Jack’s Creek is located in Woolwine, VA, built in 1914, 48 feet long, spans the Smith River

Humpback is located in Covington, VA, built in 1857, 109 feet long, spans the Dunlap Creek
The only arched covered bridge remaining in the United States.

Meem’s Bottom is located in Mount Jackson, VA, built in 1894, 204 feet long and spans North Fork of the Shenandoah River
Currently the longest covered bridge in Virginia. Burned down on October 28, 1976. Rebuilt in 1978.

Gilbertville  located in Ware, MA,  built in 1886 & restored in 1986. It is located on western edge of Gilbertville, on Bridge Street.

The Bob White has a few weddings performed there! I would LOVE to shoot a wedding at a covered bridge!! One thing that really upsets me about these landmarks is the graffiti that covers the insides…the Humpback was the most defaced of all the bridges I have photographed to date. But alas, even the urban artwork cannot take away the enduring beauty of these bridges.

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California | Photographer’s Vacation

Mike and I had a wonderful time in California…San Francisco, Monterey and Big Sur. The weather was extremely beautiful and we found out that October is one of the best times to be on the coast. Luckily, Mike and I have the same love for taking photos and having adventures…for other folks it may seem a little tedious being on vacation with a photographer! There is a self portrait in these photos…and one of my favorite portraits of Mike. I love taking photos of him taking photos; ) and this one is just an amazing shot to me. One of things on my life “bucket-list” was to see Redwood trees…and the Armstrong Woods were amazingly beautiful, almost spiritual. I have heard that these redwoods are dwarfs to others…it doesn’t matter to me and it was truly an inspiring and impressive woods! Thanks for looking at this blog entry…it’s better than being trapped in someone’s living room watching a slideshow of their vacation, right?

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