Photo Blogging Experiment

I think I'll try a slightly new experiment on here.

In the past, I have primarily focused on my creative projects for blogging inspiration, but here lately my time has been consumed with photography and all the fun adventures that go along with it!

Over the past 8 months I have graduated an online photography class, photographed several friends' horses, developed my first real logo, started up my own photography business, and had the pleasure of photographing some amazing people!

If you've been keeping up with me on Facebook then this may or may not be anything new.

Nevertheless, here is the brief history of what I've been up to this year!

My diploma from the Photography Institute

As one of my final projects through the Photography Institute, I was supposed to recreate an image from my favorite photographer.  Naturally, I chose the iconic Robert Vavra.

After graduating, I started taking part in some of the free online clinics available through CreativeLIVE.  If you're artsy and haven't known about CreativeLIVE, you have no idea what you've been missing out on!

I also began having the wonderful opportunity to photograph for some of my horsey friends which I am eternally grateful!  I am blown away that people are actually willing to buy the images that I produce and it has been a truly humbling experience.

Some of my very firsts were:

 

Happy.  Owned by Julia.

This was one of those crystal clear days in January.  Happy was my model for the Robert Vavra project I mentioned earlier.  He was incredibly energetic and performed beautifully!

 

Jessica and Derek.

You'd never know it by looking at these two, but it was frightfully cold this day!  I was bundled up in my heaviest coat to crawl around in the mud, but it was completely worth it.

Pozzi.  Owned by Karen.

Pozzi is just one of the incredible survival stories at Victory Alliance Ranch, but his really stood out to me.  As a young stud, Pozzi was "mistaken for a deer" and shot through the neck by hunters.  Vets thought he should be put down because if it was possible for him to survive, they thought he would never be able to use his neck, let alone move around.  His owner never gave up on him, and now here he is!  It would have been a tragedy if no one had given him a chance at survival.  He is the kindest, most gentle stallion I have even encountered.  He bears the scar from the bullet, but he brings hope to the wounded warriors who visit Victory Alliance Ranch.  It was truly an honor to photograph him.

 

Chaos.  Owned by Karen.  Handled by Ashley.

This lovely fellow is a Russian Budyonny.  The Budyonny was originally bred as a Russian military horse but is now primarily an all-purpose competition horse.  This photo session was at a local show and was quite entertaining to watch seeing as how Chaos spent more time on his hind legs than on all four, but Ashley did a fantastic job with him in spite of his bad behavior!

I have been so very blessed by the good Lord in my new endeavor, and I thank Him for what He has blessed me with and pray He continues to bless me so I can continue to grow and improve.

Please visit my website
www.AshleyGesslerSHD.com