the Ash Tree Collective

10.12.12

Overflowing with Knowledge and Inspiration

Last night I had my three hour Mentoring Session with Hunter Leone of Three Nails Photography. I knew when I applied for the session that I would come out feeling inspired, but I wasn't expecting the shift in my motivation and mentality that I'm experiencing.

I literally feel like I'm overflowing with new information and ideas, and I'm so excited to start to put these new tools to good use. I have a great feeling about the things to come in the near future!

You'll notice that these shots were all taken with my new Composer Pro Lens Baby Lens I talked about ordering in this post! I absolutely adore it! It was a little alien to me at first getting used to continuously manually focusing and tilting the lens but I'm getting the hang of it. These days we're so spoiled with our fancy auto-focus it's so rare that I'd actually shoot a whole session without it!

I have a very long to-do list I need to get cracking on as for the business aspect of Ashley Alexandra Photography. Lots to think about and lots to look into! Big changes coming in the New Year!

29.11.12

Planted Garlic Last Minute Xmas Gift

I love garlic. I really, really, love garlic.

I love garlic so much that when I was in grade 2, I would eat garlic toast for breakfast every single morning.

Cool kid right?

This year for Christmas I'm sharing my garlicky love! And you can too! Give the gift of bad breath and good health!

Traditionally garlic is planted on Winter Solstice {Dec 21} and harvested on Summer solstice {June 21, 2013}. So today I'm going to plant one for the purpose of making this post, and then the rest right before xmas on the 21st as little gifts for my loved ones. If you're reading this and it's not quite December 21st anymore, plant anyway.... no one will ever know...

What you'll need:
- pots/planters/jars
- garlic {organic is best!}
- potting soil
- rocks/glass globs
- wrapping/decorating supplies

Load up your pot with an inch or so of whatever you're using for your drainage area. Garlic grows best in well drained soil.

Fill your pot with soil

Separate a clove(s) from the bulb. Leave the skin on

Push your clove pointy side up into the soil until they are about 2 cm from the surface.

Then cover with soil and pat down gently with your fingies

Garlic can grow fairly close together, but try not to crowd your pot.

Give your garlic a good water, enough to last until your lucky gift receiver opens it up.

Then wrap your garlic plant up with whatever decorating means you've chosen

You should create a tag or card to accompany your plant. Let the receiver know how to care for the plant and when to harvest. It's also nice to include the many health benefits of garlic.

PS, if your receiver has them, you might want to mention that garlic is toxic to pets.

Have a smelly Christmas,

14.11.12

Favourites, a Mentoring Session and a New Lens

My favourite old school photographer died a long time ago back in the early 70s. Her name was Diane Arbus {that's dee-anne, not die-anne) and she took the most interesting, first-of-their-kind type photographs and was a bit of a pioneer in respect to her photographic career.

There's a likely chance you'd recognize her photos if you don't already recognize her name.

My current favourite {living} photographer is Three Nails Photography or Hunter Leone and his wife Brittney. I was immediately drawn to them a few years ago as their style is exactly where I'd like see my own progress to in time to come. They're a lot more than just your regular ol' wedding photographers or couple photographers. They have a passion for what they make that shows through their photographs and their workshops and you can see that they don't just take pictures, they create art.

Now for the big exciting news: I'm booked in December 3rd for an online mentoring session with Three Nails Photography!

I'm sooooooper excited about this. It should be a real treat and a big help in different respects regarding my new business and my photography itself.

On top of that awesomeness, I also have a new lens on order from Lens Baby and it should be coming in any day now. The lens I've ordered is called the Composer Pro + Sweet 35 optic and it takes some really shweet shots.

It's a tilt and swivel lens with a fully adjustable aperture ring from f/2.5 - f/22 and a focal length of 35mm. But you can read all about it if you're interested by following the link above.

So much to look forward to! In the mean time, I've got to get back to editing my own photos.