Back in Action!

Aloha!

Went to Hawaii... got accepted into a Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology program, returned from Hawaii, started said MACP program, fell off a horse, had a birthday and here we are today! Life has been an unreal rush of excitement and new beginnings, and I feel like it's all making sense all of a sudden. A wise friend once told me that happiness is a skill.  If it is, I've certainly developed some new skills over the last month... none, however, to do with the field of photography.  Sadly I haven't picked up my camera much since Hawaii and have missed my creative outlet while my brain gets pumped full of delightful psychobabble on a daily. 

My favorite photo from Hawaii...

Today I had the opportunity to take a trip out to K country with the horses, and dispite the stormy skies, we had beautiful weather, and sane equine partners (ALWAYS a bonus!). I find that days like today make for the best photos, with unpredictable skies and high contrast colors.

Above - My partner in crime, most of my life.  She is a 5yo registered paint, but we call her Ms. Molly J.  Don't mind her hair-do, somehow she has bed head.  She was a bit overwhelmed with the idea of a mountain ride today, and decided to gallop full tilt for a good 20 minutes prior to departure.  In the process, she took a good chunk of skin off her foot by over reaching, of course being the one she nearly sliced off last summer.  All was well, after some expert doctoring and we headed out anyway! :)

 Kananaskis Country - Alberta, Canada.  We are so fortunate to have this right in our backyard (ok, an hour away).  The trail was a perfect combination of hills, mud, and wildlife.  I have never seen so much wildlife out here as I did today - Moose, elk, deer, "stereotypical squirrel" with an acorn in his mouth. It was great exposure for the horses!

 Spring time... the grass and trees were insanely green, and the contrast with the wet ground was beauty.

The end............ :)

I have a few photoshoots booked for June right now.  Trying to keep them to a minimum at the moment, only due to time restrictions due to my textbooks' high expectations.  I am looking forward to them! Two areas where I have yet to explore... should be interesting :)

Rustic Edge

To have the best of both worlds is to eat chocolate and stay fit. It is to party and still graduate. It is to travel to a home away from home. And for me it is to combine equines and fashionable art.  What most don't know about me is that I have am a closet fashion lover, although you would never be able to tell from my own closet filled with corporate attire, wranglers and carhart jackets.

In this photoshoot; Rustic Edge, we compiled elements of urban fashion into a rural adventure.  Our equine models (Cash and Trigger) became somewhat of a prop as I continued to shoot my fashionista of the day Ms. J.L.  Together, the four of us created an artistic melody of fashion, horsemanship, and ingenuity that was overwhemingly inspiring.  From hair & makeup to headstall and reins.

Growing up on horseback, I always thought that equine photography is where my passion would eventually take me. I have now discovered this whole realm of human emotion and mood through the lens of a camera that I can freeze for a moment in time.

My goal is for this Rustic Edge theme to blossom as my personal brand in the photography world.  Making the ordinary into something extraordinary and allowing people to explore their artistic inner model.  Rural and rustic can be edgy and fashionable... Add a horse and you've discovered rustic edge.

To be inspired is to have the world at your fingertips. Can't wait to get my hands dirty with the next project!

For the full album: AmberAliPhotography on facebook!