Melissadilla's photostream  

Hi there! Thanks for stopping in! Hope you've been enjoying my little slice of the world.

So, I have a degree in English and a Masters in Environmental Science and Policy, but photography is my outlet.

I’ve always loved art, but nothing ever really stuck—until I picked up a camera. I always borrowed my dad’s camera long ago, and I must have really liked it, or used up too much film (or both!), because my parents bought me my own camera for my college graduation present. Thus begins the story written here, in these photos. I “lost” the gift of photography for a while (I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank a dear friend; seeing his photos made me pick up the camera again, after a bit of an absence), but I picked it up again a few years ago, brushing off my tiny Canon Powershot. I soon upgraded to a Canon G11--portable enough to come with me on all my outdoor adventures.

And, oh! If you haven’t noticed: I love the outdoors. I take my camera on a lot of adventures: biking, hiking, skiing, kayaking,...and I equally enjoy photographing wildflowers, waterfalls, streams, ponds, mountains, snowflakes, sunsets, leaves, moss…should I go on? Many of my photographs are really about light: the way it plays on mountainsides; the way it illuminates a leaf; the way it plays in and through water; and the way it can transform the same-old-place-you-pass-every-day into an entirely new world. Oh, and cows. Any time I see a cow...I'm so there.

I’m not at all trained, but this is what I’ve learned. Always, always bring your camera with you. Learn the “rules,” but break them at least once a day—you’re bound to be surprised, even if you fail more than you succeed. Having a big, fancy camera is really nice, but not a prerequisite to taking great photos you can be happy with. Think “upside down” (no, really—literally!)—it changes everything; dangle your head upside down from a rock—or at least rotate your photo 180 degrees after you upload it to your computer. Bring spare shoes, because there will always be something to see on the other side of that stream you’re following.

Please, please ask me if you want to use my images for any purpose. I'm pretty reasonable.