the trekking tumbleweed

Shooting Annapolis at 6am

2009-10-07T11:29:00.011-04:00

I have always been a fan of night and early morning photography. I was skeptical of shooting at these hours, fearing that I may be robbed of my equipment again. I convinced my boyfriend to wake up at 4am with me and drive to Annapolis before the sun came up. Neither of us are morning people, but the photos were well worth the extra effort. After shooting in downtown Annapolis we drove over to Sandy Point State Park and took some pictures of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. A few of these photographs are now hanging in an office in Lanham, MD. Definitely worth the early morning trip!

Engagement Portraits

2009-07-08T12:25:00.015-04:00

Sherry and Brian were wonderful and fun subjects for this beautiful spring-time photo shoot. We wandered around DC and spent a few hours shooting near Monuments and the Tidal Basin. The photo above was taken in Constitution Gardens and the warm evening light was perfect for the location and the subjects. The photos below were taken near the Reflecting Pool. What began as an icky day turned into a beautiful spring evening. I must say, the photos turned out quite beautiful.

Tips For Your Engagement Portrait Session:
•The main focus of an engagement shoot is you- the couple getting married. Clothing should not take away from your face, expression, your relationship or love for one another.
• Be as creative and fun as possible… dancing, running, jumping, piggy-back rides, laughing, picking each other up, and laying in the grass are all examples of making a fun and unique photograph.
• Take 30 minutes before your portrait session to focus on each other. Give your partner full attention before the shoot so that your connection is very strong.
• Connection and emotion are necessary for an engagement photo shoot.
• The more involved you are in your surroundings and each other, the better your photos will be.
• Your clothing can help set the mood for your photos- do you want sensual, fun, sexy, or sweet?
• Hold hands and embrace each other often. Smile with your eyes!

Cherry Blossoms in DC

2009-04-08T09:25:00.005-04:00

I didn't make it to the Cherry Blossom Festival this year, but here are a few shots from last year. This is about the only time of year I find our nation's capital to be beautiful! Too bad it only lasts a couple weeks.

Wedding Photography

2009-03-05T10:20:00.005-05:00

Over the past few years I have gained experience as a wedding photographer. There are endless opportunities when photographing a wedding, and each event brings new challenges and new creativity. I hope to add to my portfolio and gain more knowledge of this type of photography. If you are interested in finding out more about the services I offer please send an email to brumbleyphoto@gmail.com

flower girl dresses made by Suzanna Jones-Karatassos.

Assateague Island

2009-02-21T22:12:00.005-05:00

There is nothing like a quiet beach in the winter. Especially when wild ponies are present!

A Snowy Baltimore

2009-01-21T13:14:00.004-05:00

The days of winter keep rolling by and everyday I am hoping to see snowflakes fall from the sky. We had a few flakes here and there a handful of times, but not enough to cover the ground or even make sidewalks slippery. Then Monday came and finally some real snow hit the ground. Off and on all day big fluffy snowflakes began to cover city sidewalks and streets. Its funny how snow makes anything beautiful, and I embrace the this. Immediately after work I grabbed my tripod and camera and headed up to Sherwood Gardens in the upper-class community of Guilford. It was a beautiful and crisp evening.

I woke up early and headed to Druid Hill Park, which is usually sketchy, in the western section of the city. However, in the snow it seems like a peaceful and dream-like place with no one around. I could get used to this.

I find it hard to get out of bed on cold winter mornings, but as soon as I see snow I jump out of bed and I want to be walking in it, photographing it, and embracing it. The cold weather suddenly doesn't bother me when there is snow on the ground.

Autumn Photographs to be shown at Irvine Nature Center

2008-10-10T14:29:00.008-04:00

Update:

A few photographs by yours truly will continue to be displayed until Jan 6, 2009. There will be an art reception on January 3, from 4-7pm.

One framed photograph was sold, but there are still a couple left!

October 18th through December 2nd my Autumn Photographs will be on display at Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills, MD. This collection of work includes photos from West Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia and more.

Irvine Nature Center is dedicated to environmental education, and is located in Caves Valley in Baltimore County. The center has nature exhibits, walking trails, a nature store, and animals. This non-profit organization has opened their new location in Owings Mills recently and it is definitely worth checking out.

Come check out the nature center and get involved! INC is having a Pumpkin Fest on October 18th, so come check out the location, make some crafts, and see some great seasonal artwork. Hope to see you there!

Irvine Nature Center
11201 Garrison Forest Road
Owings Mills, MD 21117

www.explorenature.org

410.738.9200

The Allegheny Plateau

2008-09-12T12:02:00.005-04:00

Over Labor Day weekend I was faced with a decision to make. Do I go to the beach with everyone else on the east coast, fighting traffic across the damaged Bay Bridge, OR do I go somewhere quiet, secluded, and full of trails and peace? It wasn't a hard decision to make honestly. I looked at a map and chose the area in Northwestern Pennsylvania called the Allegheny Plateau. The name itself sounded intriguing, and I have never explored this area, and so the adventure began.
The drive took several hours since there are no major highways for the majority of the trip. Driving through hilly and windy back roads is something I have become used to and actually enjoy doing. I arrived at the tucked away camping area in the evening and didn't do a whole lot besides look at maps and decide where I was exploring for the following 2 days.
That night I met two older gentlemen who were astronomers and very interesting to talk to. Around 10pm they had their huge telescopes set up and the next thing I know I was looking at the rings of Jupiter and various nebulas and constellations. This inspired my attempt to photograph the stars. Little did I know, some areas in this region are known as the best places for stargazing on the east coast. I would have to agree. The night sky was filled with twinkling white stars and the Milky Way was clearly visible. Shooting stars were zooming by and satellites slowly drifted through the sky.
The next morning I awoke to terrible pains which slowed my day and forced me to change plans. I ended up hiking the Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail for a few miles. The vegetation was thick and huge pines soared upward creating a sheet of darkness above passing hikers. Needing medicine, I headed into Warren, PA. The smell of natural gas was present in the atmosphere. Wells were scattered throughout the landscape, and refining companies are located along the Allegheny River. I drove around the plateau into New York seeking photographic views.
That evening I rode my bike on some trails, picked delicious blackberries, dodged swarms of flies, built a fire, shot the stars, and met some interesting people.
Monday came and it was time to head home. On the way I stopped at some parks in hopes to see some Elk, but had no luck. I checked out the Wallace Sphagnum Bog. The drive to the bog seemed endless and almost too secluded.. almost like something out of a horror movie. I'm glad it wasn't dark and raining when I approached the area. Full of butterflies, bees, and strange plants, the bog was different than others I have visited.
Despite my physical discomfort, strange huts in the woods, and swarms of bugs, the trip was great and exactly what I needed. I would like to return to the area perhaps during the autumn season when the leaves up there are stunning shades of red and orange.

New Work on Display in Annapolis

2008-06-14T14:01:00.005-04:00

Meadow Hill Wellness, a holistic health center, will be having their Grand Opening on June 20th at their new location in Annapolis, MD. They have asked me to provide artwork for the event, and for the new location which will be on display for several months.

This body of work includes images from West Virginia, Tennessee, New Jersey, Virginia, and South Carolina. The tranquil and peaceful images will be a great addition to the natural and organic environment of Meadow Hill Wellness.

The location hosting this event provides massages, acupuncture, reiki, homeopathy, and much more! Come to Annapolis on June 20th between 4pm and 8pm to learn more about holistic care and to see some great artwork by me and one additional artist.

For more information please contact me or visit www.meadowhillwellness.com.

book binding

2008-04-17T11:04:00.004-04:00

While attending SCAD, I became very interested in handmade books when I was in a photography course and my professor Catherine Cardarelli did a demonstration on creating our own one-of-a-kind portfolios. I was not very successful the first time around, but the possibilities of designing a book are endless and I wanted to explore my new interest. I joined an Experimental Bookmaking class in the Fibers Dept my senior year. With each assignment I learned new techniques and became inspired by the environment and natural sources. Four years later I am still an active bookmaker. I have successfully sold books as journals and sketchbooks at Shop SCAD, Mediterranean Cafe, and on Etsy. They also make great gifts for artists and writers. I also make custom books, so please feel free to contact me if you have a specific idea or theme in mind.

I will be doing a demonstration on book binding at Utrecht on July 20 during Artscape.

inspire me....

2008-04-07T10:14:00.005-04:00

every once in a while i will meet a person who opens my eyes to something i have forgotten, something i haven’t thought about in a really long time. a person who can do this inspires me. if you can awaken something in me, i will always be thankful. whether this person inspires me to educate myself about something, create something, or even just become a better person, i am grateful. it is important to have people with this type of impact to be in my life. i want to learn from others, and i want their views and outlooks to inspire me. it is difficult finding people in this crazy world who still have a level head, who still appreciate the small things, who are nonjudgmental, intellectual, sincere people. these people are so hard to come by, but when they do, i am so relieved and at ease because i have met someone outside of the ordinary. these are the people i cherish most, and these are the people i look forward to finding...

art+food

2008-03-26T14:38:00.004-04:00

Lillies on the Harbor is having their first annual Baltimore Artist Showcase. This will be a fun event with lots of artwork from 10-15 artists, food, drinks, and music.

There will be various artwork including painting, photography, glasswork, etc.

I will be displaying my work from a series entitled Lowcountry, a group of images from the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

Event Info:

Lillies on the Harbor
500 Harborview Dr.
2nd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21230

www.lilliesontheharbor.com

info@lilliesontheharbor.com

410.230.0704

RSVP to the above email address and receive 2 for 1 admission for only $10/person. Even if you'd like to come alone, you can get the $10 discounted admission. Otherwise, tickets are $25 at the door.

I don't really like coffee, but.....

2008-01-28T15:46:00.000-05:00

pocket coffee is delicious!

This is an Italian treat. A couple of these in the morning will wake you up just like a steaming hot cup of brewed coffee. I don't know where you can buy this in stores, but you can purchase Italian pocket coffee online at www.capriflavors.com.

...a little bit of this and a little bit of that

2008-01-23T15:53:00.002-05:00

I have been busy this winter. From hiking the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, to roaming the shores of New Jersey, it has been an eventful season thus far. I have had many photo opportunities due to the drastic change in weather the mid-Atlantic region is having. The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia are beautiful this time of the year, and even better, less crowded than any other time of the year!
Atlantic City surprisingly brought me good luck. A free trip to start off with, ending up with $100 more than I came with. The weather in AC was unusual, warm yet windy one day, then snowing and frigid the next.
I don't know what is in store for the rest of the winter, but I assure you, I will not be spending a weekend at home, no matter how shitty the weather. The worse the weather, the better the opportunity. I am ready for another snow storm. Bring it! If, however, the roads turn to ice and I cannot go anywhere, I will be productive, either knitting or making a book.