Photography: When Winter Unleash its Wrath On Nature The Outcome Is A Beautiful Death

It's halfway through March and Winter seemingly have left for good since the onset of February. The unusually warm weather gave way to a premature Spring. Trees have bloomed. Some sprouted new leaf. Some still budding. My allergies started acting. Achoo!  It's undeniably Spring! We were beyond happy to imbibe ourselves with the comfort of warmer weather and embrace the beauty, including the unpleasant effects of Spring. But then Winter decided it's not done and made a striking comeback! So unexpected and unforgiving but for all its oddity, the white specks that enveloped the trees, its blooms, and flower-filled grounds, which speaks of death, painted a scene - a scene of a very beautiful death...

Travel Photography: The Many Faces of Cinderella's Castle at Magic Kingdom in Disney World

Nothing can instantly take your breath away just by the mere sight of it more than how Cinderella's castle would. This iconic, most-photographed monolith that sits in the center of Disney World's Magic Kingdom is a huge reminder, as you enter the park, that yes! You have arrived at the happiest place in the world! I have the privilege to capture the beauty of the castle as it changes into dramatic images and colors during the Wishes Nighttime Spectacular show. Come and relive the magic with me through these spectacular display of digital ingenuity during the show.

Hello Moon, Goodnight Moon: How to Photograph the Moon

We got home relatively late Sunday night but what a sweet treat to see the clear, dark sky filled with stars which were glittering like diamonds! The North sky is so clear that you can make out several visible constellations! I never thought of the moon which was nowhere in sight and quickly dismissed the possibility of seeing it. Then I walked into my home office and this bright glow out through my window caught my eyes...

It was the moon! Half of the moon anyway. Just when I thought it was not visible that night.  It was peeking through the dark sky like it was Adele telling me, "Hello, it's me!" . Yes, I went there. It can't be helped. It was a lovely sight!  According to Moon Giant, the moon is on its first quarter phase. And due to the angle and rotation of the earth, the moon looked like it is upside down. However, it looks the opposite during the day when the moon, also called "Day moon" is visible during the day time - a scientific phenomenon that comes about due to the moon's Lunar cycle.

The Colorful Road to the Mountain Top

This photo was featured on TV on October 30, 2015 @ WCNC 36

12 Years. That's how long it took for me to finally experience, witness, admire and [forever] capture the beauty of Fall up in the mountains. A wait worth the wait. In one full day, nature revealed its grandeur and amazing wonders all but unexpectedly - yet wholeheartedly accepted. It made me walk in the clouds, yes, walk in the clouds and marveled on its panoramic views around me and below me.  

A Walk In The Clouds: Grandfather Mountain - Amazing Photos

Just when we thought our visit to Grandfather Mountain was a bust because of the weather, it instead gave us the experience of a lifetime!

Photography: Wishing Upon A Perseid Meteor

Stars glowing in different colors / Photo +Maricris G 

"The Perseid meteor shower is one of the testament of how amazing the sky can be. To experience its beauty, all you need to do is look up."

I've never witnessed any type of meteor shower before. I wasn't even sure I would see one. But pure luck would have it, this night was my lucky night. The Perseid meteor shower is one of the testament of how amazing the sky can be. To experience it, all you need to do is look up.

Photography: Howling at the Blue Moon That was Never Blue

The once-in-a-Blue-Moon Moon 2015 / Photo +Maricris G 

This year was the year for the "once-in-a-blue-moon" moon to yet again make its rare appearance. Everyone who saw it will agree that it was spectacular seeing how big and bright it was. But, of course contrary to popular belief, it wasn't blue! Instead, it was bright yellow as it should be! It was also pretty close to the horizon, it almost seem like anyone can reach it.

Photography: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Photos

Waterfall inside the Orchid Conservatory at +Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden / Photo: +Maricris G 

I recently visited the DSBGarden and here is an inside look covering several areas of the garden. I'm in love with my photography (of course I am!) which is why it's best to let the photos speak for themselves and tell you their story - or you know it, I'll be bias! Not that, that's a bad thing IMO. Now, do you know what is so great about staring at these pictures and getting lost in them? If you can't guess, I'll tell you anyway. Well, you most certainly won't be able to smell the foul scent of the stinky flower. Lucky duck! So... Ooh-gle on! 

Travel Photography Shot at 65MPH: California Series

On the Poppy Fields on top of a hill in Lancaster, California also known as the Antelope Valley

Most of my out-of-town travels involves riding in a car as a passenger. Either sitting in the front or at the back. I love being a passenger because I get to sight-see. The only funny thing about it is that, there are tremendous amounts of panoramic views and photography-worthy landscapes that I wish I could capture vividly with my camera. Be it with my camera phone or dslr. It is a tricky undertaking of which I'm slowly learning to conquer.

Photography: Yellow and White Daffodils

Flower Power. Nothing does a better job proclaiming the arrival of Spring than the glorious beauty of flowers such as these Daffodils which started popping out all over my front and backyard and blooming instantaneously the next day!

Shot with Macro lens 55mm / F5.0 / ISO800

Photography: The Gift of Spring

Trees and plants are all starting to bloom. My allergies entirely don't agree but there's no denying the beauty that comes with the arrival of the season of new life - Spring. As the flowers bloom, birds make their way back as well and perhaps we'll see offsprings hatching from nearby nests in no time soon.

Photo of the Day: Sunset Delights

It is a treat to watch the Sunset during this season. Dramatic colors vividly paint the sky with vibrant reds, orange, yellow and sometimes purple. It's almost unreal but it's breathtaking to witness sunsets like the one I captured yesterday.

More to look at:
The Fascinating Day Moon
Photography: Wishing Upon A Star

Photography: Wishing Upon A Star

Saturday night was the first time I've seen the sky filled with stars. Though there was too much light pollution from the city lights below, and the sky not totally clear, there was enough clearing for an attempt to capture the rich display of huge stars for the taking.

Look closer. What you see is not a blurry vision of the stars but rather of stationary stars starting to create a "trail" or "light stream". This is due from the earth rotating and shooting in very low shutter speed and wide aperture. Like a movie in slow motion, each movement is captured. If you look on the right side of this photo, you'll see the flaming red streak across the sky. Can you guess what made that trail? (Answer at the bottom of this post)

The Fascinating Day Moon

I never thought in a million years that the moon would be visible during the day. I'm sure you didn't think that either. But as it appears, the moon does appear during the day and have become one of my favorite Astrophotography subjects. Like this day moon which I photographed yesterday above the blue skies and on a very sunny day! Day Moon occurs when the moon orbits closest around the sun. It is so close that it's reflecting more light from the sun making itself highly visible even during the day. Truly a magnificent sight to behold. Don't you agree?

100 Days Of Mickey

1-100 Showing our Disney Side
We've got bookworms in this house

An inspiration hit me when I was taking photos of Mickey doing silly things with my hostess kit the other day. It was quite funny and cute at the same time that I thought "Hey, why not!? This will make for a good photo challenge showing my Disney side!"

And so, a challenge was born.

In Disney fashion and all things Mickey, the photo challenge is also to celebrate the upcoming annual Disney Social Media Moms which I was privileged to be a part of, and of course, the official launching of Show Your Disney Side. Which you already know I'm a host of their @ Home Celebrations party!

Photo of the Day: One Foggy Night in Charlotte

I love taking photos that defies commonality, out of the ordinary and one that is challenging. I love pushing beyond the limits. At the same time conveying stories of what I see the way I saw them. Images such as of this particular night where thick fog rolled in and blanketed the horizon with an eerie mist while lights on the ground bounces off the haze and creating a subtle glow across the sky. Photos were taken with Canon EOS Rebel T3 on AV with ISO 200, Aperture F8 and Al Servo using 18-55mm lens.

If night photography is your expertise, which settings do you use?

This Arctic Blast Got Us Into The Monster Side

Monster Coats are the newest trend in Kid's Fashion. They're unique and Monstrously fun! To get into your Monster side - without the help of Arctic Blast or Polar Vortex - check the collection at MonsterCoats.com and show off your wild side while staying warm during this Winter season!

Check us goofing out on Instagram and featured at Monster Coats.


+ Monster Coats provided the matching coat and hat for us to try this new product and experience the fun and uniqueness of it.  

Photo of the Day: Angry Birds in Charlotte

I was roused from my sleep by a very excitable husband who apparently can't wait for me to see and photograph these flock of cute birds feasting and creating a raucous right outside my office window! Now I should tell you that if I didn't have an affinity for photographing wild birds, I probably would have been the embodiment of Angry birds that morning! But you'll see that these birds were beyond cute, so I went to work right away. What I caught in my lens was priceless!

Classic Angry Bird look! Don't you think it's giving me the "back off" stare?

Photo of the Day: Full Moon and Pixie dusts

I have been trying my hands on Astrophotography and took another shot at it when I saw the full moon last night. Though this is NOT my best shot since I took it from inside the comfort of my house (you would too. Boy! It's friggin' cold outside!), through a misty window and used a different mode. This time I chose TV to manipulate the shutter speed. Though it worked, it wasn't as good as my first one. Check my first moon here. The great thing about this shot is that I captured the minuscule particles in the space not visible to the naked eye. They look like pixie dusts which to most of us, they're stars when they're visible. To see what I'm talking about, you have to look pretty close on the black space just to the left of the moon to see the faded dots. If your eyes are good you'll see the constellation shaped like a kite (Bootes Star).

This photo is taken when the stars were visible, shining brightly and skies were clear. It was a great time to photograph the stars with the full moon as backdrop.

Photo of the Day: Ripples, Freezing Rain and Icicles

The weather have been nasty today with  freezing rain and freezing cold. Icicles formed on the bare tree branches and mesmerizing ripples on the water as the pellets of rain hit the little puddles on my deck. A sight that I can't dare miss take a picture of.