Mandy Lea Photo

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Home
Blogs
- Mandy Lea Photo Blog
- Roaming with Rocky Blog
Shop
Learn
- Photo Workshops
- Mandy in the Media
Road Life
Workshops
Support

Mandy Lea Photo

Home
Blogs
- Mandy Lea Photo Blog
- Roaming with Rocky Blog
Shop
Learn
- Photo Workshops
- Mandy in the Media
Road Life
Workshops
Support

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Mandy Lea Photo
November 21, 2016
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Current Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Photographer. Educator. Speaker. Living full time in a teardrop trailer.

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On the road for

Where’s Mandy?

Current Stop: Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Here is an interactive map of our recent journey from Alaska to Mexico:

Upcoming Workshops

Great Smoky Mountains Wildflowers & Waterfalls - April 2020 $449.00
4th Annual üCamp - June 2020
Colorado Fall Color Photography - September 2019
Rated 5.00 out of 5
$799.00
Texas Fall Camping & Photography - October 2019 $199.00
The Great Smoky Mountains Photography Summit - November 2019 $499.00
Big Bend Photo Classics - March/April 2020
Rated 5.00 out of 5
$499.00

mandyleaphoto

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I apologize for my silence of late. I just flew out to teach at a photo summit in the Smoky Mountains. Although I have visited this place many times, this trip was special. I was surrounded by a lot of amazing people who gave me unconditional love. I was also able to photograph my favorite waterfall from a new place. Usually I shoot the upper portion, but this new angle gave me a slightly different perspective.

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I'm excited to be flying out to the Great Smoky Mountains today to teach at a photo summit. Hoping the leaves are still in color this fall... but for now I will share this rare and elusive painted trillium I shot this spring. The Smokies are known for their trillium, but this particular little beauty likes to hide! I won't see any this trip, but I'm getting in the Smokies-mood!

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While sitting in single digit lows, I’m editing images from warmer days! Here is one that @kendrickcallaway caught of me during our 14er project. Episode 7 is in the works!

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Sometimes Little Bear gets to hang out and play with his friends. He especially loves his little T@G friend, and I love @dahannahgirl so it all works out!

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Aspen are quite a surprising organism! In contention for the largest single organism on earth (along with the armillaria bulbosa, aka “the humungous fungus"). Scientifically, they can asexually reproduce genetic clones of themselves through their root system. That's crazy. Their scientific name is populus tremuloides, or trembling "quaking" aspen.
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Beyond that, I have read some very intriguing folklore about these beautiful trees. Many cultures believe the sound of the "quaking aspen" is associated with the voice of spirits, and will reveal life's mysteries. Others believe that the aspen were a haughty tree, and when a great spirit came and made all of the other beings quake except for the aspen, the spirit was offended and thus made the aspen quake for all time. The Gaelic believed it was a magical tree, while some Christian folklore believes the trees tremble in shame for having provided wood for the crucifixion.
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To each their own. For me, I grew up around these trees and their sound simply brings me back to a place of peace and beautiful memories. A form of meditation I could never pay for. I hope each of you get to stand in the midst of a quiet grove in your life. 💛☀️

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For me, landscape photography serves a purpose beyond creating a beautiful image. This is my meditation. I've never been able to sit still, silent and calm my mind. But when I am looking through my viewfinder, everything else disappears. It is the one way I can focus my mind, forget the stress, and just create. I was always a little sad that "meditation" never worked for me, but now I realize that I simply have a different definition.

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As I sit here editing episode 5, i feel like I have miles to go on these 14er videos. So, here is a gratuitous road shot - as all nomads must create 🤣 Can you tell me where this is?? The plants should give you hint...

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Here's a shot from our Big Bend workshop that I had a little fun with... We hiked up in the dark for sunrise, but we never saw the sun. Remind anyone else of Mars? Or Dr. Seuss?

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Another Big Bend photo workshop has come and gone. It is such a magical place. This is probably my single most visited National Park - and every time I find a new view, see a new flower, encounter a new insect, and learn something new about myself. This trip was no different.

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