Mackinac Photographers Unite!!!

This weekend is going to be an awesome time to be on Mackinac (I only wish I was there) ... not only is it August, with sunny gorgeous weather for all the usual fun island things to do BUT it is also the 4th Annual Mackinac Island Fudge Festival (complete with Willie Wonka golden ticket contest, a photo exhibition, and of course a lot of fudgie activities).

As part of the festival, for the first time, there is going to be an open air exhibition of island photographers and their more creative works of art. Although I won't be able to be there in person a few of my favorite island images from this past winter will be there---A little bit of cold underneath the hot summer sun.

Saturday, August 23rd
4pm-6pm Art in the Park: A Photographer’s Exhibition-Mackinac Island is home to many award winning photographers. This exhibition is the first of its kind and will take place at Windermere Point with the award winning bluegrass band: Lonesome County, who have been hailed as one of the most diverse and powerful bands in the country.

If you are going to be on the island please swing by, take a look, and support all these amazing photographers. Since it is an exhibition, none of the works of art will be for sale, but if you are interested in any of these 10 x 20 gallery wraps please let me know.

Go have fun on the island for me . . and try to find the golden ticket!!

Love,
A

Sara & Dan: Laughter Smiles & Rainbows. . .

Click here to see the Slide Show

That's what I think of when I think of Sara and Dan . . .there were so many smiles, laughter and jokes yet a tenderness that was unable to be hidden.

And of course as I biked away from the reception, leaving the two of them to dance the rest of the night... a double rainbow appeared in the sky and stretched across the entire island... (hence the reason I HAD to use this song)

My heart warms every time I view these pics. I'm so glad I was able to shoot this wedding and meet Sara and Dan... I just know we'll stay friends...

This wedding's amazing vendors were:

Flowers: Weber's Floral & Gifts

Location: Inn at Stonecliffe, Mackinac Island, MI

Cake: Bella e Dolce

Waugo . .what??? Waugoshance ... Waugoshance . . .Waugoshance

Say it three times and it brings you good luck and happiness forever . . . okay, maybe I'm making that up, but it is a fun word to say once you get used to it. And now you must be wondering what the heck a Waugoshance is, is it a monster found in the deep forests of Northern Michigan? (close but not quite) . . . is it a tiny little instrument used to lead the way? (getting closer, but not so tiny)...

Well, it is a Magical Lighthouse found that acts as the western gate to the Straights of Mackinac in Northern Michigan... it's history is legendary (ghosts, WWII bombing target, and more, yet it still stands)... due to technology it is being threatened to become extinct. My good friend Chris is helping to save this lighthouse. I had the pleasure when I was back on Mackinac to shoot it from that tiny little plane as the boats went by... now that I've seen it from the air, and read about it's sweet history I can't wait to go visit it up close . . .and maybe even get a glimpse of the ghost...

To Learn more about this lovely light in the middle of the big lake . .check out the link below:
http://www.waugoshance.org

Looks like the Ghost prefers Heineken & Amstel Light!!

"Dialed In" . . . Sara & Dan

In honor of my brand new friends. . . Sara & Dan (my couple with amazing teeth from last weekend... as they should they met in dental school) . . . I am "dialed in" . . . to everything

So I came to notice as the day went by that "dialed in" was the saying of the day.. . everything was dialed in this... dialed in that ... as Dan said at one point "Sara is definitely dialed in ... with a look of amazement, awe and pure joy he laughed into her eyes...

I was starting to get "dialed in" myself . . . until I heard them use it in a context that threw me off... "this storm is dialed in for sure" (i thought dialed in was a good thing,this storm not such a good thing) . . . I finally said (with a true Princess Bride reference). . .I do not think that word means what you think it means. . . (ala Inigo Montoya) they picked up instantly and started laughing and explained "Dialed in" to me in all it's references and terms...

(BTW there was so many laughters and smiles this day that my stomach was sore the next... along with my legs from biking 8 miles to keep up with them around the island...note to self must train better for next island wedding)


Hey Sara & Dan . . . Your California photo girl from OE is officially "dialed in" . .and takin' it cross country... You two are awesome! I had such a blast with you guys. And the double rainbow at the end of your beautiful day was just as rare and amazing as the two of you. Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of your wedding!!
I can't wait to keep in touch and hear how everything is dialed in from here on out...

Love, A

Here are just a few pics... more to come..

my new little assistant Lucas and his photo . . . we have a genius on our hands

how sweet are these locket cuff links (just had to share)... Sara's gift to her dad
ok, so this pic just makes me laugh the priest is completely giving Dan the look... hmmmm

The island follows me home. . .

I just had to write about this... so I am sitting at my desk this morning. . . and in walks a friend and throws the paper at me... you and that island . . .

Now, look closely .. . yup the LA Times . . yippeee (now my Cali friends will believe that this magical place really does exist)

This past Sunday the Times did a cover story for their travel section on the island. Guess I'm not the only girl in California who loves this place!! I knew it was just a matter of time before Mackinac Fever would be sweeping the nation.

You can read the whole article right here: LA Times Mackinac Island

And for more info on the island: Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau

Check it out!!

Love,
A

You know your in Michigan when...

So I am now back home in Santa Barbara after ten days in Northern Michigan (my island of course... Mackinac)that included too much to talk about ...so here's just a list and a few pics...

Just a quick overview of my trip...
Over 400 yachts invading Mackinac (100th Anniversary of the Chicago to Mac Race)
2 AMAZING weddings
Fireworks
Several Power outages
Lightening Storms
Gorgeous Rainbows
Sunny days on boats (I just noticed a lot about weather. . . figures that's Michigan)
Biking 8 miles DURING a wedding
Exploring new islands (Drummond) and wedding locations
Shooting one of my favorite hotels (Iroquois Hotel)
A drive over the Mighty Mac (Mackinac Bridge)
A fly over the Mighty Mac (shooting aerial shots... in a very very small plane)
Meeting new people
And spending time with old friends and plenty more...

Here are just a few pics... man I will never stop seeing this place in new and wonderful ways!!

Love,
A

Melissa & Andrew: Tears of Joy, Laughter . .and just about everything..

Did my mascara run . . .oh shoot . . . occupational hazard. . .but who would of thought this bride and groom (and all of their guests) would bring me to tears ... I had only just met Melissa and Andrew the night before and yet still as she stood beautifully sillouetted by the tall Michigan trees and her hansome groom gripped her hand as she said her vows . . . tears started flowing down my face . . . (and hers . . . and their guests . . .and even a few groomsmen were biting their lips to hold back their emotions).

I have never witnessed such a tender ceremony that brought so many to tears. Although I may not have known the couple for long or their friends and family, it was impossible not to feel the love and happiness that surrounded Melissa & Andrew. It was truly beautiful, as if the entire chapel secluded by woods, decorated by two simple ferns and an unimaginable amount of natural beauty was glowing not only by the rays of sunlight peaking through the trees but the love that these two obviously have for each other.
Oh . . . and it wasn't long before these tears of joy and tenderness turned into joys of extreme laughter as these peeps hit the dance floor. . .

I'm outta here . . .

Well, it's now almost 1 am (geez I am starting to forget the days when I went to bed at a decent hour). . . I've been packing (or should I say repacking over and over) now for almost 3 hours. . .I guess I have a tendency to over pack . . .but cut a girl some slack . .I'm going to an island with no cars in the middle of Northern Michigan to shoot 2 weddings, yacht races and a hotel . . . plus meetings, bike riding, horseback riding. . .and who knows what else. . . I must plan for everything. . .

So that said. . .there is my luggage (falling forward due to the wieght... I hope the people at the airport are friendly) ... and that doesn't even include my camera equipment... wish me luck through security... ;)

Off to my little piece of island heaven...

(don't worry I'll still be around . . . I have lots to blog about my last couple shoots still)

Ciao ciao,
A

Spring blooms and so does Mackinac...

So here I am at 8am in the morning (Eastern time) after yesterday's two hour drive, 5 hour red-eye, another 4.5 hour drive, and half hour boat ride... I hit "The Island"... (yah!!) .. but then instead of taking a nap like any normal human being would do.. I hit the streets with my camera...

Man I love this place... every season has its reason... and for spring.. its being fresh and new and ready for what's next, whether it's a fresh coat of paint, a new baby flower popping through the ground, or the good ol' local joint opening up from a winter season of hibernation... even the people (my dear dear Mackinac friends) have a new and fresh energy about them... ready for the new possibilities and faces of the upcoming summer..

Over the past year I have officially been on this magical island all four seasons (from 80 degrees of humidity to freezing 7 degrees and everything in between). It is amazing to see how not only the island changes with each degree of difference but so does the wonderful community that makes up this place. Many people only visit this island on a day pass. They see the pretty sites, take the pretty tour, and eat the fudge... but there is so much more... After coming here for almost ten years and having now experienced the middle of winter and the first of spring I see... it's not just the pretty sites and history that make this place so amazing its the people and their hearts that make Mackinac so magical.

To all my dear friends here on the island and to all the residents who make up this place... thank you...

Mackinac is and always will hold a very special place in my heart that always makes me smile...

May all of you find that special place in your hearts as well...

Have a beautiful weekend!

Love,
A

Here are a few of yesterdays' pics of the island getting ready to bloom...
And of course I brought Mom up here for Mother's Day...

My First Photo Competition

     Well, I've decided to jump into the world of competitive photography.  I did it...  I JUST submitted my first photos to a competition being sponsored by PDN and National Geographic Traveler called The Great Outdoors Contest.  I figure (just like blogging) no time like the present to start.  I'm not sure if it was laziness or nerves that's stopped me from entering competitions the past.  But man, now that I've done it I'm stoked. . .  I'm not even thinking about the outcome, I'm just excited to have tried something new. . . and now I'm ready for the next one.

     I've always believed in these two things (not that I've always followed them)

  a) Do something that scares you everyday 

  b) Try something new everyday 

     Well . . . today I've done both . . and do I feel good!  Man, why don't I listen to my inner thoughts and self-help books more often!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, try something new and do something scary (but not too crazy)

Love,

A 

     These are the pics I submitted (of course all three are of the Island. . . Mackinac, in case you haven't been keeping up).

A little more about me . . . and the places I love

I'd have to say that I am truly a product of my environment... mix together a small midwest town, a magical island with lots of bikes, an obscure Eastern European country, then throw in a west coast paradise . . . and there you have it... Andrejka "girl next door"...

I was born in a small cornfield of a town in the middle of Michigan. From there I traveled north to an island with no cars (but plenty of horses and bikes)... and now I live in paradise... ask me which place is best, I can't say... each has and always will be a significant part of me.

I love my midwest roots... with Slovenian parents to add a twist (hence, Andrejka). This area gave me a deep appreciation for family, simplicity and finding natural beauty in everything, plus the european influence always spiced things up.

Then came Mackinac (from now on referred to as "the island"); the tropical island everyone dreams of ...(only this one forgot about the tropical and got lost in Northern Michigan). This place is more magical and unique then I have space here to write. For some strange reason, this island has attached itself to my heart and will never let go. I discovered this place 8 years ago while running an art gallery for the extremely talented Marlee Brown at the Grand Hotel... every since I've been returning what is beyond a normal amount. Last year I took the 2 hour drive, 2 plane rides, another 2 hour drive, and 30 min boat ride from SB (just for the weekend I might add) ... 10 times. . . and still every time I step off that boat dock I get butterflies in my stomach.

And finally, my home . .. Santa Barbara, California (aka paradise) . . . what can I say . . . it's the American Riviera . . . it may be expensive as all get out but man, ... we got the mountains, we got the ocean, we got great weather, we got great people, and we got GREAT grocery stores (you'd understand if you grew up in the midwest) . . . plus it is one of ... if not the ... top location for a destination wedding ... a great place for a photographer ;)

Love,

A