Mindy Miller Photography

I’ve often dreamed of fall in new England, so this past week I’ve been pinching myself daily! All thanks to my best friend 🥰 So many images… but for now I’ve downloaded a handful to my phone so I could share a glimpse of the magic. Simply too impatient to wait for the proper culling and editing, lol. If you’ve ever yearned to make this trip, do it! Endless mountains and hillsides sprinkled with the most vibrant, surreal colors you’ve ever seen are awaiting your arrival 🍂🍁

My heart is full and my soul recharged ❤️📷

Cannot imagine a more beautiful way to finish 2022 than this 🩰🌊❤️

Feeling grateful for the opportunity I had to capture these images of the most spectacular young artist! She dances with Bossov Ballet Theatre at the MCI School and just happened to be in Florida visiting family. Lucky me ☺️

Cheers to the New Year 🥂

So I have recently become captivated by none other than… sea foam! Anyone else into it? Or is it just me? 😂 I already loved the unpredictability of the ocean, but never realized how much I would also love this aspect of the magical sea foam, lol. You never know what shapes will form right before your eyes, it’s like nature is dancing! It’s also kind of tricky to capture the collisions when you’re zoomed in at 200mm, but I love a good challenge. Alright I digress. I’ve spoken enough about sea foam… for today 😉🌊

“Every horse deserves, at least once in it’s life, to be loved by a little girl.” - unknown

We were about a mile out from summiting Mount Rogers (Virginia’s highest point) when first spotted this picturesque scene. While the mare and her filly peacefully grazed, I kneeled down and slowly pulled out my camera, doing my best to capture the moment without disturbing them. However, within a minute the filly was practically in my lap, gently begging for pets from us! And I must say that I for one, will never in my lifetime, withhold pets from a magical, wild pony 😂🤷🏼‍♀️

On this day, the ponies roaming those glorious highlands experienced being loved by little girls, and I’m forever grateful for the experience 💖🦄

When we first arrived at Upper North Falls, there were only two other people in sight - a grandfather standing with his grandson. As I watched these two share a few moments together, admiring this glorious place, I couldn’t help but include at least one shot with them in it. Which is your favorite shot out of these two?

While camping in Umpqua National Forest I heard there were several waterfalls nearby. Naturally I had no choice… I had to check at least one of them out 😉 One morning I convinced Wired To Explore to join me for the short hike to Spirit Falls and it was spectacular! He took a nap while I hiked around capturing as many angles as I could before the sun was overhead. A perfectly shared morning for the two of us 😂

Sol Duc Falls in Olympic National Park are truly one of the most spectacular waterfalls I have ever photographed 💖 These falls split into as many as four channels and cascade down 48 feet into a stunning, rocky canyon. I could have stayed there admiring their beauty for the rest of my life! Oh, and it’s so accessible too… only a 0.8 mile walk to get there 😁

There are some places on earth that simply exude magic. White Rock Falls is unquestionably one of those places. I don’t think Wired To Explore and I will ever forget our incredible hike to these spectacular falls. So many beautiful memories that are impossible to define 💖 Plus, he created a fish out of balancing rocks (last slide). I mean, how sweet is that?!

ISO: 100
Aperture: f/22⁣
Shutter: 3.2s / 2.5s / 6s
Focal length: 53mm / 59mm / 70mm

One of the best decisions we have made recently was signing up for a Harvest Hosts membership! We have been able to experience so many stunning wineries, breweries, cideries and farms that we otherwise would have missed. Waking up to a spectacular sunrise on a farm like Peaks of Otter Winery truly leaves you speechless 💖

Yep, it’s official... I’ll never stop chasing waterfalls 💦❤️

On our hike back up from Apple Orchard Falls, I’m certain I had a perma-grin slapped across my face despite the grueling climb. (Ok... I admit it... I also enjoy grueling climbs 😂) Photographing these falls had me basking in pure bliss, even if my breathing was labored and my legs burned!

*side note... trying to keep up with my 14 year old these days is no easy task!

The entirety of these falls are about 200 feet high and every single inch of them is stunning! The section I chose to focus on is probably about 20 feet and I was utterly smitten. Honestly, I imagine I could spend a lifetime photographing these falls and never, ever grow tired of them.

After hiking back out, I was chatting away with a couple of fellow hikers in the parking lot. When I learned that one pair had decided to turn back maybe 1/2 a mile before they reached the falls, I almost could not contain my devastation! But... why?! 😂

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ISO: 100
Aperture: f/22⁣
Shutter: 8s / 5s / 4s
Focal length: 49mm / 60mm / 70mm

I didn’t intend to photograph this creek. It wasn’t in my adventure “plan”. This location was simply a place for us to sleep 😴 ⁣
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But, that first morning as I took a casual stroll through Middle Creek Campground with my cup of joe, the beauty of this unassuming, babbling creek simply took my breath away. I needed my camera! ⁣
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The bank was steep, but I awkwardly made my way down and shot off a few frames. They weren’t horrible, but it was wasn’t doing the scene any justice. ⁣
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A sacrifice had to be made and today that sacrifice would be my feet. They needed to reach a state of true numbness in order to get the shot that I really craved 🥶😂
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With my teeth clenched, I ventured barefoot into the center of the creek. I gently reminded myself... the stinging sensation will end soon, this will be worth it. ⁣
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Then, just as I finished setting up my tripod, a few small rays of sunlight shot through the trees creating delightful, soft highlights across the water. I shot off a few more frames and just as quickly as it had arrived, that picturesque moment disappeared. The rays of sunlight became too powerful and the shot was gone. But luckily... I had been there for that fleeting, magical moment 💖⁣
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I hope you enjoy this image I captured of this modest little creek as much as I enjoyed creating it 🥰

ISO: 50 ⁣
Aperture: f/22⁣
Shutter: 4 sec⁣
Focal length: 53mm ⁣

It may have rained all day, but we went chasing waterfalls anyway! The Appalachian mountains continue to deliver spectacular beauty... Shamokin Falls did not disappoint 💖

And on our way back into town we discovered a new cidery - Bold Rock Hard Cider. Most excellent brews with fabulous views 🍻

Traveling is amazing! There is so much to discover and seeing new places always inspires me to get creative. Water is one of my favorite subjects, so our recent hike up Crabtree Falls in Virginia was a total playground for me! I almost felt bad (but not really) over how many times I asked my family to stop while I took yet another photo of the falls... ❤️

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Some moments in life hit me immediately as truly precious 💖 ⁣⁣
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As I was opening a bottle of wine to share lakeside with Wired To Explore, this beautiful scene unfolded right before my eyes. I quickly swapped the bottle for my camera (temporarily of course) to capture a few fleeting moments between my husband and daughter, as he taught her a few casting techniques. Equally entertaining was listening to him whimper and moan over the fact that this lake only permitted youth fishing... followed by my 14 year old lamenting how she wished she was an adult 😂⁣⁣
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It was a calm, simple evening filled with serene beauty, the art of casting and of course loads of laughter and sarcasm 😉⁣⁣
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We’re only one week in to this summer adventure and my heart is already filled with magic and gratitude 💖⁣