ANGELA B. PAN

It’s official! It’s been one year since I became a master at the Arcanum and started inviting friends into my cohort. There have been many things that have been said about the Arcanum like, “it’s changed my life” or “it’s such a great community” but the thing about it, is that it’s all totally true.

Last year, on July 7th I was really nervous. I really didn’t really know what I getting myself into but most of all, I was worried about my ability to lead and mentor 20 photographers. I mean, what do I really have to offer that they couldn’t learn anywhere else?

So I pushed my fears aside and slowly built up my cohort with 20 AMAZING landscape and nature photographers. And through this experience I’ve learned so much! I even feel a little guilty because my cohort has taught me sooo much about photography and friendship that it doesn’t even feel like a mentor/mentee relationship anymore. It really just feels like friends with common interests hanging out.

If you’ve been a long time follower of my blog, you may have noticed my photography style has changed a bit in the past year. In the very beginning of the blog I used to shoot and process exclusively HDR. Now with the Arcanum and specifically my cohort, I’ve pushed out of my own comfort zone to try new things in shooting, processing, and just the whole way I look at photography. And for that I’m extremely grateful for my cohort, Angelaville because I’m so much prouder of my work as of recent.

But it’s not just interacting with the members of Angelaville, it’s hanging out with the other masters and members of the Arcanum that makes this whole experience soooo much cooler. I’ve met some pretty awesome people and I’m confident that wherever I go in the world, I’ll have a friend to meet up with through the Arcanum.

So to say that the Arcanum is life changing is totally an understatement. It’s only been a year and I can’t even remember what I used to do before it came about. It’s totally rocked my photo world I can’t wait to see what the next year holds 🙂

It was a last minute decision to head to the memorials for the fireworks but it turned out so great. Love the fireworks in DC.

Along the GW Parkway there are these beautiful willow trees everywhere. I love watching them blow in the wind. It seems like they’d be the perfect spot for a picnic or even to just cuddle up and read. Do you think so? Or have I just been watching way to much tv lately that I’m getting these fantasy, dream-like visions of willow trees in my head?

I was hoping the colors in the sky would come over the bridge but it never did. Thought it was a pretty cool “peak-a-boo, I’m not going to see you” kind of image.

In an effort to explore new places with my camera, I was on the GW parkway this weekend. This was at Gravelly Point Park. A place I remember visiting a lot when I was in high school but haven’t really been back since.

It’s a nice area with a lot of families picnicking and lots of people running and biking along the trail. As far as taking panoramic views, I think I should of gone a little further down the trail. Either way, I think this is a cool vantage point of Reagan airport. Trying to capture the planes landing at sunset? Now, that took a little more patience.

Taken about 20 minutes after this image, the GW parkway is a great place to watch the sunrise.