Like a Phoenix, Arising
Throughout my life, I’ve always been imaginative. I search for the odd, the beautiful, the different, the hidden. I lived in wonder of the forest. I craved nature and all its beauty. The changing of the seasons inspired me to believe and dream. My plans for life were much bigger than the small town I grew up in. Though beautiful, I yearned for the rest of the world. All the amazing sites and people, all the adventures. I knew that my destiny was to travel and I worked to make it happen. Along the way, I decided I wanted to share my journeys. Thanks to social media, anywhere I went I brought my followers along with me. From the towns to the streams, I shared the world I was blessed to experience. All of it. Each post a curated tale of my adventures. A plethora of the good and the bad.
Along the way folks would tell me how much they loved my work. My photos were a breath of fresh air to one who had never left their home state. With nothing but a cell phone and a dream, I was able to capture some of the beauty I witnessed. Pictures rarely do true justice, but one can try. As I had been to so many states and then started with other countries, I developed quite a collection of memories. I developed a crazy idea that maybe one day I’d get serious about photography journey. Maybe…
I bought my first Canon camera in 2019 and it tagged along on my trip to Las Vegas. I snapped some shots at Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam but after that trip, I put it down and never picked it up again. Why learn this heavy clunky camera when my phone does “just as well?” I wasn’t ready to act like a professional; I didn’t want to be serious. Social media got me by and I enjoyed the simplicity, especially as phone cameras improved. I kept traveling and taking basic photos until one day I started to notice that I wish I had more control over the colors. I wanted more ability to transform the work. I wanted to start learning and share my craft with the rest of the world.
In September of 2023, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. My whole life fell off its axis and I stopped sharing my journeys. I dreaded the future and hid in the shadows while I worked through my worst fears. I still lived and traveled, but I kept it all away. I focused on my health and healing my mental state. In February of 2025, I bought my current Canon camera and in the following April I started Ms. Manda Photography. Now, I’m sharing it all with you again. My vision is to take my world and invite you back into it. To share my hopes and dreams and all the beautiful things. From creating art to growing plants, we’ll capture the essence together.
I’m so glad you’re here.
Kindly,
Ms. Manda
