True Life: I live in a beer and cider central...

And I absolutely love it! Let's set things straight - I do drink beer.  The taste alone does not bother me, however I do have many preferences.  Particularly, I enjoy hard ciders and light beers like Blue Moon for example.  My roommate tells me that Blacksburg is best for being a huge college town with some of the best selections of beers.  Even better, it's known to have some of the most notable breweries in the region.  Blacksburg's just got it like that.

In my week of living in Blacksburg, I have tried a few different types of beers and ciders other than my favorite/standard Woodchuck Hard Cider, courtesy of my nice roommate.  And the list goes as follows (in order of consumption):

1. Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Vienna Style Lager (Signature Virginia Beer)
2. Highland Brewing Co. - Gaelic Pale Ale
3. Bold Rock Hard Cider
4. Angry Orchard - Traditional Dry
5. Hornsby's Hard Crisp Cider

These are the few beers that I have tried so far, but I'm pretty sure there are more beers for me to experiment with in the future.  Until next time!

The Big Move: From MD to VA

As many of you may know, I am attending Virginia Tech to pursue a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.  Over the five (5) months, I had been finalizing things for the big move to Blacksburg, VA.  When the time finally arrived, I packed my bags into a rental car (since I didn't have a car of my own for now), rode with my older sister and brother-in-law, snapped some pictures along the way, and made my way down to VT Land.  Upon my arrival this past Sunday, August 11th, I met my new roommate, who is very friendly, personable, and down to earth.  She even showed me and told me about some great local spots, like the Y Thrift Shop (YMCA Center).  The Thrift Shop (pictures soon)!!! You already know.

Imprints by Maleshia J.© - Leave Your Mark™

Now Introducing: 

Imprints by Maleshia J.© - Leave Your Mark™

I have always enjoyed digital photography as a hobby and view photography as an art form that allows for true expression from the lens' perspective. A picture is definitely worth at least 1000 words, if not more, and there is something special about how a single photograph to withstand the test of time.

In my personal experiences, I've used my photography to capture the essence of my life, to tell a story, and to share the beauties of the world we live in with others. My love for capturing precious moments has led me towards become more involved with photography.  Reflecting on the wide range of photos that I have, it was important that I get more serious about making my personal brand a top priority.  Although I am learning and perfecting my craft, I want to make sure my photos (especially the good ones) get all of the credit that they deserve.

If there is anything that I want to before I leave this world, it is to inspire others, spread happiness, and leave my mark by making a difference. I want to leave a lasting impression, an imprint, for others to follow by example. One way of leaving my mark in the form of digital photography is by capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments that that tell a story.

This is the beginning of a long, but fulfilling, journey ahead. I am novice from a professional photographer stand point, but we all start somewhere, right? I look to other photographers for inspiration as a means to teach myself something new and perfect a craft. As with any hobbie, craft, trade, you get better with time and practice. We'll see where my hobby will take me.

We are all artists, blessed with God-given talent(s). We all have a voice and ideas to spread.   Don't let your gifts go to waste.  What mark will you leave?

Additional Notes:

I currently own two cameras: Kodak Easyshare C913 Digital Camera and Nikon D3100 DSLR Camera (new addition).  Most of my existing photos have been taken with my Kodak C913 camera.  I am experimenting with the Nikon D3100 for practice.