Ashley Danielle Photography

06/30/2026

When the wildlife doesn't cooperate... improvise. 🌿⛰️📸

Lara Croft has quietly become my favorite hiking companion.

The first two images were taken while my girls and I were exploring the beautiful mountains of Virginia. What most people saw as a moss-covered log and a peaceful mountain stream, Lara saw as an ancient jungle crossing and a raging river that had to be conquered.

The final image came weeks before the first two, while I was on a birding tour in Panama. We were waiting for a bird that had decided to stay hidden, so instead of staring into the canopy, I reached into my backpack and pulled out Lara.

That definitely earned me a few chuckles from the group... but it didn't stop me. 😄

A rocky hillside instantly became a towering mountain, where one wrong step could send her plummeting to her doom—or, realistically, a few inches to the forest floor.

That's what I love about toy photography. It forces you to slow down and see the world through a different lens. Ordinary places become extraordinary with a little imagination. A fallen log becomes an ancient bridge. A mountain stream becomes an untamed river. A hillside transforms into a cliff worthy of Tomb Raider.

Whether I'm photographing hummingbirds in Colombia, frogs in Panama, or spending a day in the Virginia mountains with my daughters, I always try to leave room for a little creativity and fun.
Sometimes the best photos aren't the ones you planned—they're the ones that happen because you decided to play.

Which adventure is your favorite?
🌿 The log crossing in Virginia
💧 The mountain stream in Virginia
⛰️ The cliffside climb in Panama

P.S. The bird finally decided to make an appearance... but Lara had already stolen the show. 😉

06/23/2026

🌿 Happy World Rainforest Day 🌿

Hidden among the rainforests of Bocas del Toro, Panama, this Strawberry Poison Dart Frog morph from Dolphin Bay is a reminder that some of the world's most extraordinary creatures depend entirely on healthy forests to survive.

Rainforests cover only a small portion of our planet, yet they support more than half of Earth's terrestrial species. When we protect these ecosystems, we protect countless lives—many of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
Saving the rainforest means saving the wildlife that calls it home.

📍 Dolphin Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama
🐸 Strawberry Poison Dart Frog (Oophaga pumilio)

06/20/2026

🎶 "You've Got a Friend in Me" 🕷️💗

A few weeks ago in Colombia, I met one of nature's tiniest personalities—a jumping spider tucked among brilliant pink petals. With their incredible eyesight and curious behavior, jumping spiders often seem more interested in watching us than running away.

Unlike web-building spiders, these tiny hunters actively stalk their prey and can leap several times their own body length with amazing precision. Their large forward-facing eyes give them exceptional vision—and perhaps their greatest superpower—the ability to win over even people who normally aren't spider fans.

This little Colombian jumper seemed to have as much curiosity about me as I had about it. For a brief moment, it felt like I had made a tiny new friend.

"You've got a friend in me." 💗

📍Colombia
📷 OM 1 Mark II

06/17/2026

One of the highlights of our time in Panama was spending time with two beautiful members of the motmot family—the Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii) and the Broad-billed Motmot (Electron platyrhynchum).

Although both species share the same unmistakable motmot charm, there are a few key differences. The Rufous Motmot is larger and richer in color, with its warm cinnamon-orange head and chest contrasting beautifully against deep green wings. The Broad-billed Motmot, on the other hand, has a more turquoise-green underside and, true to its name, a noticeably broader bill.

Their personalities made the experience even more memorable. The Broad-billed Motmot was calm and inquisitive, often giving us direct eye contact and posing beautifully on its perch. The Rufous Motmot, however, put on quite a show. At the end of our guide's countdown, it would swoop in with perfect timing to sn**ch a worm that had been tossed into the air. Watching its precision and agility firsthand was absolutely incredible and one of those wildlife moments I'll never forget.

Experiences like these remind me that wildlife photography is about so much more than documenting species—it's about witnessing behavior and appreciating the unique character each animal brings to the encounter.

Have any of you photographed motmots before? Or any species who showed their personality? I'd love to hear about your experiences!

06/11/2026

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Colombia was photographing this incredible male Buffy Helmetcrest Hummingbird (Oxypogon stuebelii) at an elevation of 13,576 feet. Reaching this species meant venturing into the high Andean páramo, where the air is thin and conditions can change quickly. Every sighting felt well-earned.

What made this experience even more memorable was this bird's personality. He seemed completely unfazed by our presence and spent several minutes putting on a show—fanning his tail, stretching his wings, and showing off the spectacular purple "beard" and distinctive crest that make this species so unique. I love how these frames captured some of those behaviors and expressions.

The Buffy Helmetcrest is endemic to Colombia and has a very limited range in the central Andes. It is currently listed as Vulnerable, with habitat loss threatening its specialized páramo ecosystem and an estimated population of fewer than 1,000 mature individuals. While dedicated birding tours do target this species, photographing one displaying naturally and showing this much character is certainly a special experience.

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on these images. Which composition do you prefer—the dramatic wing stretch or the head tilt with the folded wings?

04/02/2026

I’m incredibly grateful—3 amazing people have already donated and will be receiving a digital image from this trip. Thank you so much for your support! 💚📸

This means more to me than I can fully put into words. Every bit of support brings me closer to making this conservation photography expedition to Colombia and Panama (starting May 15th) a reality.

I’m still working toward my goal and could truly use the help. This opportunity will allow me to document endangered wildlife, share their stories, and continue using photography as a tool for education and conservation.

📸 As a thank you, anyone who donates $50 or more will receive a digital wildlife image from this upcoming trip—something meaningful that you helped make possible.

If you’re not able to donate, sharing this post would mean just as much to me.

👉 https://gofund.me/8c5ca511e

Thank you again for supporting this mission and believing in the power of protecting wildlife—one image at a time.

With gratitude,
Ashley Danielle

Help Me Protect Endangered Wildlife Through Photography in Colombia & … Ashley Hamilton needs your support for Join Me in Saving Wildlife, One Photo at a Time

03/16/2026

Introducing Willow 🌿

This beautiful Bornean Eared Frog—often called a dragon frog because of the little horn-like ridges above the eyes that give it the look of a tiny rainforest dragon. 🐉

Quiet, watchful, and full of personality, Willow is a reminder that some of nature’s most fascinating creatures are also the smallest. 🐸✨

Ashley Danielle Photography offers pet portraits of all kinds—because every creature deserves to be seen. 📸

01/10/2026

Last night, my local photography club, Blue Ridge Photographic Arts Society, unveiled their inspiring 'Favorites of 2025' gallery, and I felt thrilled to see all three of my submissions accepted. Crimson Glance, a vibrant Crimson Rumped Tananger, Golden Focus, a captivating female Basilisk, and Gaze Through the Rain, a stunning Keen Toucan, all taken in Costa Rica, evoke cherished memories of growth and camaraderie. Which one resonates with you the most? 📸❤️🎉

12/08/2025

The past few months have been a bit of a creative lull for me. Life has a way of piling things on, and somewhere along the way, the joy I normally feel when I sit down to edit slipped into the background. I’m sharing this because I know many artists and creators go through these quiet stretches, and it’s easy to feel alone in them.

But this morning, something finally shifted. I opened my laptop without forcing it, and the first images I felt drawn to were some of my favorite macro shots from Costa Rica. As soon as I started working on them, I felt that familiar spark again: the meditative focus of macro work, the thrill of revealing tiny details that our eyes can’t normally appreciate, the memory of being surrounded by lush rainforest and other photographers who share the same passion.

I was also reminded of how strong and supportive the photography community can be. A fellow photographer I met on that trip recently received a group gift after his equipment was stolen, and seeing his joy reminded me why I love this field so much. There is something incredibly special about artists lifting one another up.

Today’s edits were more than just photos—they were a step forward, a breath of fresh air, and the reminder I needed that inspiration always finds its way back.

If you’re seeing these images because you love macro or wildlife photography, I hope they bring a bit of wonder to your day. And if you’re a creative going through a slower season, I hope they remind you that your spark isn’t gone… it’s just resting.

Thank you for being here and for supporting this journey. ❤️📸🐸✨