Kim Ashley
I am a freelance photographer who lives in Albuquerque, NM, and specializes in outdoor photography. I enjoy traveling and hiking throughout New Mexico and the American Southwest. I have been taking photos for over 35 years, beginning with my experience in the U.S. Army as a photojournalist.
Today, my favorite photographic subjects include the land and its people, along with their cultural arts and traditions. I especially enjoy the rich multicultural traditions of New Mexico, which is an historic tapestry of Indian, Mexican, and European influences. My photographs reflect and document this rich tradition.
My photographic mission is to reveal the spirit of New Mexico in high quality iconic images. As a consequence, my best photographs do more than just document. I also want them to intimate or disclose, through visual language, the universal themes of our common humanity
Primarily, I shoot with a Canon 20D digital SLR. I use two zoom lenses. One is an EFS 17-85 mm, and the other is an EFS 70-300 mm. I use a UV filter and, sometimes, a polarizing filter. In the digital darkroom, I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0. If necessary, I tweak such things as lighting, contrast, and color. When necessary, I also use a sharpening tool. For landscapes and other objects that stand still, I use a tripod. Otherwise, for people and action photos, I hand-hold the camera.
Recently my photos of Native American children—Pueblo, Navaho, and Hopi—were exhibited in the New Mexico State Capitol Building at the Governor's Gallery in Santa Fe, NM. I was commissioned to shoot the photos by Futures for Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Native American children achieve their educational goals.