Spokane International Film Festival By Veronica Evans

The Spokane International Film Festival was held this weekend in Spokane, WA at the AMC and Magic Lantern. There were 4 showings and the award announcement after party at the Catacombs. Minimal flash was asked for but I was to 1600 ISO and 20 shutter speed. Right. So, I loaded up my 580 EX II with fresh batteries and a white, round, glass diffuser adapter. That is the best conversation piece I have ever had! People were coming up to rub it, ask what it was, comment that it looked like an old fashioned lamp post....

All I can say is that the softening of the shadows was very apparent and even though it is bulky, will be hauled around with me often.

After last weekends fiasco with my corrupt back up files on my CF card and computer folders, I wasn't going to take any chances with those cards so I used a new Lexar Professional with a faster write speed. When I backed them up I made sure that edits and batch processes were done before I went to sleep. 5 AM and edits later, here is the slideshow that I threw together.

2010 US Figure Skating Championship After Party

2010 U.S. Figure Skating After Party

At the Davenport Hotel, Spokane Washington

Davenport Hotel

Emily Hughes, Skater

Two Guys, Six Purses, Four Beers

Ice as Art - Olympic Rings ®

Embedded Budweiser Beer in the Ice Chairs

This was an amazing opportunity to attend this extraordinary event. The party was separated into two separate areas and skaters were mingling at each one. The dancing, partying and drinking lasted until nearly two when final call was made. Party goers headed to the various bars in the hotel and restaurant to continue the night of celebration.

Dreyer Press

This was written and posted by Chris Dryer on his blog: http://dreyerpress.blogspot.com/

He does phenomenal work and is a good friend as well. If you are in Spokane, look him up and he will come up with the most unique and quality promotional products you can imagine!

"Here is a slick little promo piece I put together for the talented/charismatic Veronica Evans of Fossa Studio Photography. She even sealed the first bundle with a wax stamp.

The gift card is actually two different paper stocks duplexed together with glue, for a very thick and substantial card. All inks were printed with the offset press, with the exception of the black on the front of the gift card ($25), which was done with the letterpress to lend a unique, slightly distressed look to each card.

Enclosure: Classic Linen "Epic Black" 1/0 Silver ink, letterpress score for tri-fold

Card: French Paper "Blu-Raspberry" w/ white offset & black letterpress, duplexed with Classic Crest "Pewter" w/ 2-color white/black offset. Corners rounded."

HDR Spotting!

Yeah! I received an invitation code to HDR Spotting! I uploaded my first two contributions today and I'm hoping to see them approved and on the site here soon!

I'm so excited about this new HDR effect. I've been using it on one exposure photos which is really hard to get a smooth look with. So, my first experiments with HDR effects are going to be urban dirty versions with grit and grain.

Here are some true urban dirty portraits!

Lewis and Clark Tigers Football '09

LC Tiger Football player Kyle and his mom Tammy

Shae and Erin just before their wedding vows!

Just a monkey with an attitude!

HDR Effects

Playing around with HDR Effects in Photoshop!

I was cleaning out my 500GB HD so I could back it up to another 500GB HD and really started looking at the collection of photos from the beginning of my photography career. I am embarrassed that I actually showed some of these. Well, I am truly humbled and though I am proud of my new experimental works of art, in a few years I will probably feel the same way: "What was I thinking?" ha ha, well, it's not always about being perfect but the learning curve is way too much fun to ignore. Sharing the process is even more rewarding because then our art improves with feedback and critiques.

So, here are some of the "new" works of art. Enjoy!

Seattle Skyline from Ferry

Spokane River

Riverfront Fountain in Spokane

Dark Fountain

Fort Casey, Washington

By the time you read this, the renovation project may be finished. Fort Casey is located on Whidbey Island near the Washington State Ferry Terminal. This fort has great history and you can read more about it here: http://fortwiki.com/Fort_Casey

Activated in 1900, this fort was acquired by Washington state in 1956. Thousands of visitors come to see the old fort each year and explore dark passageways, old canons, and empty rooms.

As of the taking of this photo, restoration has been commenced to repaint the entire fort in army fatigue green. Personally, I love the weathered and worn look to the fort but the need to preserve such history is necessary.

Feel free to plan a trip to visit this historic site and bring a picnic, warm gear (the wind can be quite chilly here) and a good flashlight or two.

The Traveler's Gift, by Andy Andrews

I highly recommend this to everyone. It's about 7 gifts/attributes of a successful person. This book changed my life and re-enforces my choices in life.


1. The buck stops here. I am responsible for my past and my future.

I am who I am today- mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially- because of the decisions I have made. My thoughts will be constructive, never destructive. I will not dwell in the problems of the past. In times of adversity, I will not have a problem to deal with, but a choice to make. Adversity is preparation for greatness. I will accept this preparation. Why me? Why NOT me?

The buck stops here. I am responsible for my past and my future.


2. I will seek wisdom. I will be a servant to others.

I will choose my friends with care. I am who my friends are. I speak their language, and I wear their clothes. I share their opinions and their habits. From this moment forward, I will choose to associate with people whose lives and lifestyles I admire. If I associate with chickens, I will learn to scratch at the ground and squabble over crumbs. If I associate with eagles, I will learn to soar to great heights. It is my destiny to fly.
The words of a wise man are like raindrops on dry ground. They are precious and can be quickly used for immediate results. Only the blade of a grass that catches a raindrop will prosper and grow.
The person who ignores wise counsel is like the blade of grass untouched by the rain, soon to wither and die. When I counsel with just myself, I can make decisions only according to what I already know. By counseling with a wise man, I add his knowledge and experience to my own and dramatically increase my success.

I will seek wisdom.


3. I am a person of action. I seize this moment. I choose now.

I inspire others with my activity. I am a leader. A person who moves neither left nor right is destined for mediocrity. When faced with a decision, many people say they are waiting for God. but I understand, in most cases, God is waiting for me.
He has given me a healthy mind to gather and sort the information and the courage to come to a conclusion. I am not a quivering dog, indecisive and fearful. My constitution is strong and my pathway clear. Successful people make their decisions quickly and change their minds slowly. My decisions come quickly and they lead to victory.

I am a person of action. I am daring. I am courageous.


4. I have a decided heart. My destiny is assured.

I am passionate about my vision for the future. I will awaken every morning with an excitement about the new day and its opportunity for growth and change. My thoughts and actions will work in a forward motion, never sliding into the dark forest of doubt or the muddy quicksand of self-pity. I will freely give my vision for the future to others, and as they see the belief in my eyes, they will follow me.
I have a dream, it is a great dream and I will never apologize for it. Neither will I let it go, for if I did, my life would be finished. My hopes, my passions, my vision for the future are my very existence. A person without a dream never had a dream come true.

I will not wait, I have a decided heart.


5. Today, I will choose to be happy. I am the possessor of a grateful spirit.

I will greet each day with laughter. Laughter is an outward expression of enthusiasm. I laugh throughout the day. I laugh while I'm alone, and I laugh in conversation with others. People are drawn to me because I have laughter in my heart.
My smile has become my calling card. It is, after all, the most potent weapon I possess. My smile has the strength to forge bonds, break ice, and calm storms. I will use my smile constantly. My smile is the key to my emotional makeup. When I choose to smile, I become the master of my emotions. Discouragement, despair, frustration, and fear will always wither when confronted by my smile. The power of who I am is displayed when I smile.

Today, I will choose to be happy.


6. I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit. I will forgive myself.

Have you ever been so angry or upset with someone that all you could think of was that person and the horrible way you'd been treated? You think about him when you should be sleeping, and all the things you should have said or would like to say come to mind. When you could be enjoying an evening with your family, your children aren't foremost in your thoughts. That person who offended you is receiving all your energy.
Amazingly, many of these dastardly people who dare to occupy our minds with angry thoughts are actually wandering about in life without any knowledge of our feelings or any conviction that they have done anything wrong.
Forgiveness is not a reward that must be earned. It is a gift to be given. When I give forgiveness, I free my own spirit to release the anger and hatred harbored in my heart.

I will forgive those who do not ask for forgiveness. I will forgive myself.


7. I will persist without exception. I am a person of great faith.

It is a fact that great leaders -great achievers - are rarely realistic by other people's standards. Somehow, these successful people, often considered strange, pick their way through life, ignoring or not hearing negative expectations and emotions. Consequently, they accomplish one great thing after another, never having heard what cannot be done.
Circumstances are rulers of the weak. They are weapons of the wise.
A person who is depressed is spending too much time thinking about the way things are now and not enough time thinking about how he wants things to be.
Average people compare themselves with other people. That is why they are average. I compare myself to potential. I am not average. I see exhaustion as a precursor to victory.

I focus on results. I am a person of great faith. I will persist without exception.

National Parks Disability Pass

Hurricane Ridge

This came to my attention this summer as I was visiting the Olympic National Parks this summer with my family.

I am a veteran with service connected disabilities. I inquired about it, showed my VA ID card and was issued a lifetime pass to enter all national parks and sites for free!

For more information about this amazing service to all disabled citizens, go here: http://store.usgs.gov/pass/access.html

FSP and Chamber of Commerce!

Fossa Studio Photography is a proud member of the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce!

FSP Christmas Card

I've been experimenting with textures and brushes. I went a little crazy and spent the past couple of days playing around. I had several folders of snow birds from last year that I didn't know what I was going to do with. Well, I had fun and here is the result.

This project got me in the mood for Christmas!

Savor The Success!

Where to find Fossa Studio Photography

Find us Here:

www.fossastudio.com

www.myspace.com/fossastudio

http://fossastudiophotography.blogspot.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fossastudio/

Piper's Pretty Petti Shoot

Piper's Petti Photos!

This was such a fun shoot. Piper is 8 months old and every time I looked at her she would giggle and wiggle with complete joy. Maybe she laughed because I was so funny looking!

I just got my new AB800s a few hours prior and was jumping to get a chance to use them. WOW! Well, you can see for yourself what happened!

Piper is a natural model! She cooed and blew bubbles, rolled around and was very aware of where the camera was. Shelley Ruddell stopped by and helped keep her entertained. Shelley would tickle her toes and then Piper would look at me (the camera) and give the biggest smile!

This was Piper's first attempts at sitting without assistance and I'm so glad we had a soft rug underneath her because there was a lot of falling over going on. I kept her happy with a bunch of little pumpkin props, keys, and a bunch of jingle-y bracelets: she is definitely a girly-girl; that jewelry kept her entertained!

How much can a 15 year old text?

Well, apparently, a 15 year old can text over $1000 worth in a single month!!  Yeah, it came as a complete shock to me too.  Imagine my surprise when I open up my sprint letter online and it shows a bill for $1158.  Oh, she is so lucky that she was not within a five mile vicinity.  She is so D.E.D. Dead!  Well not really but her social life is.  

So I called Sprint up and tried to work something out with them.  They offered a $50 credit.  Really?  Well, my contract ended with them in September and I was just waiting to go with AT&T and the I-Phone.  I was saving money for my new photography lights for the studio,  but with this kind of pay this now or your phone will be shut off deal, I decided to go early for the phone.  So, I 'm sitting here typing this, the proud new owner of a 16GB, black, 3G I-Phone with the best protector they offered.  

Even with my statement of switching to AT&T, Sprint still wouldn't work something out.  I've been a member with them since January 2002!  Well, now I have to call them back up and work out a 50 year payment plan since I am going to make my daughter pay every cent back.  She's starting tomorrow and will canvas the entire neighborhood to clean/rake their yard, pet sit, baby sit, etc.  100 $10 jobs and she will be debt free...(to me at least) 

Ah, kids are so sweet when they are little, then they grow up and get their own minds and we lose ours.  

Vinnie's Interview

Class project we did for photo media.  Did this in two days, so it's not as good as I could make it.  Revision will be coming later this summer when I get the program to make edits.