Archive for the ‘Philanthropy’ Category.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to check out the brand new Ridge Motorsports Park out in Shelton, WA, with 2Fast. It was the first major event at the track, and needless to say, even in its incomplete state, it’s become the most exciting track in the region. Thanks to Warren, I got a chance to do a few laps on a bike the day before the event, and despite the freezing weather, it’s made me eager for the 2012 track/racing season. I spent the event day taking pictures and giving car rides to folks so they could check it out. It was awesome.

I decided that morning that because the event was being held as a charity to local food banks that folks who were invited out that day got their pictures for free. It was for a good cause, and people came out to give canned goods and donate, so I figured it was the least I could do.

So if you were out there, I hope you enjoy your pictures. You can find your photos here.

Video from the car ride at lunch that day. I only wish that I had put a camera inside the car to get the looks on people’s faces as they experienced the track for the first time…

It’s been a busy summer. Multiple projects are on my plate, and it’s my own fault, but I’m finally ticking things off one at a time and finally catching up to everything where it’s becoming more manageable. Whine, whine, cry, cry – I know.

One of the things I was more excited about this summer was that Landon turned one in July. It’s already been a year since he was born and I was taking pictures of him being weighed for the first time. Eric and Allison asked me to take his birthday pictures, and we found out that he doesn’t like cake. Seriously, what’s wrong with kids these days?

Chin-One of Omnitious.com asked me to do another set of fashion photos, and I got to work with a model for the first time in a while. Thankfully, Stephanie has been around the block enough that she made the shoots easy and laid back for all of us. It was probably one of the best times I’ve had photographing a model, and it was spread out over a couple days. There wasn’t much direction from me needed, she just flowed really well and all I had to do was press the shutter release every once in a while, and I got a nice shot. I got so zoned out during the shoots because of this that I had to remind myself that I had to focus on the clothes and less on Steph.

The success of Fotos for Food 2010. Here's to hoping we generate more next time around.

On another note, Fotos for Food was a slight success. There wasn’t much in terms of a turnout (mostly friends), but the donations were great and we got some cool pictures (as of now, still working on them). Thanks to all the folks who gave, my car was full when I went to go drop the donations off at a Northwest Harvest drop site at a UPS store. Seems like I overwhelmed the desk clerks in the shop and blocked their store front with all the boxes of food. One of them didn’t waste any time calling Northwest Harvest for a pickup. Nice job, folks.

Thanks to JayTPhotos and TurkPhotos for their help, as well as to all the folks who were so willing to lend a hand with the event. Hope to see you next time with an even more successful event.

The race season’s dying down, but I managed to shoot some video during my first official race weekend with WMRRA and make a short video out of it.

And of course, 2Fast photos. The last session was at PIR, and it was a great (albeit the heat) day for it. Attendance was a bit low, considering the week before was plastered with track days from other organizations as well as the OMRRA weekend, but the turn out was still pretty good. Mark (2Fast owner) decided to run the day in the two-session format instead of the usual three, and I even got myself out on the track to try it out for the first time (never ridden PIR before). Despite hearing that the layout can get boring quick, I had a blast in the few sessions that I had, and it was refreshing to turn right more often than left on the cleanest pavement I’ve ever ridden on. This might inspire me to keep checking out new tracks in the warmer states in the off-season. Hmmm.

Find your PIR pictures from that day here, and purchase information here. Due to me putting the camera down, as well as forgetting my teleconverter that day, galleries are at a discount, so enjoy your photos for less.

Let’s try this again, shall we?

As of today, I have the big hangar known as Workshop 30 in Magnuson Park reserved for this event, so this’ll be happening rain or shine on August 29th. This has been a long time waiting, and I’ve been jumping through hoops to be able to secure this location, so let’s all cross our fingers that nothing goes aloof.

So come out and enjoy a day messing around with your family, friends, pets, cars, or bikes, in front of our cameras while talking cameras or anything else that may come to mind. Jason of JayT Photos and Orhun of Turk Photos are also participating and providing different ideas and settings for some variety.

Take some photos yourself! Bring your camera, bring your gear and let’s talk shop. Just bring an appropriate donation for Northwest Harvest and you’re golden. We’ll provide some snacks and beverages (sorry, no booze) to keep folks comfortable (yeah, I know, booze would be comfortable).

Look your best and be your awesomest, and come out and have some fun.

What: Fotos for Food
When: August 29, 2010 – 3pm till we get kicked out!
Where: Workshop 30, Magnuson Park in Sand Point
Why: To gather donations for Northwest Harvest, and to get you awesome photos

Who: You and your friends and family, myself with a disposable camera, Orhun from TurkPhotos.com and Jason from JayTPhotos.com

What can you bring? (more info…)
Oatmeal
Whole grain pastas
Brown rice
Tomato products
Canned vegetables
Canned fruit, especially with low sugar (but not artificial sweeteners)
Canned fish or meat
Shelf-stable milk
Beef stew, chili and similar meals with low sugar and saturated fats

Infant and baby foods:
Baby formula
Canned milk
Infant cereal
Jars of baby food
Powdered or canned milk
They also accept baby diapers

Unfortunately, due to increasing inclement weather, I’m going to have to call off Fotos for Food today, and will make plans for it for later this summer. This will better our chances of having great photography weather, not to mention happier faces with the warmer temperatures.

A huge thanks goes out to all the folks that have expressed interest in attending, and I will definitely keep you all posted with when I plan this for another day.

Let’s all give Seattle weather a round of applause, shall we?