Adventure Photography LLC

2009-06-27T04:39:00.000-07:00

Trip to Rockhampton, Australia

Date: June 30, 2007

Time: 17:10

Location: PDX

I’m about to embark on a 10 day paid vacation to Rockhampton, Australia – actually it’s a business trip with World Airways, but it might as well be a paid vacation considering I’ll only be working 10 hours total this trip in ten days. It will be a long 15 to 20 hour day for me headed over to Rockhampton, but the resort-like hotel on the other side will be a welcome change from the office where I’ve spent the past month focused on business and wedding photography. My partner Hunter allowed me to borrow his HD portable camcorder to record my journey, so I’m excited to try to conduct an insider’s perspective to the lifestyle of a flight attendant, which I commonly refer to these days as the Breakfast Club, a term used to describe the fact that breakfast seems to be a top priority and deciding factor of life for the flight attendants I commonly work with.

Life’s been pretty sweet but also hectic in these final days of preparation for my trip as well as last minute details for some projects at the office in addition to the mission trip to Uganda next month, which still has some viable kinks to be worked out with.

It’s also been a tight month for me with no work coming in from my day job and a new tenant who’s consistently late on paying me rent and keeping a consistent job. From the outside it seems that he’s more concerned with watching tv and downloading music, but on the bright side, he has completed paying all his dues so far even though it’s a constant chore to keep him in line and try to steer him into consistency – its like babysitting a 34 year old who’s still a kid trying to grow up. In some ways, it kind of reminds me of myself nearly 7 years ago to date. That gives me hope for him, that some day it all could change into a brilliant transformation for him, although when I am not certain.

2009-06-27T04:38:00.000-07:00

The Island of Bahrain

4/9/2005 5:53 PM

April is a great time to visit Bahrain. Odd to think an island comprised of 90% desert would be a comfortable oasis to visit, but there are a few things to like about it. In particular, the Hotel Novotel is a beautiful beach-side hotel with all the watersports you would want to accompany the 70-75F weather this time of year. That would include kayaking, windsurfing, jetskiing or beach volleyball. It’s Curves exercize center is sufficient for all your needs, with modern equipment and the pool is fantastic compared to the two other hotels I visited: The Sheraton Bahrain and the Diplomat Raddisson.

The location is the only possible issue, if you like to walk to everything in the area, but taxis are plentiful and inexpensive.

The Diplomat Raddisson is also close to the water and with 3 restaurants and live music in the evenings, it’s also a great place to park your evenings. The Crown Plaza next door has great nightlife with a singing band, but the F-1 Bar is a great place to taxi it to with its pool tables and live Canadian band 7 nights a week between 10 pm and 1am. Afterwards BJ’s is a great place for dancing from 1130 pm to 230 am.

Driving around the island was straightforward through the Raddison Diplomat’s World rental cars, where a jeep ran about $65/day with unlimited mileage. Gas here is about $1US per gallon, but you wouldn’t take more than 4 hours to drive around the entire island, although finding the famous tree of life in the middle of the desert is kind of a challenge, especially when all the sand and pipelines look the same, but it is an enjoyable finding once you figure the misleading street signs.

The Wildlife park for $3US includes an hour tour of middle eastern wildlife and the park is pleasant to visit and not far from the Formula 1 race track where every year around April 2-4th, a giant race with over 40,000 people occurs. The hotels in the area become quickly booked up at this point and should definitely be booked well in advance.

There are many malls with modern movie theaters, Starbucks and every other main department store you would want to shop at.

You can also venture to one of the many “Souk’s” in the area, local markets where discount merchandise of every variety abounds, especially tailor-to-fit jeans and dress shirts, cologne and a variety of local dried fruits and nuts.

Bahrain is one of the more lenient muslim countries, so don’t worry as much about covering up, except if you should decide to visit one of the many mosques in the area, where prayer is served 5 times a day and visiting hours are recommended between local prayer times.

There is a great Bahrain museum that has interesting artifacts and historical facts and figures that are well worth the inexpensive entrance fees.

Finally, diving in the gulf is definitely worth doing, if you have enough time and hire a private boat. The visibility along the shore is not the greatest but further out at sea, the diving is supposed to be fantastic and the visibility amazing.

Seattle’s Best Coffee with internet for $1/hour and leather lounges makes for a pleasant place to start your day and the cinnabon counter is right next to the coffee counter, so a good donut can be bought to go with your coffee if you like.

There are several great Indian restaurants in the area, most of them provide lunch and dinner buffets for about $5USD.

Leipzig, Germany

2009-06-27T04:18:00.000-07:00

Eric David Productions

2007-09-02T13:52:00.001-07:00

I have photographed a few concerts but my personal favorite is one of my best friends: Eric David. Here is a link to some of the photos I took from a concert in Newburg: Eric David in Newburg. In addition, word has it he's engaged to his fiance Jessica: photos of Eric and Jessica on September 22, 2007: Cannon Beach, Oregon. I'm his backup best man, so that's got to be worth something. (grin)

If you follow his link to his website up above: www.ericdavidmusic.com, you'll be able to purchase his songs online through myspace and follow his concerts. Please visit one of them, you'll be inspired. As he always told me when we were room-mates, he's not about success or money with his music, he follows a spiritual path that is Biblically based and if you listen to the lyrics and music, you'll be inspired to grow closer to God and catch on the hunger in his soul that we all share for completion in the spirit.

City Bible Church - Mill Plain Grand Opening

2007-09-02T13:46:00.000-07:00

Mill Plain Grand Opening - and check out: www.citybiblechurch.org A vibrant growing community church located in Portland, Oregon with 3 locations, all connected by fiber optic network for the simulcasting of services between all locations on 40 foot screens. I have been a member of this church for four years and have been attending for six years. It is a truly dynamic church and I have grown to love the culture and the people there. When I am on the road and lonesome, I can always tune in to a message through podcasts online or through itunes and it always seems to be the message I needed to hear regardless of where I am at or what I am doing. This church is truly spirit-filled and there is also a powerful Bible College called Portland Bible College that is small but unique that is associated with CBC which trains young people in music and other ministries from all over the world. It's the reason we have sister churches all over the world as well.

Wedding of Dave and Jean

2007-09-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

Wedding of Dave and Jean This was another small wedding which literally lasted 60 minutes from start to finish. There were a total of 9 people at this wedding which includes the videographer, the minister and myself as the photographer.

Wedding of Robert and Dalani

2007-09-02T13:39:00.001-07:00

The Wedding of Robert and Dalani at the small historic Oaks Park Church in Portland, Oregon: This was a small but meaningful wedding on a beautiful sun-lit day that lasted 2 hours from start to finish.

Kacie's Kids Portraits

2007-09-02T13:29:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend Jamie used my portrait studio when I was going out of business from my downtown location at: 1020 NE 2nd Ave, STE 200 (Media Pod), Portland, OR 97219. She used the last of my equipment before I sold it off and she did an amazing job. Jamie is planning to start her own Studio in the next six months and she's working on her business plan. Check out her site at: www.jamielinphotography.com and check out her studio shots of her friend Kacie's kids at www.apincphotos.com

Mission Trip to Uganda in July

2007-09-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

For more detailed information about our trip and more specific photo links, check out: www.ugandastorm.com

As a member of a 24 person team from our church: www.citybiblechurch.org I was blessed with an inexpensive ticket over from my airline: www.worldairways.com to Entebbe, Uganda, Africa. For those of you unfamiliar with its exact location, it is in Central Africa near Kenya and bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo; where I grew up for 18 years of missionary parents. My parents were able to wire a friend of mine some western union funds so he could ride the bus 2 days to come and visit me in Entebbe.

We had a three-fold purpose on our mission trip: to help our sister Church: Reaching Unto Nations Bible Church in Entebbe complete its church dedication, help motivate and teach at the Women's Conference and also an East AFrican pastor's Conference. The pastor's Conference took place at Bwerenga, a piece of property that has been purchased by the church that is on the lake. Part of it has been developed into a sort of Pastor's university for teaching and graduating students in the languages of Uganda and English and the other part is being developed into an orphanage. The primary developers are Royce and Elizabeth Iverson, whose family is over there for the next couple of years until its completion. Stay tuned for further photos from our mission trip at www.apincphotos.com.

The place we called home base while in Uganda was a unique village of modern huts called Banana Village. There was cold water for showers in the morning, limited electricity, monkeys and roosters crowing to wake us up.

During the course of our experience, we did have one small adventure to the Source of the Nile, photos are at www.apincphotos.com. There we prayed together for Africa, believing that spiritually Uganda is prepared for a spiritual revival as well as the rest of Africa.

In addition, we had a children's festival and invited over 600 children from the slums around the RUN Bible Church and 150 of them joined the church and made a public confession of faith.

We also visited two major orphanages in Entebbe, Uganda. One of the largest is www.watoto.com which is a Christian-owned and organized operation that has about 2000 children at present. Their moto which is moving is "raising the future leaders of Africa" from the abandoned, widowed and Aid's refugee children of Africa's past. They have a program that works very well and also there is strict guidelines regarding adoptions and even all the volunteers that work in conjunction with their orphan ministry.

For more information and journal entries and comments, please check out: www.ugandastorm.com

Wedding - Zerkel, JR., Stephen and Jennifer

2007-06-02T06:32:00.001-07:00

This was a last minute wedding 20 days ago. The request came in 3 days prior to the wedding. We agreed to give the couple a discount and post their photos at www.apincphotos.com to help recoup our expenses with their moderate budget needs.

I have to mention the highlights: The cake, the magnetic love attraction the couple projected and also another couple that danced a tango across the dance floor. While hardly anyone danced at this wedding and it was somewhat small and intimate, the passion juices were flowing between the two love birds. It makes all the difference when you get to capture that romance on screen.

Turkish Contacts for Adventure

2007-06-02T06:11:00.000-07:00

In Pension - Ali Burak
Travel Hotel in Cappadocia
Phone: +903845327070
url: www.pensionincappadocia.com
email: in@pensionincappadocia.com

Mephisto Travel
Travel Organisation
www.mephistovoyage.com
abk@mephistovoyage.com
+903845327070

The Village Shop
Mustafa Coskun
coskun_50@hotmail.com
GSM: +905363533058

Nevsehir Seyahat
Coach bus Adana to Goreme
+904445050

Hired Bus
Dogan & Emrah Koylu
+905324543633

Coach Bus
HAS
+904297308

Metro Adana Otogar (central bus station)
www.metroturizm.com

Pizza place in Adana
yelofset@ttnet.net.tr
Yel Ofset Matbaacilik

Turkish Internet Radio
www.supershowradyo.com
1500-1800 local

तुर्केय - फुन्न्य moments

2007-06-02T05:56:00.000-07:00

Turkey
Funny Moments

Bus driver taking forever to leave, yelling like a car salesman or worse to coax passengers to go to Antakya, almost as if it doesn't matter if they're going there or not
A million stops and several transfers along the way
Bread boys on bus
Eau de toiletter for cleaning hands after the traditional coffee or tea service on the bus while you're watching turkish music videos

Taking forever to get to your final destination
Misunderstanding of times and general miscommunication
Being broke, was sad but funny as well
Amazing carved interiors, breakfast club idea, strategy and humor

Antakya

2007-06-02T05:40:00.000-07:00

Antakya, Turkey
12:00 - 12:15 Bus Departure
15:30 Arrival Antakya
15:45 St. Peters Church
16:30 Early Dinner
Explore Streets and shops
19:30 head back to bus
20;00 bus to terminal
21:00 Bus to Adana
01:00 Arrival Adana Hilton

13 hours total

Two Week Turkey Adventure

2007-06-02T05:02:00.000-07:00

Adana Turkey to Istanbul
06.01.07
10:06 Friday
Turkish Airlines, Seat 12A

The culmination of an exciting 15 day stretch in Turkey. Aside from 7 long 14 hour days at the "office" - ADA-F turns, I had several 30 and (1) 60 hour layover.

I explored 3 locations of interest: Mersin, Antakya and Cappadocia.

Antakya - St. Pierre Church in the rock, high mountains, beautiful town, nice people, great bazaars, looks like a town in the swiss alps; 3 hour drive each way. Jett Bus from Adana $50 USD round trip.

Cappadocia - 4.5 hour bus ride each way, $46 USD round trip Nefsehir Coach Bus
$15 - $25 Per person double occupancy Hotel at the Mephisto Voyage includes Breakfast. Amazing Cave Cities built thousands of years ago.
Lunar-Like landscape, rugged topography mixed with occasional green spots where farming is prevalent. 60KM from the Syrian border. Ideal to spend 3 days. Inexpensive $1/hr high speed internet access.

World Breakfast Club team:
John F., Arlene O., Tim and Sylvia, Katarina M.

Armed with my new D200 camera and fixed 50mm lens, I made plans for the team to leave at 8am for the bus station. Tickets at 9am - bus left at 11am, arrived 15:30. TAxi to beautiful waterfall restaurant - lunch total for 6: $24USD.
17:15 - Local bus 15 km to derden, one of the 3 cave towns, 3 km hike to cave museum with multiple cave huts to explore.
19:15 - Rode with new friend Mustafa to watch sunset on the rim of a canyon cliff overlooking the lunar-like landscape
20:30 Dinner with an amazing restaurant
22:30 Mephisto Voyage Inn
04:30 Woke by morning prayer call and accompanying howling dogs
06:30 Coffe and internet $2USD
07:30 Breakfast and motorcycle ride
09:30 Return to Adana
14:00 Arrived at Adana Hilton

30 hours total

Portland Timbers vs. Puerto Rican Islanders

2007-04-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I was home for the weekend, went to my first Portland Timbers game. Having grown up in Africa and playing soccer for 12 years, I was naturally excited to watch my first live soccer game in years. I took my Nikon D1X camera of course and an 18-200 mm zoom lens. It was kind of last minute - I met one of the Puerto Rican Islanders on my flight from Atlanta to Portland the day before the big game and he invited me, offered to hook me up with free tickets, which didn't happen, but the ticket attendant gave me front row seats for free anyways on the basis of my request!

The game was awesome, but I was disappointed the Islanders lost 1 vs Portland 3. Obviously there is a huge crowd appeal for the Timbers - you're almost scalped if you cheer for the islanders in this crowd. Meanwhile a public spokesperson went from crowd to crowd brandishing a large chainsaw and raising choruses and chants for the Timbers which was very exciting. The crowd stomped their feet and clapped with loud organized drills that made military work of the Timber's anthem and themes.

I think next time, I'll cheer for the Timbers, great game and great teamwork - would love to take a monopod and a 500mm zoom lens to get up close and personal next time around. The action was awesome.

In Atlanta for F/A R/T

2007-04-17T17:49:00.000-07:00

Well everyone, I'm here in Atlanta for flight attendant recurrent training. As you all know, or may not know our company, World Airways recently got bought out by Global Logistics the company that owns ATA, so this next 6 months to a year ought to be interesting. Rumors are fishing for furlough notices in the near uncertain future, as well as other changes. But as you all know, change is usually a good thing for all of us, even when it seems the least comfortable. God willing, this will be a good thing.

IN addition, I've decided to start pushing a new wedding photography special for the new year, $499 includes 4 hours of wedding or event photography, with your photos in high quality digital online album with free access to printing at discounted costs, so tell all your friends that are getting married, that I'm looking to win a few new customers, especially ones that are outside of the Northwest where I am based, as I am looking to expand my borders and horizons. I'm hoping to develop a stronger international group of clients that will vie for my services cross-culturally and trans-dimensionally. As you know I only charge travel fees on top of this at a discounted travel agent preferred rate across the board plus transportation and hotel expenses, also at a reduced rate due to my flight attendant discount.

For availability, please check out our website at www.apinc.biz. Galleries, other packages and mission statements are also located there. Thanks. Over and out for now, Daniel.