Friday, April 16, 2010

Spokane Night Scenes on Twitter

After some recent requests from several night photogs, I took the leap and set up an account on Twitter. The account is set up as "spokanenights" Or in Twitter lingo @spokanenights

Designed for short updates, it might actually be helpful in short contacts to night photogs and others about night shoot details. It may also be helpful in doing some local marketing of Spokane, based on the evolving photographs taken of the city after dark over at Spokane Night Scenes.

If you are a Twitter user, I'll certainly welcome you over @spokanenights

We live in a beautiful place, and if Twitter can help show off our community via my photographs, I am good with doing that.

JDM

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Update for Olmstead Overlook photo shoot

Today I had requests for images, which may be taken during this upcoming photo shoot this weekend. The Spokane Parks Foundation (Toni) would like to use any images that you would care to donate (with photo credits to you). They would like to use images for marketing, as well as on Facebook and in slide programs. A number of photographers have donated (community service) images to the Spokane Parks Foundation for a number of years. The images you take are yours, and remain so, even if you grant the Spokane Parks Foundation limited use for their marketing. If you would like to let them use any images, please send them to me for inclusion on a DVDR for the Parks Foundation.

The night shoot for Saturday is after sunset on Saturday the 17th of April (7:30PM). Feel free to visit the venue before sunset, but my target for the group is to shoot after sunset on Saturday evening. It may be possible to get some sunset images a little earlier than the kickoff of this, so feel free if you are so inclined. Please read my prior comments on issues related to safety, before we head out this weekend. I have spent so many years dealing with security management issues, that I tend to emphasize those.

Thanks everyone. I have heard from 6 or 7 people today, but please RSVP as soon as you can.

John

John D. Moore, CPP
Spokane Night Scenes
PO Box 18715
Spokane, Wa. 99228-0715

509-327-5627
http://www.spokanenightscenes.com
photos@spokanenightscenes.com

Monday, April 12, 2010

Last Spokane Night Scenes Group Shoot for Spring 2010

In the past two weeks, we have added 8 more photographers to the Spokane Night Scenes night shooters email list. Although we are getting to the end of the night shooters group sessions for the Spring 2010 season, it is time to do one more night shoot. The next shoot will start at 1930 (7:30 PM). It will end, at least officially, at 2130 (9:30PM).

There are some options for many of you, but this winter we have done a lot of architecture as well as some popular locations. My original intent was to do this last shoot in downtown Spokane, but there is not much originality in doing that. So, we are going to a spot that is historic, and “off the beaten path.”

Our last Spring sojourn is going to be at the Olmstead Overlook area, which is also referred to as Upper Liberty Park (at least in police lingo). Some of you have likely never heard of this place, but it was observed in Spokane Parks planning way back in the earlier 1900’s by the Olmstead brothers. Originally, this location was a part of Liberty Park, and actually was the overlook to the green space below and to the east. Along came Interstate 90 (I 90), and Liberty Park was split in half by the freeway. It is now a series of ruins, rock walls and pathways. Yet, this is a perfect place for leading lines, and some very unusual shots. Ample opportunities are available here, for light trails of traffic on I90, and commercial lighting from adjacent structures.

Upper Liberty Park (Olmstead Overlook) is located on the east side of Arthur, just south of 3rd Avenue. (47°39'12.10"N - 117°23'39.17"W) No doubt you have driven by this location hundreds of times, and never paid much attention to it, especially west bound on the freeway. Parking should be free, and plentiful in the Office Depot parking lot. Your target will be across 3rd avenue, to the south. Walk across 3rd, and up the dirt pathways.

I have not been back here since 2006/2007, and it is kind of a mysterious place to visit. Ruins of “what used to be,” and “what is left from the past.” This place may also be a spot for a great sunset with some ruined rock walls in the foreground, depending on the interest generated by clouds, of course. No guarantees there. As it gets darker in this place (and it certainly will), the sky is the limit for potential shots. All of you should have headlamps or small flashlights (or both), and for those of you with Big Max type handheld flashlights and colored lenses, please bring those. Painting rock walls and other features may give you some real interesting results.

I'm not sure I will bring my cameras to this shoot, so I can help you out with your getting shots. I am likely to bring at least one Big Max light that we can use to paint something with color. This location will challenge your creativity, and give you an opportunity to shoot at a historic location most people have never even heard about.

I have had some photographic as well as police experiences in this location. I suggest that anyone arriving early, wait for another photographer or two so you can wander through this location together. Although it is early in the warmer season, there are transient issues, drug, and gang issues which have taken place here (randomly/infrequently). If someone absolutely has to remain here at 2130 hours (9:30PM), I'll remain with you, if that is needed.

Although I shot this area in 2006 and 2007 with some earlier digital equipment, here are some later evening shots captured a few years ago.

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/pathmoon.htm

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/libertyparkruins.htm

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/redgreenandblue.htm

http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/ceremonialrocks.htm

Right now, it appears that this will have to happen on a Saturday evening. As with any other date, there will be a few that will not be able to make it. Nonetheless, it has to fit into my schedule so Saturday evening April 17th it is.

There is a 30% chance of rain for Saturday (showers). If that changes, and it becomes a 100% chance of rain or is raining at the time of the shoot, do yourself a favor and stay home. There is no sense in ruining your electronic equipment.

So that I do not outnumber the photographers invited to show up, please RSVP.

Thanks everyone.

JDM