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#Photography Education in Seattle
cameronkarsten · 1 year
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A Day For Ice
Then with an old camera, and an even older lens, I returned to the truck to photograph the macro world of ice encapsulating the Toyota Tacoma.
For one day in the Pacific Northwest, everything frozen. Looking at my Tacoma was a detailed spectacle. From the truck, I grabbed a sheet of black foam core and wandered around the garden. Placing the black background behind the frozen elements helped isolate the subjects and make the ice pop. Then with an old camera, and an even older lens, I returned to the truck to photograph the macro…
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uwmspeccoll · 6 months
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Indigenous People's Day
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DR. HENRIETTA MANN Cheyenne
On this Indigenous People’s Day, we are featuring Matika Wilbur’s recent publication Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America, published by Ten Speed Press in 2023. Wilbur (b. 1984) is a visual storyteller and member of the Swinomish and Tulalip peoples of coastal Washington. She holds a degree from the Brooks Institute of Photography alongside a teaching certificate that has shaped her style of educating through narrative portraits.  
Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America, a book born from a documentary project of the same name, resolves to share contemporary Native issues and culture. In 2012 Wilbur set out from Seattle to visit and photograph all 562 plus Native American sovereign territories in the United States.
Wilbur’s engagement with the communities she visited resulted in the creation of hundreds of dynamic portraits and documentation of conversations about “tribal sovereignty, self-determination, wellness, recovery from historical trauma, decolonization of the mind, and revitalization of culture.” She refers to her portraiture approach as “an indigenous photography method” that includes several hours and sometimes days of interaction with the participants, an exchange of energy and gifts, and asking sitters to choose their portrait location. The outcome is a stunning collection of Native narratives and portraits.  
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GREG BISKAKONE JOHNSON Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
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HOLLY MITITQUQ NORDLUM  Iñupiaq
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J. MIKO THOMAS Chickasaw Nation
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MOIRA REDCORN Osage, Caddo
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HELENA and PRESTON ARROW-WEED Taos Pueblo/Kwaatsaan, Kamia
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STEPHEN YELLOWTAIL Apsáalooke (Crow Nation)
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LEI'OHU and LA'AKEA CHUN Kānaka Maoli
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ORLANDO BEGAY Diné
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KALE NISSEN Colville Tribes
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GRACE ROMERO PACHECO Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
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ISABELLA and ALYSSA KLAIN Diné
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NANCY WILBUR Swinomish
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DR. JEREMIAH "JERRY" WOLFE Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
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RUTH DEMMERT Tlingit
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MARVA SII~XUUTESNA JONES Tolowa Dee-Ni' Nation, Yurok, Karuk, Wintu
Matika Wilbur will be speaking on UW-Milwaukee's campus Thursday, November 16 from 6-7p.m. in conjunction with her exhibition Seeds of Culture: The Portraits and Voices of Native American Women on view at the Union Art Gallery November 16 through December 15, 2023. 
-Jenna, Special Collections Graduate Intern 
We acknowledge that in Milwaukee we live and work on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee homelands along the southwest shores of Michigami, part of North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee, and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida, and Mohican nations remain present.
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nanowrimo · 4 months
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30 Covers, 30 Days 2023: Day 14
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Ready for Day 14's representive? Let's dive into an investigation in Thriller/Suspense novel Those Who Stay by Alex Wolfe! This cover was designed by the amazing returning designer, Joe Schwartz!
Those Who Stay
Harmless fiction becomes a gruesome reality when mystery author Jacob Fox finds himself at the center of a police investigation. A serial killer is on the loose in Seattle, replicating the murders in Jacob's novels. The detectives recruit him as a consultant to keep them a step ahead of the killer. Jacob is happy to help, especially if that means leading them away from his own secrets.
About the Author
Alex Wolfe has played many different roles in the world of writing, ranging from a technical writer, a managing editor of an arts journal, and a communications consultant specializing in social media. Their first foray into fiction was through fanfiction which eventually expanded into collections of short stories and novels. Those Who Stay is their second novel. Outside of writing, they enjoy art history, true crime, and going on road trips. Alex currently lives in Olympia, Washington.
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About the Designer
Joe Schwartz is a New Jersey-based visual designer and educator. This is his sixth cover for NaNoWriMo and he couldn't be more honored to have been asked to participate again. A designer and art director in New Jersey and New York for over 30 years, Joe currently teaches History of Visual Communications at Kean University's Michael Graves College and classes in visual design and photography at Spotswood High School.
Cover Design Process:
This year. we gave designers the optional prompt to explain their design process for the cover! Here's Joe's:
The concept for this cover is based on peeling back layers of a mystery. As the story is centered around the landscapes in and around the Seattle area, it was important to create a sense of the vast geography of the area despite the small footprint that a book cover allows. It was also important to maintain a hint that the reader will be invited into the story of the serial killer with a motive to be discovered.
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tumbleweed-writes · 13 days
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Lilies and Thistles: Chibs Telford X OC Fic
This fic is at least a decade old, but I am starting up updating it again. I figured it can't hurt to share the first chapter here.
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Lily Unser managed to stumble out from the rain while keeping a tight grip on her leather camera cases. She knew that if she allowed the slick rain to trip her up and pull one of the cases from her grasp then she'd be screwed.
Cameras and photography equipment weren't cheap and she only had as much as she had thanks to the wonders of hunting for deals through online shopping and Black Friday sales.
She'd long ago developed the ability to maneuver through the rain without slipping. By now she had it all down to a fine art. It was a necessary skill when it came to living in a constantly rainy place like Seattle.
When she'd first moved from Charming California to Seattle Washington she had been looking forward to the rain and cold weather, but now she was missing the warmth of California and the small town atmosphere of Charming.
She guessed that old saying there's no place like home rang true.
Lily was spent just as she always seemed to be after a long afternoon and night of working weddings. Wedding Photography was a pain in the ass, but it paid generously.
It was a good job for her to have over her summer break from school. Doing wedding photography allowed her to fine tune her talents while keeping her rent paid and food in her fridge.
The pay almost wasn't worth the trouble though. Lily had reached her limit for the day of dealing with a highstrung bitchy bridezilla, a snooty mother in law and mother of the bride, drunken groomsmen, and a father in law who'd thought it was a great idea to pinch Lily's bottom.
It had been enough to make Lily wish that she could partake in the flowing open bar. A nice tropical Blue Hawaii or a fruity Mai Tai would have been the perfect drink to take the edge of the day and night right off.
She knew enough though to realize that most brides and grooms weren't too thrilled when their wedding photographer took a break to get tipsy off free booze.
Lily wanted nothing more than to get out of her black strappy high heels, slip out of her black cocktail dress, undo her long dark hair from it's twist, and collapse in her modest twin bed. She was too exhausted to even entertain the idea of grabbing a quick shower and washing the dark makeup from her face.
She knew that she would have to wake up bright and early tomorrow and make it to the darkroom at the art and photography academy she was attending, so she could develop all these photos she'd taken.
The bride and groom she'd worked for had insisted on going with the old fashioned traditional film route over the digital camera route.
It was a pain in the ass to develop the film, but at least it gave Lily some much needed quiet time.
The darkroom had always been Lily's sanctuary. She could go sit in it and put her mind to rest for a moment as she developed film.
She had always loved the process of seeing pictures develop from practically nothing. To Lily the entire process was the closest thing to magic she would ever witness.
She'd spent the past three years of her life attending the Art Institute in Seattle. She was studying Media Arts focusing primarily on Photography, and was loving every second of it.
She'd spent the first year and a half after high school attending a community college in Seattle studying Accounting. It had been her father's idea.
Sheriff Wayne Unser had wanted his daughter to have a good education in a secure field. Accounting had been the perfect career for Lily, or at least according to her father it had been perfect. She'd hated the program and had left a year into it. She'd switched her major a couple of times before leaving school for a little while as she attempted to figure out just what she wanted. She'd worked odd jobs around Seattle ignoring pleas to come home and give a local community college a shot.
Lily's true love laid in art and photography and she'd used this love to guide her future. Yes she was good with numbers, but her heart laid in taking pictures.
So she'd worked hard to get back into school, finish up her core courses, and had gone for her true love in an art program. Her dad hadn't had much room to argue over this decision. As a grown woman nearing her later twenties, her father had long ago had to accept that Lilian Unser was an adult
Lily had always been strong willed and the sheriff knew by now not to get in her way.
The only reason Lily had been able to get into the art institute was because she'd worked her ass off getting every scholarship and every bit of financial aid she could get her paws on. She'd worked hard and she knew that it was all worth it at the end of the day.
Lily knew for a fact that she didn't want to photograph weddings for the rest of her life. She'd only been doing it for a few months; freelancing, and she'd hated every second of it.
The money was what kept her coming back though. She was a struggling photography student with no family nearby, money was something she couldn't refuse.
What Lily wanted more than anything was to be an independent photographer. She wanted to work on her own terms. She wanted her own studio. She wanted to hang her works up in galleries where people would come near and far to view.
She wanted success. To her success meant no more bitch brides, no more drunken jerks pinching her bottom or asking her to dance, and no more being up on her feet in all too high heels while carting around a heavy camera.
Lily entered her dark studio apartment somehow managing to make it to the ringing phone sitting by her sofa, without tripping over any dirty laundry or shoes.
She did her best to hide her exhaustion as she spoke up. "Hello."
Lily widened her eyes stunned to hear her father's voice on the other end of the line. "Hey kid."
Wayne Unser and his daughter weren't the type to have long conversations over the phone. It didn't mean that they didn't care for one another. It was just that talking on the phone had never been their thing.
Long talks over the phone had always been Lily's godmother Gemma's thing. Gemma Teller Morrow spent just about every Wednesday calling Lily to check in on her.
Lily cleared her throat doing her best to hide her shock as she spoke. "How are you? Is everything okay with Della and the girls?"
She cringed a bit at her question. To be honest she couldn't care less about her step mother and her half sisters. Della had never taken to her step daughter and Lily had never taken to her.
Kate and Jade Unser were both a bit spoiled by their mother Della. Lily had always felt animosity for her 24 year old and sixteen year old half sisters.
When Lily was younger she'd tried hard to please Della, but it had become clear fast to Lily that Della and she were never going to get along. She'd tried hard to bond with her sisters but Della had always made a point of spoiling the girls while Lily was lucky if she got something other than hand-me-downs at the start of a new school year.
Lily knew it was cliché but she had always felt a bit like a fairy tale brought to life; a girl whose mother had run off leaving her with her father, an evil step mother and evil step sisters. It was all a bit too much like Cinderella when Lily really let herself think about it.
She shook her head a bit at the Cinderella thought. Life wasn't a fairy tale and she sure as hell wasn't Cinderella.
Lily knew that her step mom was just a bitch who held a grudge against Lily's mother. Lily knew that her step sisters were just rotten. And that this was all just life; life could sometimes be shitty.
There was no dashing prince charming coming to rescue her, and the closest thing she had to a fairy godmother was Gemma Teller Morrow.
She was pretty sure that the Grimm Brothers weren't picturing Gemma when they wrote about Cinderella's magical godmother.
She twisted her mouth a bit trying not to burst out laughing at the thought of badass biker queen Gemma being anyone's fairy godmother. She found herself easily picturing Gemma turning a pumpkin into a motorcycle.
Lily shook her head at the ridiculous thought leaving it all to it just being a long night stacked on top of sleep deprivation.
She turned her attention back to her father as he spoke. "They're okay...Kate's engaged and Jade is getting ready for her junior year of high school. Jadey made first chair with the cello. Della wants you to do Kate's engagement photos. The wedding is taking place this fall...and it's costing me an arm and a leg. I keep telling Katie that she has to leave some money in my savings account for when Jade ties the knot. At least I know I can count on you to stay on budget when you get married."
Lily let out a soft sigh not thrilled at the prospect of dealing with Kate getting married. She had a feeling that her half sister would put most of the bridezillas Lily had to deal with for work to shame.
She hated to think of how bad Della would be about this whole wedding thing.
"I tried to call you on your cell, but it went straight to voice mail." Unser pointed out lightly scolding his eldest daughter.
He worried about Lily being so far from home. If it had been up to him she would have gone to school in Oakland, but Lily had gotten scholarships to Seattle and he'd known that they'd be fools to turn down that opportunity.
Lily sat down on the arm of her old beaten up brown sofa as she reached down finally freeing her feet from those awful heels. "I turn it off when I'm working weddings...Most brides aren't too happy when Ace of Spades starts blaring out during their vows."
Unser laughed at this comment stopping to cough mid laugh. Lily frowned at the cough her intuition sparking at how horrible it sounded. Something was wrong with her dad; she could just sense it.
She spoke up almost not recognizing her voice. Lily found herself feeling more like a child than a twenty four year old woman. "Are you okay daddy?"
Unser took a deep breath his voice sounding so heavy as though he had the world sitting on his shoulders at that moment. "I have bad news sweetheart...It's my colon...fucking cancer. The doctors say it doesn't look good...I'm sick Lil. I need you."
And with that little statement Lily quickly realized that the life she'd known in Seattle was over.
Her dad needed her and she had to be there for him.
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Sheriff Wayne Unser glanced across the arm rest onto the passengers seat of his old Ford Pickup truck, where his young daughter sat her arms crossed over her waist as she peered out the window.
Unser was surprised to find that his daughter had changed in her time away. Though she still looked younger than she really was it was clear that she'd grown into her features loosing a tiny bit of the baby-fat she'd held as a teenager.
Her long dark brown hair was pulled up into a high pony tail revealing a youthful pale face. Her big dark eyes were locked on the scenery as it passed them by.
The only things Lily had seemed to inherit from her dad were brown eyes and brown hair. The rest of her was all her mother, or at least Unser was sure it was her mother though some might argue her larger eyes had come from Unser. 
Lily's mom had been a pretty young thing whom Unser had met at a bar. It had been a bad time in his life; his dad had just died and his relationship with Della had hit a rocky patch.
Vera had been her name, or at least that was what she'd told Wayne Unser. She'd been an attractive woman much like Lily, average height, a pear-shaped body, a sweet petite smile, an upturned little nose, and big doe eyes.
Unser shook his head still a little stunned at how much Lily had taken after the woman. His daughter had grown into a gorgeous young lady. In her time away it seemed she'd matured losing some of the baby fat she'd held at eighteen. 
In a way Unser could admit he found it dismaying to realize she'd grown in her time away. It wasn't as though she'd taken many visits back home or at least her visits with him had seemed so short. She may have come home for the occasional Christmas, but her visits to Gemma Teller Morrow had always seemed to a little less brief than her visits with her father and his family.
Realizing that his oldest child truly was now an adult left Unser feeling a bittersweet sense of discomfort. In a way he had thought of her, in her absence, as the fresh faced eighteen year old who'd left California for Washington years before. She may be nearing 25 but he'd always see her as a child. 
He cleared his throat trying his best to make small talk with Lily. "I have a futon in the office set up for you. Kate is staying in her old room while her fiance and her plan the wedding, and Jade is in hers...Della turned your old room into a craft room and she'd skin me alive if I touched anything in there...so the office is just going to have to cut it till I can get you set up with an apartment."
Lily turned to face her father giving him a sheepish smile trying to hide her irritation that Della had taken over her room the second she'd moved out. "That's okay dad...I talked to Gemma last night while I was packing up some final things, and she wants me to stay with Clay and her. They have the room for me so it's no trouble. I can stay in one of their guest rooms till we get me a place of my own. It'll work out...You won't have to sacrifice your office for me."
Unser nodded his head trying to hide the annoyance he felt over Gemma sticking her nose in to this, but he knew better than to be shocked. This was Gemma after all.
He should have known that Gemma would stick her nose into things the second he'd made her Lily's godmother.
He let out a sigh turning his eyes back to the road. He could admit that at times he felt as though he didn't understand a thing about his daughter.
It was his own fault. He knew this.
He'd been so tied up with work that he often hadn't taken the time to really connect with Lily. Della just made everything all the more complicated.
Della Unser resented Lily. She saw the young woman as a constant reminder that Wayne hadn't remained faithful during their rocky patch.
Della couldn't help but to feel bitter when she looked at her husband and his daughter. Della hated the fact that Lily had taken the place in Unser's heart as his first born child; his baby girl.
Unser frowned remembering the day Lily had been brought to his front stoop by her mother. The way Vera had shoved a crying Lily into his arms while a pregnant Della stared on.
Wayne shifted the crying infant in his arms feeling lost as how he could get her to calm down. He sighed when he stared down at her realizing that her little face was as pink as the onesie she was wearing.
The yelling hadn't helped the already fussy baby's temperament. The little girl had already been screeching when she'd been shoved into his arms but Della's screams had only made it worse.
Wayne still remembered the exact words Della had screamed at him as she'd stormed out of their tiny house ''I'm going to stay with my mother. You handle this you prick.''
Wayne sighed guilt flooding him as he remembered the way Della had glared at little Lily. She looked at the infant as though Lily was a cyst on the face of humanity.
It wasn't the child's fault. It was all him, Wayne knew that.
Della and he'd had a fight the night Lily had been conceived. He'd gone off to a bar to drink away his heartache. He'd met Vera that night at the bar. She had been so gorgeous. Her long dark hair had been so long that it had almost almost reached down to her hips. She'd had a mischievous little smile on her face as she'd sipped her beer. The bell-bottoms she'd been wearing had hugged her backside perfectly.
Wayne could remember that Vera had reminded him of Cher; tall and gorgeous.
That night Vera and he'd shared a few beers and talked about the music playing over the loudspeaker. They'd both loved the Allman Brothers and Janis Joplin. They'd gotten tipsy and after a bit of flirting they'd wound up back at a motel where they'd slept together.
He'd spent a passion filled night with Vera unaware that this little life had been created.
The girl's name was Lilian; Lilian Winter Unser.
Wayne was little Lilian's father Vera had insisted as she shoved the screaming infant into his arms.
Wayne had barely had time to squeeze a word out as Vera spoke. ''I'm leaving her here with you. You have a good set up here Wayne. You can give our daughter everything I can't. I don't have anything to give her. I just can't be a mom...I'm not ready to take care of a kid. Please be good to her and tell her I loved her.''
And with that Vera had walked away jumping into the taxi she'd taken leaving Wayne in the dust with a crying baby and a pissed off pregnant fiancee.
Wayne knew that Vera might have a point about him being the more stable option for Lily. He had a nice little home and a good job with the police station. He was normal compared to Vera.
Vera didn't have much from what he knew; though it was the early eighties Vera was still locked in the hippie free love lifestyle. She never stayed in one place too long. She drove from town to town doing whatever it took to survive. She was always on the move like a modern day nomad. Vera was a free-spirit too careless and unstable to be a proper mom to a little girl.
Wayne had done the only thing he could think of at a time like this. He'd reached for the telephone calling the only person in the world he could think to call; his childhood best friend Gemma Teller.
Lily was still screeching as Gemma entered the room her high heeled boots clicking against the wood floor.
She shook her head staring down at the upset infant. "Shit Wayne. What have you done?"
"I fucked up Gem. Her mom is god knows where. She just dropped her on me...I don't know what to do? I mean I could leave the kid with my mom but what about Della?" Wayne spat out shifting Lily in his arms.
Gemma narrowed her eyes at Wayne stepping closer to him. Her voice took on a stern dangerous tone as she replied to this. "You aren't dumping this little girl on your mom. Fuck what Della thinks. This is your daughter. Family is forever Wayne. You can't tell me that you don't feel something for this baby girl?"
He sighed knowing that Gemma was right. The second Vera had placed the little girl in his arms he'd felt something in his heart pull. Despite all the dramatics and chaos Wayne knew he loved his baby girl.
He wasn't going to send her away to his mother's like she was something he should be ashamed of. No her conception hadn't been under the best circumstances, but she was still his child.
He was going to do the right thing; be a dad.
Wayne shook his head his mind going a mile a second. "What am I going to do Gemma. I don't have anything for her...no crib, no toys. There's barely any clothing but what's in that backpack. Anything I have is for the other baby...that's if Della comes back after this mess."
Gemma tossed her purse down on the sofa taking the baby from Wayne's arms as she spoke. "I'll get into my storage locker. I should have some shit left over from Jax and Thomas."
Wayne cringed at this statement; Thomas. Little Thomas Teller had died just the year before of a heart condition. He hadn't been much older than Lily was now.
Gemma didn't let Wayne's look of pity deter her as she shifted the sobbing infant in her arms. "What's her name?"
"Lilian Winter Unser." He remarked still a little stunned that Vera had given the girl his last name.
Vera had left the child's social security card and her birth certificate in the small backpack of things she'd left.
All that was in the bag not counting these two documents were a few purple and white dresses, a white onsie with little yellow ducks on it, a small package of diapers, formula, and a little white teddy bear.
Wayne knew he'd need more than that to raise a child. He needed a crib, a carseat, a changing table, more clothing, more diapers, toys, a stroller, and at least a dozen other things.
His brain ached as he realized just how much it took to raise a baby. His brain only ached more when he realized he'd be raising two babies once Della gave birth that is.
She shook her head at this name. "Well that's no good. Lily...we'll call her Lily."
"Why does she keep crying? I can't get her to settle down...you don't think there's something wrong with her do you?" Wayne blurted out his dark eyes growing wide as he stared at Lily.
Gemma rolled her eyes at just how clueless Unser was; a typical male. She spoke as she patted the infants damp bottom. "She needs to be changed."
She didn't give Wayne the chance to say anything as she snatched up the backpack heading to the back bedroom.
She spread a blanket out on the bed making quick work of unfastening Lily's little onsie. As soon as the baby had a fresh diaper on she calmed.
Gemma smirked a bit as the little girl smiled up at her one of her tiny hands reaching up to play with one of Gemma's necklaces.
She spoke to the girl her voice soft and soothing "You've got a long road ahead of you Lily...that father of yours is a disaster and don't even get me started on his fiancee. Don't you worry bout shit though. No one's going to hurt you as long as I'm around. You have Momma Gemma to look out for you."
Unser let out a huff knowing that he probably wouldn't have made it through Lily's first few years without Gemma.
Gemma had long played a mother role in Lily's life.
It bothered Unser to admit this. After all Della was her step mother and should be a mother to Lily.
Lily and Della had done nothing but fight all their lives though. Wayne hoped that with all the pain of his illness the two would come to tolerate one another and might even learn to lean on one another.
He spoke up knowing the perfect way to maybe start that bonding between his wife and daughter. "Della wants you to come over for dinner next Friday."
"Della want's me to come for dinner?" Lily replied raising an eyebrow at this. She could see straight through that comment enough to see the bullshit.
Lily shook her head feeling a little guilty that her step mother and she couldn't find a common ground. She silently reminded herself that she'd given Della all the opportunities on the planet to be a good mom and Della had failed time and time again.
It was no shock that Lily had moved out of the Unser household and had moved in with Gemma and Clay when she was fifteen.
Gemma had welcomed Lily with open arms and had made sure that Lily was taken care of, just the way a mom should.
"I'll think about it." Lily blurted out knowing that this was the easiest way to tell her father no.
She had a feeling she couldn't avoid her step mother forever though.
Lily felt her stomach roll at the thought of facing Della Unser. No one could drive Lily up the wall faster than her step mother.
Yep No place like home.
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Lily practically jumped out of the truck as it pulled into TM Auto.
She ran to Gemma her arms encircling the woman a soft laugh escaping her lips as she spoke. "Momma Gemma."
"Hey baby. Look at you. You've grown up so much." Gemma replied smiling at the young woman who she'd always seen as a daughter.
Wayne sighed as he exited the truck watching his daughter and his friend together. He could admit he was a bit envious over the way Lily looked up at Gemma.
Lily adored the woman. She always had.
Though Unser was thankful that Gemma had been there for his daughter he couldn't help but to be irritated at the way Gemma was always jumping into things when it came to Lily.
Gemma had given Lily everything her little heart desired; a car when it was time to start driving, new clothing, jewelry, a place to live and hideout when Lily had gotten into a big fight with Della or Wayne.
After a while it had seemed as though Gemma was Lily's parent not Unser.
Gemma only saw this as her being there for Lily. She saw how Della treated Lily. Gemma knew that Wayne was too damn blind to see the truth. Della had always had a hold over Unser, even when it came to Lily.
Unser gritted his jaw as Gemma spoke up. "Come on baby lets get you settled in. I've already looked at some apartments for you and I may have sweet talked Clay into getting you some furniture."
Lily grabbed her suitcase from the back of Unser's truck giving her father a hug as she spoke. "I'll see you later dad. Call me after your appointment."
Unser let out a sigh watching his little girl walk away and disappear into TM Auto's tiny office.
Sometimes he wished he could turn back the clock. Maybe if he could do that he could fix all the mistakes he'd made with his baby girl.
Chibs Telford frowned looking up from the Harley he'd been reconstructing as he saw Sheriff Unser's old pickup truck pull into the parking lot.
It wasn't police business at least Chibs realized. Still though the sight of the sheriff always made his stomach churn, never mind the fact that Unser had been on the Sons payroll long before Chibs had even come to Charming.
He was perfectly ready to stare back at the Harley until the passengers' door on the truck opened up revealing a petite young woman.
Chibs let his eyes scan the young woman's body not helping but to like what he saw. The black jeans she wore showed her hips and bottom off perfectly and the low cut plum tank top she wore under her jean jacket showed off a small but perky set of breasts. He could see three necklaces dangling in between her cleavage; a long uncut rough clear crystal that was wrapped around wire hanging from a chain and two thinner silver chains with tiny heart trinkets hanging from them.
What Chibs liked the most though was her long dark hair. It was pulled up high into a ponytail. Chibs was sure that if she took her hair down it would reach down to the small of her back. He had to admire her smooth pale skin as well. Her skin seemed all the more milky when paired with those big dark eyes of hers.
She was pretty, he'd be a liar if he tried to deny it.
His interests were only peaked as Gemma left the office to be ambushed with a hug from the young woman.
He raised an eyebrow at the words that left the young woman's mouth Momma Gemma.
Chibs was puzzled as he saw Gemma smile down at the girl the same way he'd seen the Queen of SAMCRO smile at Jax Teller.
This was an interesting development Chibs realized.
In the five years he'd lived in Charming he'd never once seen a woman make Gemma smile like that.
Whoever this girl was she was obviously close to Gemma's heart, which Chibs knew wasn't an easy task.
Her closeness to Gemma only sparked Chibs' interest.
He continued to work as he tried to casually eavesdrop on this woman's conversations with Gemma and Unser.
Chibs found himself dying to at least know this woman's name.
He was sure he'd never seen her around town before. He was pretty sure he'd remember a pretty face like that not to mention a body like that.
He widened his eyes as the young woman gave Unser a tight hug. He only caught one word from her mouth dad.
Chibs sighed realizing that he had no place looking at this woman, not when she was a cop's daughter.
Chibs reluctantly decided that he better keep his distance if he knew what was best for him. Flirting with the sheriff's daughter wasn't a bright plan. Following his instincts with this girl was just asking for trouble.
He wasn't sure why he was so damn fascinated anyhow. After all it wasn't like he didn't see pretty girl's every damn day of the week.
The clubhouse was full of sexy women who'd gladly spread their legs for him without him even having to say a word.
A small voice in the back of his head pointed out the obvious though The girls in the clubhouse had been passed around from guy to guy at least a dozen times or more. The croweaters didn't make Gemma smile like that.
Chibs sighed knowing the truth; the truth was he was sick of the croweaters. It wasn't really any fun when you could get a woman without having to put the work into it.
As much as he hated to admit it he missed having more than sex with a woman. Yes sex was nice and all; it felt good and it was satisfying. But the satisfaction never lasted and at the end of the day Chibs was always left sleeping alone.
He was tired of always sleeping alone.
Chibs hadn't been able to move on from Fiona and all that had happened back in Ireland; all that had drove him to the MC and to Charming California.
He had almost gotten accustomed to being alone. It was just that when he saw a pretty girl like that, a girl that made the Queen of SAMCRO smile, his mind allowed itself to dream of maybe having something more than sex with her.
Chibs shook his head at these thoughts.
He knew these were just the thoughts of a foolish man, a man who wasn't getting any younger and didn't have a life that any woman would want to be a part of.
Despite the fact that Chibs knew it was best to just ignore his curiosity and stay back he found himself peeking back at Gemma and the woman as they disappeared into the office.
He let out a huff realizing that staying away would be harder than he thought.
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a-crepusculo · 2 years
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Meet My OC
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—Dr. Nyla Imani Hassan
Basic Information
Full Name: Nyla Imani Hassan
Nickname(s): Lala, Ney, Nay
Place of Birth: Cairo, Egypt
Date of Birth: 14th November 1990
Hometown: Seattle, WA, USA
Ethnicity: Egyptian-Palestinian
Nationality: American
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Eye Color: Dark Brown
Height: 5′6″
Languages: English, Arabic, and (a little bit of) French
Personality Traits: Adventurous, enthusiastic, ambitious, familial, outspoken, stubborn, (can be) demanding, hot-headed, reliable, passionate, cautious
Hobbies: Hiking, swimming, photography, playing video games
Face Claim: May Calamawy
Family
Father: Hassan Noor Ali
Mother: Aisha Zahrah Mustafa
Sibling(s): Zayn Samir Hassan (older brother; deceased), Aida Zafira Hassan (younger sister)
Education
Medical School: Harvard Medical School at Harvard University
Undergraduate: University of Washington, majored in Biochemistry
Career
Current Occupation: Doctor, Internal Medicine | Head of Diagnostics Team at Mass Kenmore, MA
Past Occupation: Doctor, Internal Medicine | Attending at Mayo Clinic, MN
Romantic Relationship
Love Interest: Tobias Carrick
Personal Background
Nyla was born in Egypt, but moved with her family to Miami when she was three years old. They stayed there for a year with a close relative, then her father decided to move to Seattle when they have saved enough money
For the first few years of living in the US, their family has struggled financially
Though, despite those struggles, her parents have always prioritized Nyla and her siblings’ education, making sure that they could continue to learn in school
As an immigrant, Nyla was often belittled and bullied by her classmates, especially during elementary school. She was not (yet) fluent in English, so she would often mix up certain words and sentences
Things started to look up when her father was able to open up his own automobile repair shop, which instantly became popular in the neighborhood
However, when she came home one evening, she found her older brother laying on the floor, struggling to breathe. They rushed him to the hospital, but the hospital could not admit him due to lack of insurance. Her family moved him to another hospital, in hopes of him getting admitted and treated first, yet they were also declined in that hospital. As they rush to move him again to another hospital, her brother has passed away.
That specific moment became one of many reasons Nyla decided to be a doctor
Random Facts
Nyla loves swimming, and she got into the regional synchronized swimming squad when she was six years old.
One of her favorite childhood memory is riding the Seattle Great Wheel with her family when they first arrived at Seattle
Her current comfort show is Bridgerton
She always has a book in her bag wherever she goes, just in case she has some free time to read up
She would always bring white roses to her brother’s grave whenever she visits him
She met Marchia in middle school, and slowly became close friends as time flew by. They lost contact when Nyla got her internship at Mayo Clinic, but rekindled her friendship shortly after learning that Marchia became the Head of Diagnostics at Edenbrook
Her high-school superlative was: “Most Ambitious”
She suffers from fear of heights, or commonly known as acrophobia
Once, she bumped into Julia Roberts at the supermarket, and after asking Nyla tons of medical advice, they exchanged phone numbers. She still has her number to this day
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Have more questions about Nyla? Feel free to send ‘em to my inbox, or send me a DM!
Main Masterlist
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myriadof-fandoms · 2 years
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harringrove week day 1 - wouldn't it be nice
did i think i would actually have something done for harringrove week? no. it’s a miracle tbh. what i did not manage is staying with the prompts for every day and this just so happens to be one of the days where i couldn't. the prompt i used was technically for tomorrow and it’s Hawkins Country Club During the Annual Benefit
ao3 link
Steve didn't ever really expect to be this happy.
Since he was small he’d had his whole life planned out; married by 25, steady job, 2.5 kids. The thought had always made him feel like he was suffocating.
Standing in between people from his past in the middle of the Hawkins country club’s annual benefit brings back those memories. 
From where he's leaning against the bar he can see Nancy and Jonathan. Seated close together and talking like they’re the only people in the room. They're not the nuclear family either. Living in Chicago and working for a newspaper together while Jonathan tries to make photography his main job. Last time he asked if they wanted to have kids, Nancy laughed in his face. Not the nuclear family sure, but closer. Picturing himself in Jonathan's place, imagining his life with Nancy instead of Billy, makes him feel slightly nauseous though.
It's almost like there’s a different life staring right back at him, contrasting ridiculously stark with what his life actually is right now. 
Steve works in a bar. Billy fixes cars in the evenings and studies during the days. When they feel like it they just leave on Friday evenings. They drive down to LA or through the night to get up to Seattle to see one of the grunge shows Billy loves. Sometimes one of the national parks. Sometimes just to a beach that isn't the closest to them. It's a freedom he hadn't ever dared to dream about. 
It's kind of fun to fantasize though. Look at the road not taken where it’s drawing itself in front of his eyes, taking shape through the life of the people he knew when he was a teenager. 
Steve sees a picket fence instead of their tiny balcony. He can see many of these sort of formal events with a wife who likes to dress up, someone who doesn’t complain the entire time they’re changing into formal attire. 
Steve wouldn't want it for anything. 
He loves the opposite that he’s living; 26 now and never going to be officially married unless some people in the government calm down very quickly about a couple of things. there's a ring though. At the bottom of his nightstand, the only place Billy is not likely to stumble over it. Steve figures why not. He's got no intention of ever falling in love with anybody else. Their friends all know about them. Steve's parents do too. There's nothing stopping them from having a ceremony or even just putting on the rings. They could call the other spouse. Just because the law won’t let them, doesn’t mean they can’t go for it. What do they care about the law?
If he was still living here, maybe down the road from where he’d grown up, he’d have probably reached all his dreams already. Stable life, stable job, maybe working towards a promotion. 
Instead, he has Billy. and the two of them, they have plans. They want a dog at some point. Billy's finishing up a masters degree in literature. He's thinking of turning it into a double major still. Education. It would structure them more. He'd go through more training. But the weekends would still be theirs to leave. Stability mixed with a freedom neither of them is willing to give up ever again. Billy likes the solidity of living in one place though. Or rather one state. Sometimes they talk about moving down to San Diego. Closer to Max. It'd give the opportunity to leave their hypothetical dog with her when the itch to drive into the middle of the night becomes too great. But Billy's not quite ready to go back to a city he’s lived in with Neil. Steve figures they’ve got a lifetime to figure it all out. 
What Steve's pushing more than almost anything else though are Billy's studies. It's the only thing Steve's really working for too. The idea of Billy as a teacher is too good for Steve to not encourage. When Billy first mentioned it, mumbling it into his morning cup of tea as if it’s no big deal, Steve had been absolutely dumbfounded. Looking back it made sense though. He taught Max how to drive, and at least kind of well too. Steve remembers the summer evenings when he was moping about his future on the Wheelers backporch and all Holly ever talked about was her swimming instructor. Billy had had all the kids from Hawkins wrapped around his finger. They fucking adored him. Tell tale sign of Billy being one of the softest fuckers alive hidden away behind the bad boy image he was keeping up at the time.
Steve can see Billy now, standing next to Eddie, who looks about as wrong footed as Billy says he always feels at these events. Crissy fits in though, sitting next to the two of them at the table she and Eddie share with her parents. And since Chrissy had wanted to go, there was Eddie as well. Really there’s not a lot that Eddie wouldn’t do for her. If anybody would’ve told Steve 10 years ago that Eddie the freak Munson would be the only one of them headed towards the lifestyle of a suburban family he’d have laughed in their face. There's no denying that Eddie looks happy though. Neither he nor Chrissy ever really stop smiling around the other. It’s almost sickening. Billy likes to make fun of them. Billy smiles a lot around them too though.
Maybe the best thing about the life Steve's getting to live are Billy's smiles. There are many of them and Steve's on a mission to know them all. The smile for Max, the smile for Heather, the dirty laugh when he’s thinking of a joke and the stupid smirk for Eddie and Tommy. The giggles when Steve kisses his stomach and that grin when he's shamelessly and unapologetically happy. It first appeared when they were on the road heading towards California without much of a plan at all. it’s a frequent one now, when he’s out surfing, or just when they’re crammed on their tiny couch together.  
Their apartment is tiny in general, a two bedroom in the Castro district. They’re roommates, keeping up appearances so long as nobody looks into the second bedroom to see the bookshelves and working space instead of another actual bed. Billy had admitted to it once early on when they were still just fucking in a way that just as well could've been called fighting. Stoned out of his mind he'd wandered around the Harrington home and stopped by Steve's dad's study. 
“I want one of those. Proper library. I want to own more books than I can ever read.”
Later on when Billy started letting Steve in, he'd admitted to much more. Like Neil's disapproval of Billy's love for reading and his reluctance to allow books that weren't for school in the house. Billy wasn't supposed to waste his time with fiction. 
When they'd moved in Steve had spent one very draining day installing shelves while Billy was out. Put up the Lord of the Rings books that Dustin and Eddie had told him Billy would like. Now he’s stuck with Billy who’ll spent hours in the room, complaining about his coursework and bitching because he's still a little shit but when Steve tries to make him stop reading in the middle of the night he'll just flip him off with a grin that's so carefree it makes Steve want to die. 
When they visit Hawkins, there’s always the contrast to the house Steve's parents still live in. Big, filled with signs of money, and as empty of actual affection as Steve remembers it. His parents still haven’t quite figured out how to show they care in ways that aren’t material. But they try and they did ask both Billy and Steve to come with them tonight. Every shared breakfast or dinner they make halting conversation with Billy and him, asking about their life without sounding scandalized about the conditions of it. Surprisingly, even right when he had just told them, they weren’t as opposed to Steve moving in with a man as he would've expected. They don’t get it, but they don’t mind either, and his mother, though still trying to hide it, absolutely adores Billy and his easy charm. 
Billy hasn't spoken to his father since he moved out. He's seeing a therapist once a week. It's the only thing Steve uses his parents' money for. He figures if one of their parents caused the problem, the others can make up for it.
They only really come back to Hawkins about once a year, for Christmas or when a lot of things happen to line up. There’s not a lot that calls either of them back here. But Hopper and Joyce are here. This time Dustin is home deciding on which of the many post grads he should be doing. Max is visiting her mother. It had all called for them to come really.
To Steve it's been worth it to come here just to see Billy in a suit.
Like he’s been pulled from Steve’s thoughts, he’s there. 
“I want to go home,” that deep voice in his ear that he’d recognise between a thousand others. Billy’s moved right into Steve’s personal space, a hand placed on his lower back shielded from view by the bar behind them and leaning against his side.
“Mh, we can leave soon.”
“No. I mean, sure, this is boring as fuck,” Billy smiles wickedly, still as excited as a 10 year old would be when presented with the opportunity to use a swear word, “and I definitely want to head out, but I want to go home.”
Steve draws his eyebrows together, “It’s like 10pm. We planned to leave the day after tomorrow.”
“Stevie, if we leave now we can make it out of Indiana tonight. Find a motel somewhere in Illinois. We’ll be home by the time we planned to leave.”
Steve just looks at him questioningly some more. Billy punches his arm.
“C’mon, live a little, my guy.” 
Steve is. Steve has never expected to be living this much. 
But yeah, Steve misses home too. 
They don’t waste time saying goodbye, they’ll just call from the road. 
Billy blasts his damned metal once they start driving, and lets down the windows, probably waking up half the population of Hawkins when he speeds through the empty streets. Steve laughs, loudly and exasperated. He’s happier than he ever thought he’d get to be.
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larsenlatest · 3 months
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MTC experience
We entered the MTC on Dec 4. There were about 300 senior missionaries there, and about 1400 young missionaries. We were put up in a hotel as there wasn't enough room in the senior housing for all of us. It is an amazing place where the Spirit of the Lord is felt very strong. Our first week was all centered on "Preach My Gospel".
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We were taught by young returned missionaries and they were excellent! We were in a group with three other couples who are all called to do what we are doing- teach institute and support Young Adult members of the church. The Eyres are going to Washington DC, the Greens to Seattle WA, and the Howells to Ohio. Our morning teacher was Sister Flitton.
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Greens Us Sister Flitton Eyres Howells
Our afternoon teacher was Brother Mason.
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Eyres Us Brother Mason Greens Howells
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The second week of our training was all presented by the Church Educational System (CES). This training was very well done. It consisted of helping us understand our specific role on our mission, learning to "Teach in the Savior's Way", and practice specific teaching skills.
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Some of the highlights at the MTC for us were the following:
TUESDAY NIGHT DEVOTIONALS WITH A GENERAL AUTHORITY
Elizabeth's brother David Mitton and his wife Andrea serve in one of the many branches of young missionaries. We were able to sit with them at both of the devotionals we attended. The first week was Elder and Sister Teixeira of the 70. The second week was Sister Camille Johnson of the general Relief Society and her husband Brother Johnson.
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LARGE MURALS IN THE T4 BUILDING
These beautiful murals depict various scenes in the scriptures. They are back lit and are a combination of photography, artwork, and digital design. Each one has an accompanying scripture and question to ponder. The first one here is Martha as she is preparing a meal. Each mural has a space for missionaries to sit, ponder, and receive personal revelation. The second is Paul on the road to Damascus.
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MEETING OUR GRANDSON ELDER PARKER LARSEN
Our grandson Parker (Eric and Kendra's son) is called to serve in the Dominican Republic. Originally he was to attend the MTC in Mexico City, but at the last minute they changed his assignment to the Provo MTC! We were delighted as his day to enter was our last day there.
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THE SAMUEL SMITH STATUE
On the MTC campus there is a statue of the First Missionary of the Restoration, Samuel Smith, younger brother of Joseph Smith. He was called to serve the first of 6 missions to the neighboring villages around Palmyra NY. He went alone in the Summer of 1830 and was able to place a Book of Mormon with Rhoda Young, wife of John P. Greene and sister to Brigham Young. Samuel felt that he had failed in his mission, but as a result of his mission, the Young family and the Kimball family were baptized. Rhoda Young is Elizabeth's 4th great grandmother.
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As a side note: The statue happens to be placed close to the MTC Laundry, looking as if Samuel is walking to the entrance. No doubt many missionaries have mused that this statue is of the first of millions of missionaries to take his dirty clothes to the laundry! ha ha
We then returned home to spend time with our family for Christmas, pack up our car and drive to Washington on December 6.
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abidgarcia · 6 months
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Artist Research 1: Robert Polidori
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Background and Education:
Robert Polidori is a photographer born in 1951 in Montreal Canada, during his early years, he moved to the United States where he grew up in a diversity of states deriving from Seattle, South California, Cocoa Beach, and New Orleans. His father was an engineer and worked for NASA and Air Force installations. He attended the University of Florida but then moved to New York and graduated from the State University of New York with a master's in Arts and Film.
His Photography style:
Robert Polidori's photographic style and theme mainly surround the field of architecture, where in his work he captures the great panoramic and large-scale photos of architectural buildings, landscapes, and interiors. The architecture Robert Polidori captured in his work ranged in a great selection of eclectic styles whether it was captured in the interior or the exterior of the facility.
Nominations and Awards :
Some of Roberts's Nominations and Awards include:
The 1998 World Press Award for Art
The 1999 & 2000 Alfred Eisenstaedt Award for Magazine Photography, Architecture
The 2006 Deutscher Fotobuchpreis for After the Flood
The 2008 Liliane Bettencourt Prix de la Photographie for Parcours Muséologique Revisité
Havana
One of Robert Polidori's greatest contributions is his Havana Collection, within this photographic collection, Robert displayed a progression of Havana's essence of interior and exterior architectural styles that required remodeling. Most of these buildings included a 16th to 19th-century Art Deco and Neo-Classical style portrayed with rotting and stained walls. In some of these shots, Robert Polidori also captures the individuals who lived in these types of environments.
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Works and Credits
"Robert Polidori." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Polidori#cite_note-CV-1.
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The Master of Seattle Headshots
In Seattle, one name stands out whenever professional headshot photography is the topic. That name is  - Lara Grauer. With her exceptional skills and passion for capturing the essence of individuals through her lens, Lara has earned a well-deserved reputation as the go-to portrait photographer in Seattle. Her studio, named Lara Grauer Photography, has become synonymous with high-quality headshots, making her the affectionate nickname "Seattle Headshots" among savvy professionals.
Lara Grauer's photography journey began long before she established her studio in Seattle. With a deep-rooted love for art and an eye for detail, Lara discovered her passion for photography at a young age. She honed her skills through years of practice and formal education, eventually specializing in portrait photography. Her dedication to her craft and commitment to capturing the unique personality of each individual she photographs sets her apart from other photographers in the industry.
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What makes Lara Grauer exceptional is her ability to create headshots that showcase an individual's physical appearance and capture their true essence. She believes a great headshot should reflect a person's personality, professionalism, and authenticity. Through careful composition, lighting techniques, and expert guidance, Lara ensures every client leaves her studio with a headshot that represents them best.
Lara's studio, located in Seattle, is a haven for those seeking top-notch headshots. The space is thoughtfully designed to provide a comfortable and relaxed environment where clients can feel at ease during their photoshoots. From the moment they step into the studio until they receive their final images, Lara and her team go above and beyond to ensure a seamless and enjoyable photoshoot experience.
One of the reasons why Lara Grauer Photography has become synonymous with "Seattle Headshots" is because of the consistently outstanding results she delivers. Her portfolio is a testament to her talent, featuring various individuals from various industries, all exuding confidence and professionalism in their headshots. Whether it's for corporate professionals, actors, models, or entrepreneurs, Lara can capture the unique essence of each individual and present them in the best light possible.
Lara's dedication to her clients extends beyond the photoshoot itself. She understands that a great headshot can significantly impact one's brand and professional success. As such, she offers personalized consultations to understand her client's goals and aspirations. This allows her to tailor each session to meet their needs and ensure that the final images align with their desired outcomes.
The reputation of Lara Grauer Photography as "Seattle Headshots" is based not only on her work's exceptional quality but also on the positive experiences shared by countless satisfied clients. Many have praised Lara's professionalism, attention to detail, and ability to make them feel comfortable in front of the camera. Her warm and friendly demeanor puts even the most camera-shy individuals at ease, resulting in natural and authentic headshots.
In conclusion, Lara Grauer is undoubtedly the master of Seattle headshots. Her passion for photography, exceptional skills, and dedication to capturing the true essence of each sets her apart from other photographers in the industry. With her studio, Lara Grauer Photography, commonly called "Seattle Headshots," she has become the go-to photographer for those seeking top-notch headshots in Seattle. If you're looking for headshots representing your personality and professionalism, look no further than Lara Grauer.
Lara Grauer Photography
416 N 141st Ct, Seattle, WA 98133
206-724-2177  
#ProfessionalHeadshots #SeattleProfessionals #SeattlePortraits #CorporateHeadshots
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Seattle Photographer Lara Grauer wants to educate YOU on the difference between headshot photography and personal branding photography! A brand new video on Lara's YouTube channel goes into the intricacies between headshot and personal branding photography. She explains the benefits of both and when it's the best time to update those photos. To view her new YouTube video, click the URL below! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9U6670m7tU Lara Grauer Photography 416 N. 141st Court, Seattle, WA 98133
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cameronkarsten · 1 year
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It’s All Home Water: Restorative Shovels and Dynamite (Select Images)
It’s All Home Water: Restorative Shovels and Dynamite (Select Images)
Originally written by Gregory Fitz for Patagonia, this post provides a gallery of the select images for the project.
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atlantapiner · 1 year
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Healthnut in roseville
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HEALTHNUT IN ROSEVILLE SOFTWARE
Printing Education University of California, Santa Barbara 1989 - 1991 BA, Political Science Orange Coast College 1987 - 1989 Experience Franchise Services Inc. Orange County, California Area Business Development Consultant & Training Manager at Franchise Services Inc. December 1983 - January 1986 Skills Marketing, Tiles, Subcontracting, Management, Customer Service, Doors, Residential Homes, Project Management, Marble, Millwork, Process Scheduler, Wood, Finish, Construction Management, Construction, Renovation, Decks, Small Business, Team Building January 1990 - July 1990 Rank: Corporal/E-4 January 1986 - January 1990 Lucky Stores, Inc. August 1990 - June 1991 Hedley Builders, Inc. Greater Seattle Area Construction Business Owner Construction Education Renton Vocational Technical College 1992 - 1994 Journeymans Certificate, Carpenters Apprenticeship Orange Coast College 1988 - 1989 Construction Management Naval Air Station, Millington, Tennessee 1986 - 1986 Certificate, Aviation Ordnance Technician Fountain Valley High School 1981 - 1985 Diploma, General Experience Team National 2011 - Present May Creek Construction May 2002 - Present Carpenters Union January 1990 - May 2002 Carpenters Local 1797 July 1992 - January 1999 Northern California Carpenters Regional Council June 1991 - July 1992 Ott Construction, Inc. Mission Viejo, California Owner at Rafael Photography Photography Education Orange Coast College 1987 - 1989 Photography Dani Johnson University First Steps to Success and Dynasty Experience Rafael Photography October 1991 - Present Asahi Photo October 1989 - September 1990 Pacific Photo Finishing July 1984 - August 1988 Skills Professional., Photographic Painter, Entrepreneur, Photography, Portrait Photography, Commercial Photography, Digital Photography, Weddings, Event Photography, Wedding Photography, Portraits, Fine Art Photography, Photos, Entrepreneurship, On Location, Headshots, Studio Lighting, Image Editing, Studio Photography, Art, Image Manipulation, Photojournalism, Environmental., Lifestyle Photography, Architectural., Fashion Photography, Editorial Photography, Travel Photography, Photoshop, Black & White, Visual Arts, Magazines, Lightroom, Still Life, Darkroom, Senior Portraits, Canon, Camera, Family Photography, Landscape Photography, Wedding Photojournalism, Photographers
HEALTHNUT IN ROSEVILLE SOFTWARE
October 1992 - June 1994 Skills Relationship Management, Financial Services, Business Development, Cash Management, Project Management, Business Analysis, Product Management, Operations Management, Contract Negotiation, Investment Banking, Recruiting, Change Management, Leadership, Management,, Business Planning, Credit, Portfolio Management, CRM, Sales, Banking, Risk Management, Business Intelligence, Cross-functional Team., Finance, Securities, Software Documentation, Team Leadership, Loans, Customer Service, Process Improvement, Team Building, Capital Markets, Mortgage Lending January 2005 - September 2008 Deutsche Bank June 1994 - January 2005 Imperial Credit Industries, Inc. Orange County, California Area Business Development, Project Management and Operations Management Education Management Education University of California, Irvine 1989 - 1992 BA, English Orange Coast College 1987 - 1989 General Studies Experience Maranatha Educational Serivices April 2015 - Present Tutor Doctor (PDCC Investments) October 2014 - March 2015 Wells Fargo January 2013 - April 2014 BNY Mellon August 2009 - December 2012 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
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Portland OR Metro Real Estate Introduction Sep 2022
Compared to some west coast big cities, Portland is a little bit smaller but it has its own charm – green, laidback, and fun. You can easily access some amazing scenes within one hour drive – mountains, rivers and beach scene. You can do so many outdoor activities here.
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<Authorized by sungchoi photography>
Portland’s name was shamed during Covid for its downtown protests. But it’s still a great town for many reasons. Here are some reasons you should consider investing in Portland’s real estate now!!!
Reason #1: Relatively Cheap Compared to Other West Coast Cities.
Tech company jobs,mild climate, cultural diversity, etc. West coast is always the top option for many investors or immigrants for many reasons. Between Seattle, The Bay area and Los Angeles, Portland is affordable and cost-effective.  If you compare the income to house price, it’s affordable here.  And rents return more profit with less risk compared to the other major West Coast large cities.
2022 Q2 Median Price in Major West Coast Cities: (single family house)
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Reason #2: Acceptable Rental Cash Flow + Strong Appreciation
West coast houses are known for strong appreciation but bad cash flow when it’s a rental. In Bellevue or San Jose, a 1.5M house can only rent for $4000-5000. But being a landlord in Portland area could still expect some positive cash flow. For example, a 450k rental, with 330K loan, if interest rate is 6%, monthly payment is about $1979 + $450 tax, insurance. Monthly rent is about $2300-2500. It’s solid cash flow with the appreciation component.
Reason #3: Asian Community is Growing
Portland metro Asian population is about 8.65% (Chinese 1.7%, Korean 0.4%). In Seattle Asian population is about 16.3%  (Chinese 7.3%, Korean about 1.1%)These numbers are growing each year. A lot of Asian chain businesses have opened here recently including grocery stores (H-mart, Ranch 99), bakeries (Tous Le Jours, Paris Baugette, 85 degree), Restaurants (Din Tai Fung), Bubble tea shops (Sharetea, Tiger Sugar, Yomie Rice Yogart.) These chain franchises have done their own research and believe they can thrive with the increasing Asian population.
4 Popular Counties –
Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas, Clark
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Washington County
This is my favorite. West of Portland downtown. There are many good high paying jobs here with Nike, Intel, Columbia Sportswear and other tech firms. Practical local governments, diverse & educated population, good schools and healthy commercial opportunities.
Popular cities here: Beaverton, Tigard, NW Portland (97229), Sherwood, Hillsboro. You can choose quiet residential neighborhoods to raise kids or some convenient locations with walking distance restaurants & shopping. If you purchase a rental property here, usually you will run into better quality renters.
Big employers here:
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Intel has several campuses in Hillsboro (22,000 employees.) Intel offers a lot of high paying engineer jobs + mid-level technician jobs. There are also many smaller sized employers here as Intel suppliers. Intel’s future is pretty secure since Congress passed “Chip Act” in 2022 to sponsor domestic semiconductors manufactures. In many ways it’s a safe bet to invest in this area.
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Nike Headquarter in Beaverton (8000 employees)
Nike are still building several high-rise office buildings, including a brand new Serena Williams Building opened in April 2022.
Other good employers in Washington County: Lam Research, ASML (600), Microsoft (200), Apple has a small Lab too.
Multnomah County
Multnomah county’s core is Downtown Portland and extends to the East side. It’s where Portland started. A lot of historical buildings and interesting stories here. You will find the most creative food culture and art scenes. Multnomah county is also known for its progressive political views shared by most residents. There are many great neighborhoods with high Walkscore. Biking is very popular in this area too.
Some criticisms though are 1. Too Political 2. Higher tax 3. Homeless issue 4. Increasing crime rate. In general, this is an area most investors will avoid at this time. But it’s still a big draw for young people. If you are someone drawn to interesting city life, bar/restaurant experience, and more social life, this area is perfect for you.
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Good communities: Inner SE Portland, NE Portland, Pearl District, Sellwood.
Clackamas County
Another great area with slightly conservative atmosphere.
Lake Oswego is very popular and is where you will probably see the most local “Old money”. If Washington county generates “Tech money,” Old money comes from inheritance, finance and legal industry, and all kinds of self-employed businesses. Great schools and cute businesses everywhere. Houses are a little bit older here and pretty expensive.
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West Linn located next to Lake Oswego and is somewhat similar. But it is quieter and even more residential.  
If you go further East to Happy Valley and Clackamas, or south to Wilsonville, these cities are also good neighborhoods with cheaper and newer houses.
Clark County (Vancouver WA)
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Portland lies just south of Vancouver Washington. The 2 cities are divided by Columbia River. Vancouver WA is another popular place for investors for the following reasons:
Vancouver is slightly cheaper but also still part of Portland Metro.
Cheaper property tax, NO State income TAX ,(Compared to Oregon average 9% income tax) Since work from home became a new norm, it has drawn a lot of high paying WFH folks to move here.
Slightly more friendly to landlords compared to Portland.
Cleaner and less homeless issues
Camas and Ridgefield are considered 2 cities with best schools. Union High in Vancouver is good too. Other than school districts and hospitals, some famous employers are: Fisher Investment (1700 employees), Wafer Tech (A TSMC company,500-1000 employees), HP (700 employees)
Concerns:
Lacking of a giant cornerstone employer like Intel that can drive and maintain economic growth.
Only relying on highway I-5 and 205 to commute to Oregon side. Traffic is horrible during rush hours. Downtown Portland still has more to offer.
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anewthirst · 2 years
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Prince Gyasi takes bold, stylized iPhone photographs of life in his hometown of Accra. Occasionally using digital manipulation, he captures his subjects posed against colorful textured backgrounds and alongside the ocean, corrugated steel huts, and sunsets; Gyasi’s frames embrace colorful contrasts between his subjects’ skin, dress, and surroundings. Fruits, umbrellas, and significant fashion statements provide additional palettes and offer insight into Gyasi’s landscape and community; his hues are as rich as the lives he depicts. With this aesthetic, the artist challenges idealized beauty standards and the conventions of traditional fine-art photography. He has exhibited in Cape Town, Paris, Seattle, and Miami, among other cities. Gyasi is also the co-founder of the nonprofit Boxed Kids, which helps educate underprivileged youth in Accra.
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rakecrate77 · 2 years
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Newborn baby Photographs: Finding the Right Photographer intended for You and Your current Baby
Newborn photography is definitely one of typically the hottest topics in the photography globe. It is the growing trend amidst both new moms and photographers. There are many well-known newborn and toddler photographers with their work being released, and newer photography enthusiasts desiring to attain the same photographs, poses, etc; sometimes at the need of the clients plus sometimes simply for typically the challenge. However, using this comes the stories of endangered or maybe harmed babies. Seattle maternity photographer Mainly because we live in an on-line planet, these stories distribute like wildfire. This kind of has been an excellent, in that there is a growing number of concentrate on educating brand-new photographers on newborn baby safety. Some new photographers are looking for and becoming mentoring in newborn safety although others are providing up and just photographing older subject matter to stop the threat. However, because there are consequently many people becoming photographers each calendar month, there are even now others that will be new and getting risks unknowingly. Many parents are unacquainted with how some associated with these risky, however beautiful and intriguing poses are reached. What is even worse, is that numerous photographers are not aware of how that they are done properly, plus naively attempt in order to do them in any case. Hopefully they will obtain the knowledge plus expertise before a child is harmed, on the other hand, I'd like to instruct new moms, or even expectant mothers, that are usually seeking a shooter for their brand-new sweet baby. I might first like in order to advise new mothers to search out their new baby photographer carefully. This specific will be main people, most most likely a stranger, to handle your vulnerable newborn. Many consumers, purchase according to value. While budget is definitely important to most people, and entirely understandable is today's economy, you do not want in order to choose someone to be able to handle your virtually all precious, brand new baby, based on price on your own. While it's not necessarily always the circumstance, lower prices generally mean less encounter. You do not want to put your baby inside harms way just to save several dollars. Please create sure how the shooter you choose is experienced with babies and assured in handling infants, regardless of typically the fees that they can fee. Thoroughly looking by means of the infant images in their profile should give a person a pretty excellent thought of their experience and abilities. If you're unsure, in this article are a several things to try to find or inquire on the subject of during your search: 1. The actual children in the photographer's portfolio look comfortable? Babies that have just come from the womb are usually accustomed to becoming curled and folded. Nevertheless , some babies, even at only a few days old, won't accept this sort of posing. A great experienced and gentle professional photographer will know when should you give up, although others will push an infant's boundaries to achieve the particular desired pose. a couple of. Will the photographer display various babies about their website or are the photos within their newborn portfolio split between a several of the same babies. If the photographer has simply included a few different newborns, this should be a sign to you associated with their deficiency of experience. Ask yourself in the event that you're okay together with your infant becoming the baby that this photographer learns along with. 3. The final tip is almost certainly the most important, yet probably the least considered since most moms include little or little knowledge of photography. Whenever looking through the photographers website or collection pay attention to be able to if they have newborn photos on their particular website that help to make you wonder, "How on earth did they will have the baby in order to do that? " This might become a photo of a baby suspending from a tree department, a photo of a new baby swaddled tightly but sitting upright, or a photograph of a baby with it can elbows resting about the blanket yet its holding its head up using its chin throughout its hands. These poses should help make you wonder, as it should never be completed without an assistant (or two) and the magic regarding a photo editing program. When these poses are achieved safely, an experienced photographer has employed an assistant in order to help pose the newborn, keeping a hand on baby at all times, and then that they use a picture editing program to create a "composite" (seaming only two separate photos together) which will take out the assistant's palms from the final portrait. If the particular photographer does not really know how to be able to create a composite, he has been doing these positions un-safely and may possibly try them once more with your child. Not only can after this tips help you to look for a more experienced professional photographer that may know exactly how to handle your new baby safely and securely, but with any luck , by locating a professional photographer that has a lot of experience with infants will lead to be able to a fabulous encounter and beautiful photos for you in order to treasure for a lifetime.
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sizhuibattleguqin · 2 years
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Sizhui Lan ( in China it is Lan Sizhui the people in Hawkin adjusted him name to American means ) Age: 17-18 in Season 4 Gender: Male Alignment: Lawful Good but willing to look the other way as long as it hurts no one. ( Such as drinking or skipping ) Occupation: Hawkin's High Student. Martial Art's Instructor Best Class: Most of them he's the typical 80's Chinese boy he excellent with electronics and education. Hobbies: Dungeons & Dragons, Photography, Field and Track Team Clubs: Debate, Hellfire Club, Yearbook Staff ( Photography only ), Sci Fi Club. Sexuality: Demisexual/Demiromantic
R A N D O M  F  A C T S [*] Sizhui owns the White Box for Dungeons & Dragons and Blackmoor. He has played Chainmail but by far like Dungeons & Dragons better. [*] He has a tea that works for Hang Overs it takes away some of the worst effects. [*]He is on Field & Track he has a Letterman's Jacket [*]He is an honor student [*] He teaches Martial Arts Class after school from 5-6 he works at his Uncle's Dojo in town. [*] He also tutors but is by far more discreet about this as some people don't want to be labeled lacking in any way. [*] He is not a typical jock. [*] He has been known to get Candid photos of the school and class members [*] He believes in the supernatural and Spirits it comes from his upbringing. [*] He owns a motorbike [*] He loves horror movies ---living one not so much but hey welcome to Hawkins.. [*] He owns a computer [*] He knows how to program it [*] He's been making a Mapping Program ( which he turned to mapping Hawkins discreetly ) [*] Favorite American Food- Pizza extra cheese peperoni . [*] Favorite Drink : Starbucks Coffee ( his father buys in advance and picks it up in Seattle when he's traveling ) [*] He has two dads.
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