Inta G Photography

Check my Coupon on Mineeds!

2011-09-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

Check out this need - Check my Coupon on Mineeds!

2011-08-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

Chicago wedding

2011-08-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

Very thoughtful and inspirational video

2011-08-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

Very thoughtful and inspirational video

Inta G Photography - Wedding and Family photographer

2011-08-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

Inta G Photography - Wedding and Family photographer

www.intagphoto.com

2011-08-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

For more pictures and updates please go to my new site

Congratulations Lisa and George

2011-08-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

Inta G Photography - Key West Wedding photographer

Go green Fashionista 2011

2011-08-02T13:54:00.001-07:00

west palm beach wedding

2011-08-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

2 month later we are still faighting with this?

2010-08-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

so we're all here sitting here typing away our various thoughts and points of view on the matter....who to blame, how to fix.but how many of us are actually taking action to get the situation under control.....who, of us, is contacting those in control and and talking to them. who is providing aid to those in the gulf coast that are physically taking charge and cleaning up the crude, washing of the wild, and attempting to lessen the massive impact this is going to have on everything for years to come.
some of us are. most of us i believe aren't. but that's always the problem with opinion versus action....

Life can be danced..........Emptiness can be run.........

2010-07-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

Heat can be seen.

Distant can be raised.

Silence can be heared,

Love (can be) drunk.

Life can be danced,

Emptiness can be run.

Belief can be wandered,

Truth (can be) walked.

Seagulls are flying over the roofs,

Sea is far away.

Your thoughts are cradling me,

Gently beaming..

Congratulations Baby Girl!

2010-07-01T15:10:00.001-07:00

today my friends baby girl arrived!

Congratulations Lucky Girl!

2nd Annual "Go Green Fashionista" Fashion show is over..time for new projects

2010-06-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

2nd Annual "Go Green Fashionista"
Fashion show is over..time for new projects

its me again

I would like to thank everybody who supported me and understand these last 3 weeks. ..... busy, panicking, "no ideas how to finish", not enough time weeks.... etc etc. and i apologize for not timely responded emails some strange reactions (you know artist under stress is unpredictable :))):) and some other delays.
but i made it :)
My collection was audiences favorite. My girls were photographed most.
And there were people who came after the show to check - are my dresses really made out from newspaper.

I took 2 days off and went to Key West with my kids and now i'm back to the BIG world, but I'm taking break from scissors, glue gun, sawing machine and most important _ NEWS PAPERS :)
It does not mean i will become ignorant and not follow what is going on in this crazy world.
Still will- but my mine media will be TV and online :)))
Taking break from everything today by cleaning my house from small peaces of paper, treads, pins, old newspapers, getting vine and going by beach tonight and then back to things what i love more then paper dress - photography....
I have couple sessions booked this week and can not wait to get my hands on camera again.
Photography still is my real love :)

2nd Annual Go Green Fashionista : Fashion Show & Shoe Drive for “Barefoot 4 Haiti”

2010-06-18T06:01:00.001-07:00

2nd Annual "Go Green Fashionista"
Fashion show to benefit Barefoot4Haiti program

Sole 4 Souls, a non-profit that collects shoes to distribute to people in need around the world, is hosting “Go Green” Awareness by holding the 2nd Annual “Go Green Fashionista” at MIA Lounge & Restaurant on June 18th, 2010 at 7pm.

Guests are asked to bring their gently worn and brand new shoes to be donated to the people of Haiti. Enjoy MIA's "Go Green" mojito's infused with Nitrogen as seen on VH1’s Basketball Wives. Half off special drinks from 7-8pm. Fashion showcase at 8pm.

Admission:
$10 donation to Souls 4 Souls.
Complimentary admission for dinner guests.

Fashion show:
Presenting "Go Green" Awareness in MIA’s spectacular setting, the event will be honoring eco-friendly fashions and styles ranging from vintage clothing to original eco friendly accessories and wardrobe vamping.

FabVintage, Blooming by Inta, who specializes in creating Avant Garde pieces with newspaper, magazines and other recycled materials; and jewelry featuring RAX COLLECTION and Catalina Mora, who makes use with orange peels, tagua, and coffee beans amongst others to create her accessories while having an amazing aroma to it. With the help of these new era designers, Stylist’s Waina Chancy and Obe Santos will assist and showcase along with the designer’s on our mission to have others to be inspired in this new way of style and to provide others with another utilizing fashion idea, while lessening their expenses on less eco-friendly clothing. Guests will enjoy samples of the new Sheba Cloth Collection made from all natural jute fiber grown in Bangladesh, advantages of Jute has antioxidant and vitamin E from the root, which helps to moderate moisture and regain skin firmness. These cloths are 100% biodegradable and recyclable.

Drawing prize:
Snow’s Jewelers of Coral Gables: 90’’ Endless Strand Fresh Water Cultured Pearl and matching Sterling Silver Fresh Water Cultured Pearl Earrings retailed at $370 * $2 per ticket.

About Barefoot4Haiti: www.barefoot4haiti.org
Barefoot4Haiti is a program designed to encourage churches around the country to go Barefoot4Haiti and collect shoes to help Soles4Souls provide needed footwear to hurting Haitians. For countless Haitians, the shoes they put on their feet on the day of the earthquake are the only pair of shoes they have. This Spring, more than 150,000 churches will be asked to join in and get involved by taking off their shoes for one Sunday. As part of this powerful movement, congregants can bring their new or gently worn shoes to church or donate to Soles4Souls to help put shoes on the feet of the victims of the Haitian earthquake or on the 300 million children around the globe who are barefoot.

2nd Annual Go Green Fashionista : Fashion Show & Shoe Drive for “Barefoot 4 Haiti”

2010-05-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

2nd Annual Go Green Fashionista : Fashion Show & Shoe Drive for “Barefoot 4 Haiti”

Fab C. Productions, LLC along with Sole 4 Souls, Inc. is benefiting “Go Green” Awareness by holding the 2nd Annual “Go Green Fashionista” at MIA at Biscayne Ultra Lounge & Restaurant, 20 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33180 on June 18th, 2010 @ 7pm. Miami's newest diverse venue was designed to host fashion shows from a collapsible catwalk to a perfect stage setting, top professional lighting, and one-of-a-kind technology. Presenting "Go Green" Awareness in a spectacular setting, the event will be honoring eco-friendly fashions and styles ranging from vintage clothing to original eco friendly accessories and wardrobe vamping. “Go Green Fashionista” will be an evening of high fashion at its smartest. Fashion Show will include Angel’s Vintage Boutique, Blooming by Inta, who specializes in creating Avant Garde pieces with newspaper, magazines and other recycled materials; and Jewelry by Catalina Mora, who makes use with orange peels, tagua, and coffee beans amongst others to create her accessories while having an amazing aroma to it. With the help of these new era designers, our mission is to have others to be inspired in this new way of style and to provide others with another utilizing fashion idea, while lessening their expenses on less eco-friendly clothing.

Also a supporter of Soles 4 Souls, a charity organization that collects shoes from the closets of people like you; and donates them to people in need all over the world. We are inviting everyone to help support Sole 4 Souls: Barefoot For Haiti Program. Guests can bring gently worn and brand new shoes to provide footwear to the people of Haiti.

www.barefoot4haiti.org

* Special raffle for guests that have donated to Barefoot 4 Haiti.

RAFFLE from Snow’s Jewelers of Coral Gables: 90’’ Endless Strand Fresh Water Cultured Pearl and matching Sterling Silver Fresh Water Cultured Pearl Earrings retailed at $370 * $2 per ticket

Enjoy MIA's signature style of drinking all night with "Go Green" Mojito's infused with Nitrogen as seen on Vh1’s Basketball Wives. Half off special drinks from 7-8pm. Doors open at 7pm. Fashion Showcase at 8pm. $10 entry. Complimentary admission to RSVP dinner guests.

With the support and contributions from local individuals, business, organizations and press, “Go Green Fashionista” is able to successfully showcase this forthcoming tradition of style. As you can imagine, it takes a great deal of resources to make this an extraordinary event. You're attendance will be the start in making the difference for our earth. For event information, media and press, please contact: info@fabcproductions.com or (786) 487-0049.

small hands big hands

2010-05-18T09:23:00.000-07:00

Baby shots....

Bridal shot

2010-05-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

bridal shot magazine style

2010-05-11T11:28:00.001-07:00

"Your friends will know you better in the first minute you meet than your acquaintances will know you in a thousand years."

Richard Bach, Illusions

i found something interesting

2010-05-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

i found something interesting and want to share with you

Link is here

CHANGE THE LOOK OF YOUR CURTAINS IN JUST MINUTES!!!

It has an exceptional design as the fabric is fixed by two magnets which are connected with a stainless steel rope.

The wireless steel rope loops around the curtain rod and allows it to glide smoothly.

The magnetic plates can fix the fabric at any spot thus avoiding the cost of hemming the curtains.

This procuct can also be used as tie back.

Lots of different applications are available based on your personal decorating touch.

This Product is MADE IN ITALY and 100% Green as per FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification standards

One more Perfect Saturday

2010-04-18T10:59:00.001-07:00

Saturday Night Art Walk Miami

2010-04-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

April 10, 2010 8 PM Deco One gallery 3900 North Miami Ave Miami, FL Featuring live photoshoot with

Inta G photography

These images are the result of collaboration
between various artists. Our combined efforts
and unique interpretations added greatly
to our enjoyment of the process. Our hope is
that it will also enhance your enjoyment
of the show.

SM

2010-04-06T06:45:00.001-07:00

Some Boca wedding shots

She arrived large and beauty

2010-04-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

Almost ready for big show Saturday night

These images are the result of collaboration
between various artists. Our combined efforts
and unique interpretations added greatly
to our enjoyment of the process. Our hope is
that it will also enhance your enjoyment
of the show.
and this is continuation from Chicago show

Miami
Art district Night walk

April 10, 2010 8 PM
Deco One gallery
3900 North Miami Ave
Miami, FL
Featuring live photoshoot with
Inta G photography
see you all there.

Kids Rock..Cancer Sucks

2010-03-31T06:04:00.001-07:00

Thank you all who came to event to support dream- build kids cancer outpatient center in WPB

2010-03-27T07:21:00.000-07:00

Proud to announce -
i'm donating my time and talent to

ROCK OUT KIDS CANCER BENEFIT MUSIC FESTIVAL

TODAY, MARCH 27, 2010 FROM 1PM - 10PM.

AT JUPITER'S RIVERWALK

BREAKING NEWS- Clarence Clemons, "The Big Man" himself, from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band will be stopping in on Saturday!

Please, let me know if you are aware of any other "celebritys" planning to join us.

Hope to see everybody this Saturday! Don't forget to bring the kids to enjoy the Fun Zone.

Band Line-Up is set:
1:30: Blues is Dead - Jam Band
2:30: Burnt Biscuit - Country
3:30: the NOVAS - Rock
4:30: Low Down 13 - Traditional Blues
5:30: Good Looks Kid - Teen Pop
6:30: School of Rock - Rockin' Kids
7:30: Big Vince & the Phat Cats - Soulful Rock & Blues
8:30: Alice Cooper review - Beyond Description
Join "Cancer Sucks, Kids ROCK" on Facebook for event updates!

Remember, kids 10 and under are FREE!

Food by EVO, Food Shack, Angelo's, Mr. Gyros, Pineapples, Cider Donuts & Cake Kingdom!

Congratulations S&M at your wedding day!!!!

2010-03-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

Love story

2010-03-12T21:00:00.000-08:00

Sneak peak to K&L engagement session

2010-03-09T09:38:00.000-08:00

just one shot....
i love this very unique place in Jupiter
sooooooo french...i would love to go back for some more sessions again

International Womens Day.....day when i used receive a lot of tulips :)

2010-03-09T06:34:00.000-08:00

The first IWD was observed on 28 February 1909 in the United States following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America. Among other relevant historic events, it came to commemorate the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. The idea of having an international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century amid rapid world industrialization and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions.

In 1910 the first international women's conference was held in Copenhagen (in the labour-movement building located at Jagtvej 69, which until recently housed Ungdomshuset) by the Second International and an 'International Women's Day' was established, which was submitted by the important German Socialist Clara Zetkin, although no date was specified.^[1] The following year, 1911, IWD was marked by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, on March 19.^[2] However, soon thereafter, on March 25, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City killed over 140 garment workers. A lack of safety measures was blamed for the high death toll. Furthermore, on the eve of World War I, women across Europe feminism in the 1960s. held peace rallies on 8 March 1913. In the West, International Women's Day was commemorated during the 1910s and 1920s, but dwindled. It was revived by the rise of

Demonstrations marking International Women's Day in Russia proved to be the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Following the October Revolution, the Bolshevik Alexandra Kollontai persuaded Lenin to make it an official holiday in the Soviet Union, and it was established, but was a working day until 1965. On May 8, 1965 by the decree of the USSR Presidium of the Supreme Soviet International Women's Day was declared as a non working day in the USSR "in commemoration of the outstanding merits of Soviet women in communistic construction, in the defense of their Fatherland during the Great Patriotic War, in their heroism and selflessness at the front and in the rear, and also marking the great contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples, and the struggle for peace. But still, women's day must be celebrated as are other holidays."

I'm accepting boudoir sessions

2010-02-27T05:19:00.000-08:00

Now i am accepting boudoir sessions for March/April in South Florida - West Palm Beach.

I'm now accepting appointments for boudoir sessions in March and April. Please don't wait, call now to reserve your custom on-location portrait session.

Perfect for the bride-to-be as a wedding gift, anniversary gift or just to pamper yourself and indulge .. you won't regret it.

Call me 561-339-9984 and schedule appointment!

recycling and .....

2010-02-23T21:27:00.000-08:00

Some recycling, wrapping, branding and not pleasant discovery night

Who you are?

2010-02-03T08:57:00.000-08:00

today i found great inspiration in these words what one of my friends wrote.....

You don’t just take pictures…you don’t just sell albums…you’re not just a photographer! The challenge is finding the words that describe what you are!

You’re an artist. You’re at times a poet and a storyteller. You’re at times a journalist. You’re a technician and an inventor. You’re a therapist, a psychologist – even a mediator. You’re a magician – you capture memories and turn the intangible into reality!

Really thank you!

And i have my memories, my magic moments captured...sometimes just with simple phone camera, but now i know how valuable they are :)

My first Show

2010-01-24T06:38:00.001-08:00

My first Show...
THE Paper Dress

A lots of you know about MY fashion-passion :) and living green passion as well and no doubt - photography

The Paper dress show is result of project what we couple photographers did last together to show our passions and how different we are.

I had this great opportunity to work together with my friend and mentor John Lavere and genius make up artist Candice Sansone and photographers Anna Guziak-Prochnicka and Ela Miszczyszyn as well

All dresses what models wear are made from newspapers.
And i'm proud to anounce - 3 of them are made by me and 1 with my assistance.
Unfortunately Show opening is on Superbowl sunday, but those of you who value photography and art more then Superbowl are welcome to opening at Salvage One. Sunday Feb. 7, 12 to 5. 1840 W. Hubbard. Clothing optional.
Otherwise Salvage One is open for public Fri 11-6 | Sat 9-5 | Sun 12-5

For more info and directions http://www.salvageone.com/home.php

Prata Vetra, Skolzkije Uljci

2010-01-23T07:01:00.000-08:00

beach wedding ....brrr it was so cold

2010-01-18T04:32:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2009-12-23T05:33:00.000-08:00

This was very hard and challenging year for me.
A lot of changes and new things to discover and learn.
Thank You all who supported me and was with me.

I wish you that all your dreams will come true next year!
But today - just stop for a moment
and enjoy this great time of year
with you families and close ones!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Truly yours
Inta

engagement sneak peak

2009-12-04T21:16:00.000-08:00

I Love the LOVE

2009-12-04T07:28:00.000-08:00

every time when i take pictures with couples before wedding...i call them engagement sessions, i notice the positive and warm glow what they have when they look at each other.
They are kind of in the own isolated "Love world"
This session with Emily and Patrick was not exception.
Love was there :)
Thank you guys for being so great and i hope you had great time at your honey moon

She

2009-10-28T18:16:00.000-07:00

I'm so honored to be part of this great SoFly photographers group.
This monday...... two gorgeous models...great location....perfect clouds....

I will start with part one.

I call it "She"

Big "Thank you" for the help to Madame Butterfly Bridal for gown and Anna Flowers for Bouquet.

Networking

2009-10-28T06:28:00.000-07:00

One of my friends on Facebook pointed out this excerpt - "real networking is about finding ways to make other people successful." from the book "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi.

Agree 100%.....and it reminds me my Chicago friends/photographers.
Thank you all! A special warm "thanks" to - John and Robin.
But I miss you all!

Music and Second Drink For Free :) Let's go!

2009-10-23T08:29:00.001-07:00

Angry Moon Cigar Bar is located 2401 PGA,

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Next to Carmains.

why poeple are running away from own country?

2009-10-13T06:37:00.000-07:00

http://blogi.nozare.lv/kaza/2009/10/10/murgosfera-un-darijums-ar-dienu-offtopiks/

Republication from one of my friends, great journalists blog...it shows again why people a running away from Latvia

The strange death of liberal "Diena"

NOTE: Corrected the spelling of the British family to ROWLAND in a few places.

October 10 turned into a day of written and video/audio soundbites amounting to obituaries for Latvia's (once?) leading daily "liberal" newspaper Diena (The Day). It was no wonder, as the chief editor of the Diena media group, Nellija Ločmele, the editor-in-chief of Diena, Anita Brauna, the editor of the editorial and op-ed page, Pauls Raudseps and several senior reporters announced their resignations after it was disclosed that Diena (along with Dienas bizness, a business daily) had been sold to the British Rowland family.

The Rowlands are said to have financed the transaction when the Swedish Bonnier publishing group and agreed to convert their loan into shares in a mutual fund that became the owner of both Latvian media companies. However, there are contradictory reports as to whether this was the actual sequence of events.

The departing editors said they could not work together with the new managing director of the Diena publishing group, a former executive at the company who returned to engineer and execute the transfer of Diena and Dienas bizness from the Bonnier group to the new owners.

Founded as a government-owned but independent newspaper in 1990, while Latvia was still a Soviet republic, Diena was "liberal" in the classic sense of standing for individual rights, freedom, Western-style democracy and values.

In July, it was announced that the Swedish Bonnier publishing group, the owner of Diena and the business daily Dienas bizness (this blogger worked for Dienas bizness for 11 years) since the early 1990s, was selling both newspapers to a Luxembourg-based company owned by Aleksandrs Tralmaks, a former executive with Diena (some years earlier) and Kalle Norberg, an Estonian financier. The transaction was financed (temporarily) by undisclosed lenders as part of a scheme to set up a Luxembourg based media mutual fund.

The transaction, with so many unknowns, set off a frenzy of speculation, much of it verging on paranoid fantasies that Latvian oligarchs, Russian intelligence services and other evil powers bent on destroying Diena or using it to brainwash the population were actually behind the deal.

To be sure, the transaction was hasty, largely because the Bonnier group was eager to get rid of their Latvian assets as quickly as possibly, while keeping their business newspapers in Estonia and Lithuania. It was going to take Tralmaks and Norberg a few months to set up their mutual fund, longer than the Swedes were ready to wait. In a move that would later be one of several reasons for things unravelling as they have, Tralmaks and Norberg raised funds for the purchase from undisclosed lenders. Tralmaks said the real owners of Diena and Dienas bizness would be disclosed on October 1, but later delayed the announcement until October 9.

By then, three months of secrecy, contradictory hints (at one point, the transaction was said to be financed by some of the founders of Skype)and internal recriminations and arguments about future business strategy had taken their toll. There was, in all likelihood, an irreparable rift between the top editors and Tralmaks by mid-September, when rumors of Ločmele's and Brauna's resignations first appeared.

Tralmaks had proposed drastic cuts in production expenses for Diena of around 55 %, which would have led to considerable staff reductions and salary cuts. Diena's editors proposed a less painful solution (according to a blog Cita Diena/A Different Diena set up to communicate about the breakdown of the newspaper as run by them) and at one point even proposed a management buy-out of sorts. Ločmele jas told Latvian media she had found potential investors to buy back Diena from Tralmaks and Norberg, but was rebuffed. That move also sealed her fate -- it was seen as disloyal to the owners of the moment.

The situation at present is that everyone seems to be standing at a smashed trough (pie sasistas siles) to use a Latvian expression (sort of meaning that the instrument by which all of the barnyard creatures could have been fed has been foolishly destroyed). Tralmaks (now merely the CEO of the Diena group, with no ownership stake) has seen his brand value walk out the door -- indeed, he had some of the top editors escorted away by lawyers and security guards who first searched boxes and briefcases of "the departed" to see that no confidential company documents were taken.

"The Departed" have strongly hinted that they will start a new media outlet, most likely an internet portal and some kind of print publication, but with the Latvian economy collapsing, this is a daunting task, no less than the challenge of keeping the "old" Diena afloat, with Tralmaks speaking of drastic drops in advertising spending already at the time the deal was announced in July.

Finally, Jonathan Rowland, the Rowland family member apparently most involved with the investment in Latvia, has seen his admittedly risky investment turn -- very risky. Rowland appears to have been a bit of a high-roller in the past, so three years from now, he'll probably be at his club and hear something like "Good on you with that Shanghai deal, pity about that...where was it... Latvia or someplace? Odd isn't it, it was some Latvian lads who put the new roof on my country place. Great job. You know, Colin got burned for about as much on that Swedish game console thing...win some, lose some."

10 Oktobris, 2009

“Murgosfēra” un darījums ar Dienu (offtopiks)

Autors: Juris Kaža @ 18:07 Kategorijas: Pētījumi un viedokļi, Izklaide un melnais humors

(Ieliku apakšvirsrakstus, lai viss būtu vieglāk lasāms –J.K. 11. oktobrī)
8.oktobrī piedalījos diskusijā Stradiņa universitātē par medijiem, to nākotni un, protams, arī jaunajiem medijiem kā blogiem, sociāliem tīkliem, tviteriem u.tml. Diskusijas gaitā man pašpruka, iespējams, jauns izteiciens, proti, ka tieši Latvijā blakus blogsfērai un ķibetelpai (cyberspace) arī ir murgosfēra – dažādu konspirāciju teoriju, aizdomu un izkliedētu bet sīkstu tumsonības metastāžu ģenerēta migla nācijas kolektīvajā apziņā.
Avīze Diena daudzus gadus ir bijusi sava veida mirdzoša galotne virs murgosfēras slāņa, kas – gan pakāpeniski un lēnam retinoties – ir klājis Latviju pēdējos teju 20 gadus. Murgosfēra, protams, tika ģenerēta ilgos padomju noslēgtības un cilvēku apziņas apstrādes gadu desmitos, atstājot sabiedrību ar daudziem homo postsovieticus, kas nebija sagatavoti saprast viņiem pēkšņi atvērto 20. gadsimta beigu un 21. gadsimta sākuma mulsinoši krāšņo, izaicinošo, nesaprotamo, pretrunīgo, bezgala sarežģītu un daudziem viņu agrākajiem priekšstatiem pat pretīgo globālo sabiedrību. Bet ne par to ir runa.
Runa ir par virkni kļūdu, pārpratumu, komunikācijas avāriju un, visticamāk, arī par iekšējiem procesiem, kas tikai tuvākajā laikā tiks atklāti, kuru gala rezultāts ir avīzes Diena šķietamais ne gluži noriets, bet ievērojams tās saulītes spīduma satumsums. Un te, manuprāt, savu lomu ir spēlējusi šīs jau no vasaras izstieptās drāmas radītā murgosfēra lite.

Neizskaidroja “nesaprotamo”
Pirmais klupiens bija daudzu nesaprašana, ka reāli biznesa darījumi bieži ir “nesaprotami” kaut vai tādēļ, ka juridisko personu pirkšanas un pārdošanas darījumi veicot savu biznesa misiju, tāpat arī pašu šo juridisko personu pārpirkšanas darījumi nav tas pats, kā Rimi veikalā ar pāris latu noskaitīšanu pie kases padarīt lielveikala īpašumā esošo pienu un kartupeļus par pircēja īpašumu. Nevienam neienāk prātā piena paku norakstīt brālēnam Īrija pret pilnvaru to izdzert Latvijā, bet kartupeļus ieķīlāt igauņu līzinga kompānijai.
Taču bieži vien privātajos korporatīvos darījumos šādas lietas notiek, un ne jau ar kartupeļiem. Negribu sameloties par situāciju šodien, bet ilgus gadus lielākā investorvalsts Latvijā bija Dānija, jo caur Dānija reģistrētu holdingkompāniju Tilts Communications tika investēti visu dažādo ārvalstu investoru– britu un zviedru, pēc tam zviedru-somu TeliaSonera – simtiem miljonu LVL līdzekļi Lattelecom attīstībai. Izpētot smalko druku var arī konstatēt, ka daudzām pasaules aviosabiedrībām nepieder neviena lidmašīna, tās viņas tikai nomā no mazpazīstamiem globāliem līzinga koncerniem. Arī vairākiem slaveniem viesnīcu zīmoliem pieder tikai dažas vai pat neviena ēka, uz kuras rakstīts prestižais vārds, jo šīs kompānijas ir tikai operatori, kas atbild par visu, kas notiek pavisam citam īpašniekam piederošajās četrās lepnās ēkas sienās.
Sākumā man likās, ka Dienas un Dienas biznesa pārdošana bija no šīs, ikdienā mazpazīstamās un tādēļ viegli murgosfērā ievelkamās darījumu kategorijas. Proti, darījuma starpnieki un virzītāji Aleksandrs Tralmaks un Kalle Norbergs saprata, ka zviedru puse steidzās tikt vaļā no abiem medijiem, tādēļ bija steidzami jāaizņemas nauda, lai “objektu” pārņemtu no zviedriem un to noturētu līdz nākamam Tralmaka un Norberga plāna solim – atvērta investīciju fonda dibināšana, kam turpmāk piederētu Diena un Dienas bizness. Savas domas par to jau uzrakstīju jūlijā.

Noslēpumainība bija uzticības kaprace
Kopš vasaras darījuma mazredzamā daļā notika lietas, kas, visticamāk, padziļināja neuzticības grāvi starp Dienas redakcionālo vadību un pircēju pārstāvjiem. Nav skaidrs, vai a/s Diena korporatīvā vadība un daži redaktori zināja, bet nedrīkstēja stāstīt kas ir pircēji, vai varbūt īsti neko nezināja. Katrā ziņā avīzē, kas sevi turēja par caurspīdīguma un godīguma etalonu, sākās un pastiprinājās cepšanās par neskaidrību un noslēpumainību.
Vienlaikus jāsaprot, ka Diena un Dienas bizness netika izprecinātas un bildinātas kā pievilcīgākās meitenes mediju tēvu Bonjeru (Bonnier) ģimenē. Abi mediji nesa zaudējumus un bija nopietni jādomā par to biznesa modeļu maiņu. Kaut vai tādēļ, ka visā pasaulē mainās mediju darbības modeļi – drukātos medijus gan papildina, gan kanibalizē šo informācijas platformu pāreja uz internetu. Veiksmīgs piemērs – zviedru Dagens Nyheter godalgotais un populārais dn.se.
No otras puses, ir bezmaksas projekti, kurus sāk apšaubīt un pārformēt. Nesen paziņots, ka daļu bezmaksas Economist.com saturu piedāvās tikai žurnāla vai portāla abonentiem. Arī citi runā par zināma satura pārdošanu par mikromaksājumiem, bet vēl citi apgalvo, ka maksāt desmit centus par 600 vārdus garu rakstu vai piecu minūšu video ir smieklīgi.
Par šādām lietām arī noteikti bija pārrunas un strīdi un viena vai otra modeļa aizstāvji jutās izaicināti vai apdraudēti. Zinu, ka Dienā jau pirms pārdošanas procesa sākšanās bija domstarpības un personāla maiņas sakarā ar avīzes elektroniskās “ sejas” turpmāko attīstību.
Visu šo diskusiju (vai ne-diskusiju) un procesu notikšana vienlaicīgi, visticamāk, radīja stresu visām iesaistitajām pusēm. Lietas arī paildzināja – ja var ticēt neoficiālai informācijai – K. Norberga iekļūšana (auto?) avārijā, kas viņu uz ilgāku laiku izsita no spēles. Par to, ko kopš vasaras Dienas iekšienē darījis A. Tralmaks nezinu, bet acīmredzot viņš tur atgriezās kā pretrunīgs “ savējais” ar priekšvēsturi no strādāšanas Dienā.

Arī “pēdējam cietoksnim” būtu bijis jāmainās
Dienas aizejošā redakcijas vadība, iespējams, arī dzīvoja nelielā murgosfērā lite, sevi lielā mērā pamatoti, bet, iespējams, uz citu faktoru fona tomēr pārspīlēti turot par zināmu žurnālistikas standartu pēdējo cietoksni. Protams, ka jebkuram medijam ticamība un integritāte ir ļoti svarīgi tā ilgtspējas elementi. Pat Vakara Tenku lasītāji būs vīlušies, ja izrādīsies pilnīga nepatiesība, ka florbolistam un krodziņu lauvam Benam Bambālim bijis romāns ar dejotāju Barbaru Pupenieci. Tomēr visi mediji, kurus nesponsorē kāda labdarības organizācija, konfesija vai valsts ir biznesi, kam saprātīgā veidā jāpielāgojas tirgus pieprasījumam.
Viena no Dienas problēmām, iespējams, bija samierināties savā prātā ar to, ka būs jānokāpj nedaudz no kalna, kurā dievi akmens plāksnēs gravē žurnālistikas baušļus, vienlaikus nepiebiedrojoties plebejisko mediju dejām ap zelta teļu. Tas nenozīmē ka medijos pārstāstītais it kā A. Tralmaka biznesa modelis samazināt Dienu (resp. Dienas izmaksas) uz pusi bija reāls un pieņemams risinājums. Un it kā viņa teiktais, ka kvalitatīva žurnālistika nav ilgtspējīgs bizness arī būtu kvalificējams – nav ilgtspējīgs masu tirgum. Cits jautājums par elitāru, mazu izmaksu un mazas drukātas tirāžas un ierobežotas interneta auditorijas informācijas un viedokļu platformu (kuru 20. gadsimtā sauca par avīzi). Iespējams, ka kaut kas tāds radīsies, teiksim, Rīgas Laiks with News stilā veidotā Citā Dienā.

Nav jau noticis trakākais (?)
Bet kādas tad ir Dienas īpašnieku epopejas beigas? Tāds kā nothing special, ja atfiltrē visas ar nedaudz melnā humora piegaršu epizodes (Skype dibinātāji, WTF?, Aleksandr!) un ASV lielo korporatīvo atlaišanu imitācijas– ar atlaisto/atlūgušo tūlītēju eskortēšanu no darba vietas apsardzes pavadībā un citām drāmām. Nu izrādās, ka avīzes, visticamāk, pieder fondam kur riska kapitālists un avantūristiskais investors Džonatans Rouland (Jonathan Rowland) iegrūdis sākumā aizdoto (Kalles un Sašas izgaunerēto) naudu. No skapja nav izkritis ne Lembergs, ne Šķēle, ne krievu naudas/laimes lācis. Murgus, ka Roulandus, kam ir sava 700 miljonu mārciņu ģimenes bagātība, salīdzis kāds tumšais spēks varam arī mest pie malas. Tādos prātuļojumos sāk izpausties murgosfēras pieņēmums, ka Latvija un avīze, kuras tirāža nepārsniedz kādas ASV lauku pilsētas avīzes tirāžu, būtu vērts visādos bizantīniskos darījumos iepīt šos angļu bagātniekus.
Tāpat Delfi komentāru gudrinieku prātojumus – kādēļ pērk zaudējumus nesošus uzņēmumus, gan jau kas… arī varam norakstīt kā daļu no murgosfēras. Ja mazliet paskatās kas rakstīts par Dž. Roulanda kā finansista darbības mērķiem – tie ir pirkt lielās grūtībās nonākušus uzņēmumus, tos sakārtot un tādējādi nopelnīt vēl lielāku bagātību. Galu galā, nopērkot a/s Skrandumaiss par 1 LVL par akciju un pacelt tā vērtību (pārvēršot zaudējumus peļņā) uz 100 LVL par akciju ir daudz ienesīgāk, nekā (un šī ir izdomātā cena) pirkt superveiksmīgo Apple par 1000 un pārdot par 1025. Ar šādu investīciju un biznesa modeli – gan ar augstu risku – nodarbojas daudzviet pasaulē, kādēļ arī ne šeit?
Labā ziņa par Dienu, kas diemžēl izpalika un kuru nekad nedzirdēsim ir – avīzi nopirka bagāts brits, kuram interesē atpelnīt XX % uz savas investīcijas N gados. Viņš mūsu lietās nemaisīsies, bet, lai sasniegtu mērķi, ir jāstrādā krietni efektīvāk izmaksu ziņā un jāpaplašina mērķauditorija, taču bez ekscesiem. Kas un kā, lielā mērā mūsu rokās. Un tad viss vienkārši rullētu…ja šādas lietas nekārtotu murgosfērā.

SoFly Photo of the day-Good Morning Amerika and My Baby!

2009-10-13T06:23:00.000-07:00

There is somebody who i miss very much.
My Baby:) She already is "big girl" and doing good in college, but i miss her anyway.
Anete, i'm drinking coffee from your cup every morning :)!

Missing my already grown up kids makes me think - how girls can leave baby's and go away for a couple month just to be together with a man...with the man what you even do not love. The man who is just a "girls hope for better life". And i would say it is not just one girl....it spreads like in flue.
Really we are gone so far that we do not care about morals and love and kids? Just a money?

My hot Roomate :)

2009-10-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

photo of yesterday (i'm always day behind )

2009-10-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

My very sexy coworkers and friends

SoFly - photo of the day- green again

2009-10-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

Tips for Greener Photography: Shipping

By Jessica Riehl

Most of us underestimate the impact of shipping our products and supplies. Did you know that components of photographic products are often shipped multiple times before they are assembled? Did you know that air shipping is the most carbon-intensive form of shipping? From Yvon Chouinard’s book “Let My People go Surfing,” here are a few statistics on generic energy costs to ship per ton:

Rail or boat: 400 BTUs per ton mile
Truck: 3,300 BTUs per ton mile
Air Cargo: 21,760 BTUs per ton mile
Air Cargo uses 6.5 times more fuel than shipping by ground.

We should not only ask questions about where things come from, but how they are shipped as well. As Elisabeth Rosenthal reported for The New York Times, “Under longstanding trade agreements, fuel for international freight carried by sea and air is not taxed” (Elisabeth Rosenthal, "Putting Pollution on Grocery Bills," The New York Times). In other words, no one is paying the environmental cost of shipping.

What can you do to reduce the impact of shipping?

• Build the extra time into your workflow to use ground shipping and inform your clients of the ecological benefits.

• Recycle your print boxes and sheets of cardboard used to protect your photographs. Cardboard sheets can be donated to art classes. Most local shipping stores will take your old packing peanuts and reuse them.

• Consolidate your orders. By ordering once a week or every two weeks you will reduce the number of boxes you receive and the number of trips a shipping carrier will make to your door.

• Reuse your packing materials such as peanuts and air bags. You can also shred old papers for a colorful alternative to buying peanuts.

• Utilize the home or studio pickup service provided by many shipping carriers. One less trip to the post office will save fuel.

• Support companies that are changing the way they do business. For example, use United States Postal Service priority mail boxes instead of other services. According to the USPS website, they are the only company which holds a Cradle to Cradle certification for their packaging. Cradle to cradle ensures all products of the manufacturing process are recycled, reused, composted or consumed. USPS also owns the largest fleet of alternative fuel vehicles in the country, and they already stop by your home or business every day.

• Use water-activated recycled gum tape instead of other types of adhesive. For more information go to Provincial Papers.

• Using the right sized box to ship in will reduce the amount of money you pay for shipping and the amount of packaging needed for your product.

• Let your clients know about the actions you take to reduce your shipping impact. Make a stamp or sticker to put on your boxes, letting your client know up front you reduce your impact on the environment by using ground shipping and recycling your packaging materials.

This is repost from Professional Photographers magazine

soFly Photo of the day - Just ashtray

2009-10-08T18:28:00.000-07:00

Did you know that ashtrays could me piece of art?

This one is.

actually all Ritzenhoffs ashtrays are, but this one particular is by German artist Thomas Marutschke.

I'm slowly entering exiting cigar accessory world.

SoFly Photo of the day

2009-10-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

yes, i know with my schedule it is hard to follow this contests rules, but even i skipped 1 day again....i will still do posts every day. soo...photo of the day today...sneak peak of night shoot

SoFly Photo of the day - Sunny Lunch time

2009-10-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

I was visiting my country for 2 weeks in september..during that time a lot of good and bad things happened.

Good ones-

i met my friends and had liquid cakes every day
i photographed my friends wedding
i found new friends
i found peace with the friend who stole my husband
i found peace with my new status

Bad things......

food was so great that my new jeans does not fit anymore
now i miss Latvian food again

GUESS (not the brand :)) what i'm doing again?

Right :) i'm on diet :)

nothing new ...will report results at end not start numbers

This was my lunch. Tasty and healthy....

i'm late for yesturdays post...but i was closing store...please forgive me

2009-10-05T21:26:00.001-07:00

i'm late for yesterdays post...but i was closing store...please forgive me

and now pic of the day

SoFly Photo of the day 3 - cars cars cars

2009-10-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

I went to old car show by my house ....and this is what i found..ssssoooooooooo cute

2 nd day photo of the day So Fly, John The Piano Man at Angry Moon Cigars

2009-10-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

i know i skipped 1 day in this competition, but i worked all day and came home 3 am next day....please forgive me:) i will post today twice..Please

SoFly Photo-a-day - Living Green

2009-10-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

OK. Let's start!!!!

SoFly Photo-a-day.

Every day i will post one photo of my life. Isn't that exiting?

Then years later i can look back and see how silly it was :)

So.........This is SoFly groups competition

Dear Friends, i need your help!!!!!

I can win gift card from H&M!!!!!!

If i get most comments on posts in this competition

You know what you have to do?....COMENT, COMENT and COMENT

I think i deserve some shopping spree. Don't you?

I promise to post only important things, not photos of my broken toe nail or neighbors car crashed in the wall or lizard smashed on walkway.

And stories will be shorter then todays.

Todays photo is Living and working Green.

As some of you already know i'm recycle freak, i use recycled paper for my paperwork, share files online instead of CD's (when ever customer agrees with it), use energy saving bulbs, i do not buy water in the plastic bottles and have my reusable bags when i do grocery shopping,i recycle ink cartridges etc etc. Ha...what else - I try to support local farmers. Need help in this from Florida locals :)

Now i have tomato plants, sweet pepper, parsley, dill, basil on my balcony.

Actually were i'm going with this is

- finally i'm announcing myself as a green photographer!

girls and baby's

2009-09-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

yesterday was great night....girls and 2 adorable gentlemen's were having good time....

the Day:)

2009-09-20T11:05:00.001-07:00

symbols, love and apples

2009-09-10T09:13:00.001-07:00

symbols and love...

we all have some secret symbols or signs for goood luck, love, money etc etc...not all of us are brave enough to admit it and they are kept in the dark closets, deep pockets, cardbord boxes or drowers. Un you take them out only when nobody can see it. today i will take one of them out...

Apple!

For me apple allways was something special..-

Apple a Day to keep doctor away. my ex boss was doctor. Did not help, he shower up every day, but appple did not lose its magical meaning for me. May be Doctor was not real, not my apples magical abilities.

In my college times it was - sweet smell of home. My father always packed apples in "food bag" what i took with me to the dorm.

Then there is my grandma sitting in the kitchen and preparing apples for winter.It brings me back to feelings of security and endless happiness.

Starting my wedding photographers carrier i did one of my favorite ring shots "rings on an apple"...after these years it is still symbol and sign for me. It is still in my portfolio as my favorite Shoot.

Last MY "apple shoot" was done in Latvia..again carries a lot of meanings.

Apple from the fathers home, something what we as a kids always had in the pocket or backpack entering the big, scary world "school" .

In this shoot they had 2 apples. Symbolic? ...not like in the Eden's garden, were just Eve was the one who had The Apple..now they both have apples and they are equal. Nobody to blame if they will be forced out from Paradise.

And these apples were from brides fathers home....i picked them up shortly before she entered into big scary merid peoples world. Let's these apples keep all bad things and feelings away from you! The sun what they accumulated during the summer will always be with you the same as grovers thoughts and endless love.

My wish is- J and D, keep and cherish your symbols and love and please stay in your Eden's garden for ever!

i'm back :)

2009-09-08T06:01:00.000-07:00

wedding at Kuksu estate

2009-09-08T03:54:00.001-07:00

I LOVE MY FRIENDS!

2009-08-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

nothing special...i just want to say-

I love my friends! They are the best!

Boudoir with Inga

2009-07-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterdays session...

i would like to thank John and Candice for the creative Union/collaboration...

Thanks Inga for being so strong and being able to work all day.

It was long day, but we accomplished a lot.

Topic of the Day - Beauty sometimes is in diversity...

This is my new way to different boudoir..

first try..in busy day

2009-07-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

next paper dress

2009-07-28T06:55:00.000-07:00

i'm so excited...3 paper dress sessions are done and i'm preparing for next one..this will be dedicated to Twiggy. I love her..i love that time. I think i'm born to late. I should be living in 70 and 80 ties. look for updates

Paper Dress Sunrise Session

2009-07-23T17:35:00.000-07:00

one more ringshot

2009-07-18T22:22:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite shots at every wedding is ring shots, but this is favorite of my favorites.

Chicago wedding photographers night shoot

2009-07-15T16:48:00.000-07:00

Urban wedding sneak peak

2009-07-13T15:12:00.000-07:00

rings

2009-07-06T18:33:00.001-07:00

Wedding ring shoots are my passion...and each wedding my ring shots are different, just because each of my couples are different and special for me.

The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity.
It is an outward sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two hearts in endless love.

Rings in general have a deeply rooted magical significance. Enchanted rings figure in many ancient folk tales.

Incantations and spells for the protection of the wearer of rings are common motifs.

Today, in traditional religious ceremonies, Christian and otherwise, the wedding rings are blessed by a minister or priest, thus continuing the symbolic practice of imbuing rings with protective powers.

Wedding rings have most commonly been worn on the third finger of the left hand. Speculation has it that this is because the Romans believed that a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart. An alternate suggestion for this tradition is that each finger on the hand is associated with a planet in the ancient systems of astrology, and the ring finger of the left hand was associated with the Sun. In this way, the wearing of a wedding ring on that finger signifies the public proclamation of the union in the daylight, in other words, the conscious and clearly visible world of human community. This correspondence is perhaps even more strongly emphasized by the general tendency to craft wedding rings out of gold, which is symbolically the metal of the Sun throughout folk history and across cultures.

The main thing to remember is that wedding rings can be found to match your style and desires. Anything that can't be found can be custom made. You may want to go with the traditional design choices, but if not, then you can choose from a huge variety of metals and stones.

something from mexico wedding

2009-06-29T06:35:00.001-07:00

something from Mexico wedding.......
more will follow........
thank you Jen and Brian for everything...
i hope you got great flight back home.

Midsummer Celebration

2009-06-24T11:12:00.001-07:00

yesterday was THE biggest day in Latvian calendar- Ligo svetki.
Midsummer celebration - tradition what we as a nation were able to keep and celebrate even at Soviet times.
I had some piragi, platsmaizes and rosols and great times.
Thank you friends! This probably was last time when i celebrated ligo with this group of people.
I will miss you all!
But can always visit me and instead of daisies and oak make vainagus from palm leaves :)

Prieciigus Jaanjus!

Yesturdays Potluck Dinner Chicago West Side

2009-06-23T16:53:00.001-07:00

Kate and money

2009-06-22T22:57:00.000-07:00

Big question ...

2009-06-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

After seeing this shot one of my friends asked me - I wonder if a picture of wedding rings laid over a pre-nuptial agreement would make it through to fame:)

hmmm i will keep this idea in my mind when i will be shooting my ex husbands wedding :)

Goran Bregovic at Ravinia

2009-06-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

It was long dreamed dream, since i saw Kustorica's movie "Underground" after it ...... "White Cat, Black Cat" and then "Arizona Dreams", to see Goran Bregovic and wedding and funeral orchestra in live. It was worth to wait :) Concert was great. And what i loved most about this event - was public. So diverse! Not regular Ravinia Concert listeners. A lot of very free and interesting people.
And wery friendly....i got so many strangers who supported my paparazzi style photography:)
(small cameras were allowed, but not DSLR's..what is funny. some of the little ones has zooms too )

Man becomes what he think about

2009-06-18T19:35:00.000-07:00

Man becomes what he think about

my ISO 2000 notes at Dane Sanders presentation 06/15/09

2009-06-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

Key Largo Wedding Day!

2009-06-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

getting ready for tomorrow!

2009-06-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

Belly shots

2009-06-07T13:27:00.001-07:00

Kill Bill and Kung Fu star David Carradine has been found dead in a Bangkok hotel

2009-06-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

Kill Bill and Kung Fu star David Carradine has been found dead in a Bangkok hotel room, BBC correspondent Jonathan Head has reported.

The 72-year-old was in Thailand filming his latest film Stretch, according to his personal manager Chuck Binder.

Mr Binder said the news was "shocking", adding: "He was full of life, always wanting to work... a great person."

I still love him.

RIP David!

Thank you S & G!

2009-05-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

Today i had great family session followed after short, sweet ceremony.
S& G i really enjoyed all your family members and this was a great session.
Thank you! Looking forward to Sunday!

Last seasons sample slide show

2009-05-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

Chicago Skyline

2009-05-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite views right after Seattle's skyline...Chicago Skyline at night.
Please pay attention to the sign on one of Buildings.
Go Hawks!

she

2009-05-15T21:44:00.000-07:00

She

2009-05-15T18:36:00.001-07:00

Another great session...thank you girls!

Happy Mothers Day!

2009-05-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

bye bye Florida....just for couple weeks :)

2009-05-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

going Home!
i'm leaving sunny state Florida for couple weeks, but i will be back soon.
I love you all and miss you a lot.
Looking forwaerd to scheduled boudoir sessions... i have great ideas for it. Check out later for pics

little teaser from saturday's wedding

2009-05-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

Ft. Lauderdale. Engagement session

2009-05-04T06:28:00.001-07:00

I had engagement session at Ft. Lauderdale followed with bridal dress hunting later at Sawgrass Mall. What a day!

My mondays SEO test worked. Sory about confusion!

2009-04-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

I could not understand what is going on. Why my friends are calling me and asking how i'm doing and is everithing ok with me. Then finaly i found out why:) Couple days ago, after listening some of the SEO audio books, i did test post here - 3 years old excerpt from my diary updated with a hidden key words to test how the google search and tweeter links works. I mixed in it popular Alice Coopers song title and some Qutation about love, to see what keywords will be picked up bu google search. It worked.

Visitor rate went up 300%. Now i know what to do to get more trafic to my site.

Sory to the ones who got confused with post and thank you my friends who called me and asked are i'm ok.

I love you all. :)

For everybody - I'm ok.

I'm exited about tomorrows engagement session will post some shoots on friday.

More info about falied State Latvia.

2009-04-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

One of my friends journalist still living in Latvia article about Latvia EU un real situation today.

I admire his stright forward style without any sugar coating.

I promised my American friends time by time inform them about my country and there we go - lets start with Juris Kazha article from his blog.

Please tonight do not forget to wach movie filmed in Riga, mentioned in my prevoiuis blog post.

There was a theme in my earlier post that should be expanded upon. It will soon be five years since Latvia joined the European Union (EU) and there will be various assessments of the impact of EU membership.

I believe the most dramatic and, perhaps, underrated impact of EU membership is an aspect of free movement of people that is little discussed. We often view this freedom as one to study or temporarily work (for experience or better pay) in another EU country, or, for some, to set up a business in another country. But, in fact, free movement allows EU citizens not only to move for economic or academic reasons, but also to make a real choice of governance and of social environment.

It is clear that in many countries, the level of government efficiency, responsiveness to its citizens, general transparency and lack of corruption differs significantly from Latvia. In many countries, governments may not be very pleased with criticism directed against them, but they don’t label their citizens “yappers” (vaukšķi). They try to respond to criticism because they realize that, ultimately, the critics are the people who “hire” them to run the country with their tax money. They are public servants, like it or not. In Latvia, the ruling elite has been a class unto itself, convinced beyond argument of endless “fat years” or of their own abilities as bulldozers or space shuttles.

I won’t mention the government of Valdis Dombrovskis here, because I think he was put iin as a fall guy or is the first officer of the Titantic, kindly asked by the captain to “take over the bridge” just as the floor starts to tilt a little. His role is to go down with a ship that can’t be rescued any more.

Beside the arrogance and state-capture corruption (dozens of seats on state-company boards for “our own people”/savējiem, though now some are being liquidated), Latvia also shows a high degree of societal degeneration. It can be seen on the streets -- staggering drunks, rude, brutal public transport wardens, nervous, morose, despondent or anger-ravaged faces everywhere. A sight seldom seen in other European countries, even Scandinavia, where public displays of moods or emotions are muted.

For many ethnic Latvians, there is also a certain discomfort from the cruder aspects of the Russian population -- the swaggering, shave-headed, running-outfit clad lumpenproletarians/urlas that one sees, especially in the Soviet-era housing areas of Riga. Behaviorally, these people are like the inhabitants of an American ghetto -- diminished work ethic, substance abuse, aggressive and crude behavior.

Given the choice of going somewhere where these problems are not present, and paying only the price of having to use another language at work and daily life outside the home (most likely English), it is perfectly logical that increasing numbers of Latvians are “giving up” on their own country and choosing places with a better (though far from perfect) system of governance and social environment.

Another facilitator of what I call governance/social environment choice may actually have been brought to Latvia by the “Bulldozer”, former Minister of Transport Ainārs Šlesers -- namely, the low-cost airlines led by Ryanair. These make “virtual emigration” possible and relatively painless. In other words, Latvians can live under better governance and in better social environments without losing contact with the essentials of what was important or good for them in Latvia. Within a couple of hours, anyone can fly in from Ireland, Britain or elsewhere in Europe to visit family, friends, favorite places. With fast internet connections, video links and Skype, “real virtual” presence is possible as well.

So we have a phenomenon of as yet not consciously self-contained Latvian communities growing across Europe (in Ireland, Great Britain, eventually elsewhere), communities, which like the one in Ireland, where only a few hundred of some 20 000 Latvians voted in the 2006 Latvian elections. This is a definite sign of political alienation, whatever other ties they may maintain with Latvia. Moreover, these communities are self-selected (people decided to emigrate, they didn’t flee like the post-war Latvian emigres) and consist largely of people with the ambition, skills and self-confidence to start a new life in a new country. In one sense, a bleed-off of Latvia’s potential, on the other hand, an inevitable result of state/societal failure combined with unprecedented opportunities for choice of governance and ease of transport and communication.

Movie filmed in my hometown

2009-04-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

Movie about brave female Shindler
filmed in my home town Riga
more info and Schedule here

paper dress 5

2009-04-14T18:52:00.000-07:00

kids photos

2009-04-13T22:17:00.000-07:00

paper dress 3

2009-04-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

cost of photography

2009-04-08T18:39:00.000-07:00

One of my fellow photographers wrote great article and would love to repost it here

Why are Professional Photographers so expensive?

In this digital age where everyone has digital cameras, scanners and home "photo printers", when people upload their photos to a local drug store website and pick them up a few hours later, we hear this all the time - How in the world do Professional Photographers charge $55 (actually more then what I charge) for an 8x10 when they cost just $1.50 at the drug store?

Here's why.

Simply put, you're not just paying for the actual photograph, you're paying for time and expertise. First, let's look at the actual time involved. If you don't read this entire page, at least read this first part.

For a two hour portrait session:

- one hour of travel to and from the session
- two hours of shooting
- 30 minutes of setup, preparation, talking to the client etc.
- 30 minutes to load the photos onto a computer (2 - 4 Gb of data)
- 30 minutes to back up the files on an external drive
- 3 - 4 hours of Photoshop time including cropping, contrast, color, sharpening, saving a copy for print and a copy for the internet and backing up the edited photographs
- 2 - 3 hours to talk to the client, answer questions, receive their order and payment, order their prints, receive and verify prints, package prints, schedule shipment and drop package off at Fed Ex.
- For local customers, we also print a set of all of their photos, and meet them at our studio to review the photos and place their order. Meeting and travel time averages 2 hours.

You can see how one two hour session easily turns into more than ten hours of work from start to finish. So when you see a Photographer charging a $200 session fee for a two hour photo shoot, you are not paying them $100 / hour.

For an eight hour wedding:

- I won't bore you with the details, but an eight hour wedding typically amounts to at least two to three full 40 hour work weeks worth of time. Again, if they are charging you $4,000 for an eight hour wedding, you are not paying them $500 / hour.

Now for the expertise.

Shooting professional photography is a skill, acquired through years of experience. Even though a quality camera now costs under $2,000 taking professional portraits involves much more than a nice camera.

Most Professional Photographers take years to go from buying their first decent camera to making money with their photography. In addition to learning how to use the camera itself, there is a mountain of other equipment involved, as well as numerous software programs used to edit and print photographs, run a website etc.

And let's not forget that you actually have to have people skills, be able to communicate, make people comfortable in front of the camera - and posing people to make them look their best in a photograph is a skill all by itself.

Think of it this way - the next time you pay $X to get your hair done, a pair of scissors only costs $1.50. But you gladly pay a lot more to hire a Professional.

What about the cheap studios at the mall?

Please don't compare us to the chain store studios. But if you must, consider all of the time and work that we put into our photographs, compared to what they do. Good luck getting a two hour photo shoot at a chain store. Not to mention they won't come to the beach! And of course, look at our work compared to theirs. You get what you pay for.

The truth is, most of the mall and chain store studios lose money. In fact, in 2007 Wal-Mart closed 500 of their portrait studios because of the financial drain they were putting on the company. What the chain stores bet on is that you'll come in for some quick and cheap photos, and while you're there, you'll also spend $200 on other things. They don't have to make money, they are just there to get you in the door.

Conclusion

We hope that those who have taken the time to read this page will have a better understanding of why professional photographs cost so much more than the ones that you get from your local drug store.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Original post

Last minute discounts for Senior Pictures...

2009-04-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

Last minute discounts for Senior Pictures...
your graduation is next door but you still do not have your senior pictures taken
Do not worry .....from April 24 till May 1st i'm offering BIG discount.
Just 100 USD per 2 hour session
(unlimited outfit changes).
Let me know if you are interested!!!!

new album

2009-04-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

got my work sample album today.

Dreaming of sunny Florida weddings? Whether on the beach or at a resort .

2009-04-02T19:36:00.000-07:00

Dreaming of sunny Florida weddings? Whether on the beach or at a resort .

Formal or barefoot beach wedding…..?
You can really make a destination wedding anything you want, from a simple ceremony between the two of you, to a small ceremony in a romantic destination with family and a few friends, to a more elaborate, large destination wedding with extended family and many friends or just two of you on the cruise.

A destination wedding may be just the way to get away from tradition. While formal weddings hold meaning for many couples, others want the experience to be unique, with a ceremony and location that reflect their true colors. Without the restrictions of a traditional wedding in a traditional location, like your hometown or the place where you grew up, you will feel freer to make your own rules. You can even set up ceremony place in the middle of nowhere….. jungle or top of the mountain or even in oasis in the middle of desert….this is your very special day and let the location be the place were you can return on your anniversary over and over in years.

But even when you plan your wedding to be far way from hometown don't underestimate the importance of fashion. Your wedding gown should say a lot about you -- and your wedding's -- style.

If you’re planning to have your ceremony out in the sun, you’ll want to consider fabrics such as chiffon, silk, and charmeuse as well as shapes that will help keep you cool. Make sure your fabrics are natural and breathable. And you’ll definitely want to opt for flats or sandals, unless you create a firm walkway over the sand. If your aisle is sand, stay away from gowns with heavy trains, so you don’t carve a wake as you walk down the aisle.
With beach weddings and honeymoons becoming so popular, so are the "Just Married" flip flops which leave "Just Married" impressions in the sand and Sunglasses with our "Just Married" print are a great gift for anyone in the wedding party. A beach wedding wouldn't be the same without something to keep the sun out of your eyes!
Enjoy your very special day and Florida’s sun!

Weddings on the Florida beaches are among the most popular destination weddings in US.

"Best Places to Get Married" according to an MSN "best of" series:

Central Park - New York, N.Y.
Chapel of Love - Bloomington, Minn.
Columbia Gorge Hotel - Hood River Oregon
Disneyland - Anaheim, Calif.
Empire State Building - New York, N.Y.
Graceland Wedding Chapel - Las Vegas
Little Church of the West Wedding Chapel - Las Vegas, Nev.
Palace of Fine Arts - San Francisco.
Philadelphia Zoo - Philadelphia, Pa.
Westin Beach Resort - Key Largo Fla.

20 days

2009-04-02T12:04:00.000-07:00

just 20 days and i'm back in Florida!
I LOVE it!

Adobe stocks are in danger today

2009-04-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

as a graphic designer i'm very interested in the new product what looked as a real trouble for adobe corporation ...take a look - they really are good ...i think Adobe stocks are in danger today.

http://aviary.com/blog/posts/aviary-launches-crane-paper-editor