Autumn Photowalk at Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver

Today is the last nice day we’ll see in Vancouver for a while, so we decided to do a quick photowalk through Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver.

Queen Elizabeth Park opened in 1902 and is the highest point in Vancouver, rising 168 metres above sea-level, overlooking the Vancouver skyline and North Shore Mountains. At the top of the park is the Bloedel Floral Conservatory. SciFi fans may recongize the grounds as settings for many scenes in Stargate SG1, which were filmed here.

Here are some of the better shots from our photowalk:

Driving Through Rogers Pass, BC

Today we drove to Calgary and our trip took us through the beautiful Rogers Pass in British Columbia. We were lucky and didn’t run into any snow on the roads, but we saw plenty on the mountain peaks above.

Here are a few pictures, which I took from the passenger seat of the car (Don’t worry.. I wasn’t photographing and driving):

Project 365: Daily Self-Portraits

My first shot for the 365 Project (Sept 1, 2009)

On September 1 I started the 365 Project. This is where you take a self portrait of yourself, everyday for a year (hence the name “Project 365″).

So each day I will take a self-portrait. Sometimes it will be a headshot, maybe a picture of my pinkie finger, my elbow, or a picture of me on vacation.

Project 365 Rules

There are many ways this project can be done, with differing rules. Here are the rules I am going by:

1. I must take one self-portrait every day from Sept 1, 2009 – Sept 1, 2010
2. I must take the photo myself (handing the camera to someone else is not allowed)
3. I am allowed to set a camera timer, or use my camera remote to take the shot.
4. The photo must contain at least some part of my body (don’t worry, it’ll all be G-rated)
5. Along with each shot, I am allowed one caption of 100 characters or less
6. I don’t have to upload everyday (I can upload them in batches if I don’t have the time to upload each day).
7. To keep things interesting, photoshopping photos will be allowed.

Project 365 Goals

My goal is to have fun. It’ll be a challenge to see if I can do it every day for an entire year, but it sounds like a lot of fun.

I read a tweet last week about someone who printed a book with all their 365 photos, and I want to do the same. I have used a company called VioVio to print photobooks before and I’m impressed by the quality and price.

It’s going to be an exciting year! Is anyone else planning to, or are currently doing their own 365 project?

(Please note that I will not be sharing my 365 Project album publicly. If you are a  friend or family member and would like to follow along with this adventure, please email me and I will tell you how to access it).

WriterGal Uses Flight Centre for Travel Bookings

WriterGal's winning entry in the Flight Centre Photo Contest

A few weeks ago I entered a US Travel Photo contest through Flight Centre. Yesterday morning was the last day of the contest and I was announced as the winner!

I have booked many vacations through Flight Centre including an Intrepid Travel backpacking adventure in Cambodia and Vietnam (through a Sydney, Australia branch), a European cruise and EurRail Pass, and many flights. They always make it easy to book travel.

I’ve found it helpful to do some research before I visiting Flight Centre. Look up information on flights, accommodation, and activities so you can present that to your agent and they can help you either book those, or find similar (or better) ones.

Yes, I recommend Flight Centre to others. Other than using BCAA for the occasional booking, I usually book through Flight Centre.

PS: If you like travel, check out the Flight Centre blog for some exciting stories, news, and adventures.

Vancouver Business Location FAIL

While you sip your Sunday morning coffee, take a look at my first FAIL picture. I’ve driven down this street many times, and the other day I finally took my camera with me to get this shot:

The picture speaks for itself...Business Location FAIL!!

Do you have any local (Vancouver) FAIL pictures to share?

WriterGal Using Social Media to Promote Flight Centre Contest Entry

[Download PDF of this Press Release: Flight Centre US Photo Contest]

Using Social Media to Promote Flight Centre Contest Entry

Vancouver Photographer, WriterGal, Makes Top 15 List For Photo Contest

For Immediate Release

WriterGal's photo in the Flight Centre US Photo Contest

Vancouver BC-August 25, 2009: Yesterday, Vancouver amateur photographer WriterGal (aka Ashley Mikulik) was announced as one of 15 finalists in the Flight Centre US Photo Contest and she will be using her social media networks to promote her entry and get votes.

Her photo of Donald Duck near Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is one of 15 photos that you can vote for in this contest. “The top photo, as voted by you, will walk away with a cool prize pack courtesy of our friends at MOO and earworms and the gang here at Flight Centre,” says the Flight Centre Blog.

“This is the first photo contest I’ve entered and I’m super excited about the response I’ve gotten on day 1 of voting,” says WriterGal, “I know first-hand the power that social networking can have so I’ve been promoting my photo on Twitter, Facebook, my personal blog, and local forums.” She is hoping that the local community, as well as her network of family and friends, can help her win.

Voting will take place on the Flight Centre Blog. Anyone can vote, but you are only allowed 1 vote per IP address, per day. Voting ends on Aug 31.

“I’ve had success promoting through social media sites like Twitter,” says WriterGal, “They are amazing places to connect with new people, share fun websites, and socialize.”

“I’m still somewhat of a newbie at photography, so I’m really excited that I’m a finalist. Hopefully this will encourage other hobbyist photographers. Even people like us can shoot great photos!”

About WriterGal (Ashley Mikulik)

Ashley Mikulik (aka WriterGal) just launched The WriterGal Blog (www.writergal.ca), where she shares her experiences about living in Vancouver as well as marketing, communications, social media, and website tips for small businesses. Ashley is a professional writer, editor, and designer who “dabbles” in photography and videography. She also maintains a Flickr account with her best photos (www.flickr.com/photos/writergal).

Media Contact
Ashley Mikulik
Email: ashley@writergal.ca
Website: www.writergal.ca

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Help 2 Vancouver Photographers win the Flight Centre Photo Contest!

UPDATE: Aug 25 @3:30pm: As of right now I am ranked 3rd in the Flight Centre US Travel Contest. I appreciate all your votes so far, don’t forget to vote for @WriterGal 39 (picture #13…lucky#13) every day!

Hello to all our friends across the globe! Dan and I need your votes in the Flight Centre US Travel Contest. Wouldn’t it be great for 2 fresh, young Vancouver photographers to win this contest?

Three of our photos are in top 15:

Vote for our pictures to help us win the contest!

Why We Want to WIN

We’re both amateur photographers and a win in this contest could give us a little push when we go professional (soon) with our photography. It would be a great boost for ourselves and our future business.

Part of the prize is a $500 travel voucher for US travel. Dan and I are doing a US road trip in September/October and we’d love to use it towards some attractions or nicer accommodation (right now we’re planning to camp most of the way).

If We Win…

If we win, I will blog about all the cool prizes (including whatever trip we take on the voucher). Plus, you know you’ll see some great photos of us using the $500 voucher (all of which will be posted on the WrtierGal Blog, our Flickr accounts, and will be Tweeted on Twitter). I’ll even throw in some video coverage of our adventures!

Please help us win the Flight Centre US Travel Contest!

Please vote for any of our pictures in the contest. The rules state 1 vote per IP address per day.

• Vote for us at home
• Vote for us at work
• Vote for us at Starbucks, Blenz or your favourite coffee bar
• Vote for us on your friends computers.

Then do it all again the next day, please! Voting ends on Aug 31.

Thank you for all your support! Please help 2 Vancouver Photographers win this contest!

Sincerely,

Ashley Mikulik (@WriterGal39), and Dan Doan (@dandoan)