Givorgy Kraskoff Photography

Not sure if most of you know, but for those that don’t and those that do should know that schools throughout the nation are in a world of hurt!  Programs are being cut and those that remain have virtually no budgets.  My friend Amanda works at Mt. View Middle School’s Library and they have been given a great fund-raising opportunity. I would love to encourage you to participate, you don’t have to, but why not help out one of our local community schools. This opportunity will be an ongoing…so think about it.

Big Noodle Books has offered this program to Mt. View Middle School as well as many other schools. Click here to link directly to help support Mt. View Middle School. Here you can search for and order virtually any book you might be interested in.  Shipping is $4 per order, whether you order 1 or 100 books!  Mt. View will receive 5% of all book sales through this link (the link provided above) and will receive 20% on featured book fair weeks!  The next book fair will take place June 14-20th. Additional Book Fairs are being considered for mid September, early December, and early March of 2011.

Prices are fairly comparable, and if you feel inclined to buy books online and are willing to do so from somewhere other than Amazon, then I would highly recommend following this link!  Mt. View will greatly benefit from any proceeds. Come and support your community. Thanks for your consideration in this!

Do you ever feel like you just can’t take it anymore? That this life that you are living is just to overwhelming. That you can’t take it and everything is too heavy and just weighing you down. This seems to be, for the lack of better terms, the “funk” that I’m in right now. The last couple of weeks has been me trying to stay above the water. I feel like I am sinking. Every time I get above the surface, I get sucked back down and I sink twice as far below. I’ve been listening to Flyleaf a lot lately. During work, at home, and so on. There’s one particular song that I’ve been listening to, called “I’m So Sick.” In the song Lacey sings the following lyrics: I will break into your thoughts, with what’s written on my heart. I will break, break. I’m so sick, infected with where I live. Let me live without this empty bliss, selfishness. I’m so sick. If you want more of this we can push out, sell out, die out. So you’ll shut up and stay sleeping with my screaming in your itching ears. Here it, I’m screaming it. You’re heeding to it now. Hear it! I’m screaming it! You tremble at this sound. You sink into my clothes and this invasion makes me feel worthless, hopeless, sick. I’m so sick! — This song just really encompasses the way that I’ve been feeling lately. I so sick of myself, the things that I keep on doing, and the way that people make me feel. I am sick of myself and my ways. I need God so desperately. I need him to invade my life and take over. I’m hopeless and worthless without Him. I’m ready to just let Him in and have lose. But at the same time, the thought scares me. I’m a control freak, I don’t like not knowing what’s going to happen and not having control of my life. Unfortunately, this is the only and best way. Who’s hands is it better to have your life in, then His.  Anyway, in the mist of this funk, I went over to the library, and found a tunnel that goes to the other side of the road from the park. Here’s an image of what I captured:
After looking at the photo, it completely reminded how things can seem so bad and you can feel like there’s no hope, but when it really comes down to it, the Lord is always there waiting at the edge of the darkness waiting to bring you out of whatever you are dealing with. Thank God for that, I don’t know what I would do without his love and grace. I am so unworthy, but for some reason he still loves me.

So a couple of months ago, we came across an awesome spot out by the airport. If you walk down far enough, you can actually get the Columbia River and Mt. Hood all in one shot. It’s a cool little park that has water access and a beach. We were just scoping out the place, walked along the water and I took a couple of shots. They ended up turning out all right and I posted them below. We’ll definitely have to go back some time soon and take some photos either early in the morning or in the evening as the sun is setting.

So yesterday, Sean and I went on a little photo adventure in Hillsboro and came across this awesome old school Ford truck, which was parked near the the gravel road we were driving along. We had to get out and take a couple of shots, it was just to freak’n rad to pass up. If you get a moment, don’t forget to stop by Sean’s Musings to check out the awesome pictures he shot. Sean’s a good friend of mine, and he’s become quite the amazing photographer, but he’s too humble to admit it. Any who, below I’ve attached a few other pictures from our little Sunday afternoon photo adventure.

Here’s the rad Ford pickup that we found. I can’t wait to go back when I have a little more time and see what other cool items we can find.

Nice little profile shot of my good friend Sean.

This one is interesting, I love the detail in the stone, but it’s not all over, it’s only in the lower middle portion of the picture.

It never ceases to amaze me how the simplest of things, like wheat grass and a small stream, can be so unique and beautiful.

So I’m extremely stoked. A few weeks ago, I finally got myself the lens I’ve had my eye on for the past three months. I finally got myself a 50mm f/1.8 lens. It’s an awesome little lens; very sharp and easy to use. Considering the fact that I have a D40 and my camera doesn’t support the autofocus mode with this lens, it’s still really easy to use. But that’s not a problem, just an obstacle and I can deal with it, at least for the time being. Plus, isn’t it said that real photographers don’t use autofocus? Any way, below I have attached a few samples of what this little piece of glass is capable of shooting. Enjoy!

This was the center communion table we set up for this year’s Pathways: Good Friday Service, looked great all lit up. The picture doesn’t really do it justice, you had to be there to really appreciate the mood of the night.

Today communities, campuses, organizations, and individuals are banding together to walk barefoot for the One Day Without Shoes event.

A quarter million people have pledged to go barefoot today, to spread awareness about the impact a simple pair of shoes can have on a child’s life. TOMS Shoes is asking people to go the day, part of the day or even just a few minutes, barefoot, to experience first-hand what life without shoes is like, and possibly within the process inspire others at the same time.

I don’t think we realize how hard it is without shoes. Encounters with domestic poverty reminds us to appreciate having food and shelter, but we neglect to think about our feet. Can you imagine a life without shoes? Being constantly aware and reminded of the ground you walk on, suffering through cuts, scrapes, and bruises, having to tend those cuts and scrapes to prevent infection and many times tending to infection after each walk, and not only enduring the terrain, but having to deal with the cold and heat. I couldn’t even fathom that type of life. We are so truly blessed and way to sheltered in the society we live in. We take advantage of the basic conveniences we have and yet we still complain.

If you would like to learn more, and find out how you can participate, visit www.onedaywithoutshoes.com.

One of my favorite things to do when I have some free time is to take a trip on the Max into P-Town. I absolutely hate driving in Portland, that’s primarily one of the main reasons why I usually take the train.  I know a lot of people don’t like public transportation, but I really enjoy the train. I love watching people, and looking at expressions and just paying attention to body language, and the way that people hold themselves and react to others. My last trip, a few weeks ago, I tried to be inconspicuous and take a few pictures of other riders on the train, without them knowing. None of the pictures really turned out. there was this lady that was talking on the phone, and was very expressional. I was really hoping some of my shots would turn out, but no luck. She was on the phone and laughing. There was something about her that was just captivating. I wish some of the pictures I took of her turned out, otherwise I would have posted them. After my ride on the train and a few of the errands I had were finished, I found myself somewhere north of Pioneer Square.  I ended up walking the wrong way. I was trying to hop back onto the Max and head back towards Hillsboro. I kept going west, cause I figured there would be a Max stop at some point, but none turned up until eighteen blocks later. In the meantime, it was a good thing I had my camera along for my little adventure. I took a couple of pictures along the way. I attached one below, I just love the way it depicts the beautiful of the city. This urban city, with bits and pieces of nature’s beauty. I found a cylinder planter filled with daffodils, just surrounded by brick, stone, and roads. So out of place, but yet such a great place to have such a unique item.

As much as wedding’s depress me, I have to say that weddings are such an amazing thing. It’s such a great and biblical way for a couple to announce their commit to God and to each other in front of all of their loved ones.  So, this last weekend, I had the opportunity to go to my cousin’s wedding. It was a beautiful wedding. I’m very grateful that I was able to partake in this celebration with them. I’m honored that they invited me. It’s so encouraging to see a couple that’s so in love with each other and to see that they have a passion for God. That they are striving to live a life that’s centered on God. In the world that we live in, you don’t see that very often, hardly at all anymore. I took a few pictures before my camera died on me. I have to remember to plug it in, the night before a big event like this.

Here’s the wedding party just standing around. I love candid shots.  I was wondering why everyone was just looking around at each other. After the fact, I found out that they were all wondering where the heck Saz, the best man, went off to. Pretty funny stuff.

I love this picture of the bridesmaids. It looks like Ashely is trying to tell the rest of the bridesmaids what to do, and the rest of them are like “umm..no you didn’t!” haha…completely and utterly amazing. Just like Ashley too, love you little cuz.

They definitely picked out an amazing cake. It look gorgeous on the outside and delicious on the inside. It seemed to have some kind of raspberry sauce in the middle. I unfortunately wasn’t able to participate in the tasting of this wonderful creation. Soon though, only a few more months, but that’s a story for another time.

Not as great of a shot as I would have liked, but this gives you a slight idea of the table settings. It does a poor job of depicting what it actually looked like, but you get the idea.

I know, it’s been quite a long time since I’ve added anything to this thing. I keep getting asked, so when are you going to be adding some new content to your blog? And I keep replying with, I know…I know… I need to get on that. It’s just been so crazy. Well, it has, but if I’m being completely honest, that’s just an excuse. I have so many pictures that have been accumulating, and I’ve actually been really slow at getting them posted. They’re just sitting there, slowly filling up my hard drive.

Anyway..moving on. This last weekend, my beautiful sister and I took the train into P-Town for my cousins wedding. Below I’ve attached a couple awesome shots that I managed to capture of her.

More posts to come shortly..keep coming back, even though I’m only really talking to about two or three of you that actually come and check out my page! =)