Photograph Story: Eva's Eden

Georgia Snow, a member of the Oneness Foundation in Blaine, Wash., holds her cat in her Ferndale home. The cat, Pearl, is one of seven Snow adopted after fostering the cats.
Currently Snow fosters seven other cats who are awaiting forever homes, she said.
“These are the lucky few, the ones that get to come to a rescue shelter like us,” Snow said.

Georgia Snow watches foster cat Beauty in her Ferndale, Wash., home.
Their foster program takes about 50 cats from a Pasco, Wash., shelter and places the cats in a network of homes that will provide adequate care until the cat can find a forever home.
Snow currently has 14 cats in her home, seven of which are now for adoption.
Beauty was abandoned in a local Motel 6, and would not do well in a shelter because her coat color and attitude, Snow said.
Snow said she saw a change in Beauty after the cat hid under a futon for three weeks.
“I think it’s because the calm atmosphere and they get loved on,” Snow said. “It takes some coaxing.”

Below the Oneness Foundation now resides a colorful sanctuary where the public may view cats for adoption.
After Pastor Sheryl Walker’s young cat fell sick and could not be saved, Walker said she received a message from God.
“God said ‘from death will come life, and Eva’s Eden will be born,’” she said.
Her vision in December quickly transformed as members of the ministry helped build the sanctuary, Walker said.
Eva’s Eden had their grand opening the weekend of March 5.

One cat sits atop a climbing tree in Eva’s Eden, a cat adoption sanctuary below the Oneness Foundation in Blaine, Wash.
The grand opening weekend saw many members of the public, as 12 cats were adopted that weekend alone.
Cats are neutered or spayed, given shots, and rid of fleas and worms while in foster homes, Walker’s mother Georgia Snow, said.

Eva’s Eden saw many people during the grand opening. Andrew Csanyi, 23, visited the sanctuary Saturday, March 5.
Csanyi said he came to the sanctuary because he can play with the cats here.
“This is better than a shelter because I can touch the cat,” Csanyi said. “I love training cats to not bite or scratch.”
Other members of the public visited the sanctuary on opening weekend, which led to 12 adoptions, volunteers said.

Pastor Sheryl Walker of the Oneness Foundation in Blaine, Wash., stands in her ministry’s sanctuary.
The ministry teaches people to honor mother earth, animals and nature through Christ and the teachings of Buddhism, Walker said.
There are currently 140 members of the ministry, all of which were accepted through Walker’s discipleship program.
Walker said she also practices Egyptian alchemy and has plans for a celebration of Bast, the Egyptian god of cats in April.

Reproductive Rights Lobby Day

Lobbyists gathered on the steps of the Capitol for Reproductive Rights lobby day Feb. 28. Organizations such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL bussed lobbyists in from around the state for issues such as funding for Planned Parenthood, disclosure of crisis pregnancy centers and the health care reform.

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#5: Stopping Motion

 

It was all red hands, faces and a Frisbee the night of Feb. 23. Usually they play Dirt, but that night, it was all snow for the men’s ultimate Frisbee team.

Eric Nelson, 20, said that while tournaments may be canceled in inclement weather, the team always practices rain, shine or even snow.

“Usually we play in any kind of condition. If it was raining this hard, we’d be playing too,” Nelson said.

Nelson said the team had no clue the snow would be coming down so hard, but they decided to play anyways. Though practice for the team normally lasts from 9-11, the team dropped the disc early and headed in at 10 p.m.

 For this assigment I had to stop motion. It was really difficult for me to find subjects to photograph since I don't particularly like sports or action photography. Snapping photos of the men's ultimate frisbee team definitely changed my mind though. I loved shooting these guys. Even though the pictures turned out snowy, grainy and dark I had a lot of fun running the field. 

Next time I need to be closer to the subjects, especially when it's dark like last night.

I think I wish I could go back.
Not quite sure.

NSPA

          

          It's funny to think of where I used to be. 

          And where I am now.

          All I remember about this photograph is that the girl has a heart defect which prevents her from participating in any active sports.

          I can't believe this was the Environmental portrait of NSPA 2008.

Boone

      
          Boone, a now two-year-old pitbull waits for his forever home at Metro Animal Shelter in Puyallup, Wash., last year.
          The bully is back at the shelter again this month after being found running along Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, Wash.
          Rigorous screening for potential adopters will be done by officers, volunteers said.

Project #4: Captured Moment

            Christina Lilleston, 15, prepares to throw the ball for her 8-month-old Husky-mix Estraya at the Lake Padden Dog Park. Lilleston was also there with her 17-year-old sister.

“This is our first time here,” Danielle Lilleston said. “She needs to get used to dogs, she’s always scared of them.”

The sisters, who both attend Squalicum High School, have had Estraya since she was a puppy. The dog’s name means star in Spanish, they said. 

For this project, I was to capture raw emotion or a strong relationship. After a few different shoots, I decided to head to the dog park. I think that dogs show the most raw form of emotion whether it be with their ears, eyes or body. I think that since journalism is about stories, it should encompass more than just people, but dogs as well as they often have great tales to tell.

The Road to Portland

I want to travel somewhere again.

This is Oregon.

This guy lived on the streets of Portland, Ore. with his daddy.

Unconditional love

I just want to say that I really miss volunteering.

 

Penny and Pig were a pair of puppies at the Metro Animal Shelter in Puyallup, Wash.  It took them a while to find homes though, as they were pit bulls.  Penny and Pig gave the best kisses though, just like true pibbies.

Project #3: The Environmental Portrait

Bellingham Roller Betties Skate Hard

     Jammer, jammer, jammer!
     It’s heat on the track, the scraping of wheels against slicked wood. Shouts ricochet around the rink.
     During the day, they clean teeth, teach developmentally disabled children and work the average retail job.
     But that all changes at night when they lace up their skates and hit the track.
     Bellingham Roller Betty Mae Q. Sweat, also known as Jessica West, has been with the Betties for two years. She now is captain of her team the Cog Blockers.
     The 26-year-old worked as a dental assistant and provided personalized mouth guards for her team. She said she is now going back to school to become a dental hygienist.
     The mouth guards are essential but so are tactics, she said.
     “We communicate a lot out there,” West said. “Women are never short on words.”
     West will lead the Cog Blockers in a bout against their sister team Tough Love on Feb. 12.

     For the environtmental portait assignment, I was required to photograph someone in their natural setting. I popped over to see the Bellingham Roller Betties during their scrimmage. I have to say that this was the most exciting shoot that I have ever had! The ladies were fantastic on the track and were just lovely to talk to!
      Here are some more pictures from Tuesday.

Project #2: Word On the Street

For this assignment, I was to collect portraits of people who would share a recent happy moment.

Here are the photographs that I captured.

 

Adam Garman, 28, was on Railroad Avenue near the bus station.

“I’m working on a play with the music of Queen,” Garman said. “Everything about that is making me so happy.”

 

Crisha Homan, 25, was walking down Holly Street with her father in the afternoon.

She said being part of the Food Not Bombs project made her the happiest.

“I found out we get to open up a Monday feed in three to four weeks. Everything is piecing together,” Homan said.

Project #1: Disposable Camera

This was my first Journalism 305 project. Students were required to take a disposable camera out and make journalistic photographs.
I used a Kodak with 800 speed film for these photographs.
Western student Rebecca Cunningham, 22, just out of class, reunites with her dog  Gunner on south campus.
Gunner came to live with Cunningham and her boyfriend, Jeremy Jamine, after her sister could no longer care for the dog, she said.
“It’s easier for us to take care of him because our schedule works well,” Cunningham said. “It’s senior year and I have more time. With that commitment, he’s happier.”