Rainier Independent Film Festival 2009

From RainierFilmFest.com, for June 12-14, 2009.

The Rainier Independent Film Festival is dedicated to providing true Independent Filmmakers a venue to have their films screened in the tranquil area surrounding Mount Rainier.

Mixing films, workshops and the laid-back setting of the area, this festival is set apart in the fact that it is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with film industry people outside of the hustle and bustle typically associated with the business.

Located in the shadow of Mount Rainier, the Ashford Valley provides the perfect setting for this festival. Our screening venues range from an authentic circular Yurt, an elementary school built in the 1920's with capacity of 400, to an intimate setting in the prestigious Nisqually Lodge. All projection is shown in the latest in digital technology.

Because of the unique location and our understanding that limited funds (if any!) are available to Independent Filmmakers, complimentary lodging will be provided by RIFF to the selected filmmakers in attendance.In addition,

• We will be offering awards such as post-production services and PR - with more as they become locked in.
• We will have a media center for our workshops, seminars and for the filmmakers to promote their projects and mingle with the public (the filmmaker lounge will still be onsite with complimentary drinks!)
• Finally, as always, because of the unique location and our understanding that limited funds (if any!) are available to Independent Filmmakers, complimentary lodging will be provided by RIFF to the selected filmmakers in attendance.

Stay tuned as we create and add to our schedule.

All the Best,
Win Whittaker, RIFF Festival Director

Calculating Sunrise and Sunset for Photographers.

This morning the sun hit my face a little earlier than usual.  Yes, it's because of the fantastic weather we are having here in the Pacific Northwest, but as we all know the days are getting longer already.  This means getting up earlier and earlier to shoot sunrises.... ouch!  A couple of online tools that I use on a regular basis to calculate Astronomical, Nautical, and Civil Twilight, as well as sunrise, sunset and phases of the moon are here.

www.sunrisesunset.com and www.cmpsolv.com/los/sunset.html.

The beginning of civil twilight is when the "color" starts to happen, so I usually arrive at my shooting location during nautical twilight and shoot until sunrise.  Play this scenario in reverse in the evenings. An insiders tip for Mt. Rainier is that because of the huge vertical relief Rainier has in relation to the most of the state, expect the sun to hit the summit 10-15 minutes before official sunrise.  Have fun playing with those online tools and be there when the "show" happens.  I hope to see you on the mountain.

Adam

Climate Friendly Parks.

The two day Climate Friendly Parks workshop held at the Community Center in Mt. Rainier National Park was a huge success. As a member of the public and a business partner with the park, I am very excited to be part of what will certainly be one of the premier models for green operations in the Pacific Northwest!  The details of the two day event are extensive, so I will spare you the details here.  I would, however, like to direct you to a couple of resources listed below.  I also might be able to help steer you to the right park personnel to answer your questions as they arise.

The first web based resource is the "Do Your Part" website of Climate Friendly Parks and the National Parks Conservation Association.  You can visit it at www.doyourpartparks.org. Climate Friendly Parks is the first interactive online program in the country that provides national park visitors and supporters with the tools to understand and reduce their carbon footprints and thereby help to protect our national parks from global warming. Do Your Part! is sponsored by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) in support of the National Park Service’s Climate Friendly Parks program.

Do Your Part!’s interactive mapping feature lets you explore park goals and the progress park stakeholders are making towards those goals. Its carbon calculator provides the tools you need to understand your current carbon footprint and then set goals to reduce your impact. Its tracking tool displays progress in real time towards park and related group goals.

The other online resource for more general and comprehensive information is www.nps.gov/climatefriendlyparks.

Thank you for showing interest in Climate Friendly Parks, and I hope to see you on Mt. Rainier.

Adam

Climate Friendly Parks Workshop, Mt. Rainier National Park

On behalf of the Institute I will be attending the Climate Friendly Parks (CFP) Program this week at Mt. Rainier.  The CFP is a collaboration of the National Park Service and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, to provide national parks with management tools and resources to address climate change. The program aims to provide national parks with comprehensive support to address climate change both within park boundaries and the surrounding community.

The goals of the workshop will be:

•To educate park employees and park partners about climate change/global warming and the
role each can take in addressing the problem.
•To empower every park employee and park partner to serve as communicator—helping the
public understand global warming/climate change, how the park is dealing with it, and the difference that each person can make.
•To provide a framework and ongoing support for actions to communicate both internally and externally about progress and challenges of becoming a Climate Friendly Park.
•To develop a Park Climate Action Plan with concrete emission reduction goals.

If you have any questions about concessioners and CUA holders in Mt Rainier National Park and the CFP, please feel free to contact me.

Adam Angel