WELCOME TO

ActionPhotos by Marianne

Serving the Figure Skating, Performance Arts
and Sports Communities of the Pacific Northwest

Redefining Action Photography

• As an adult figure skater, I am well aware of the extraordinary commitment you are making, and the challenges you face daily in your sport.  You have spent years of diligent and determined effort to learn your skills.  You deserve an action photographer who shares your zeal and dedication, and consistently produces the finest action photos obtainable with today's most capable cameras.  It's time to leave behind yesterday's standards, and take action photography to the next level. 
• My approach makes extensive use of the fast-burst capability of modern professional cameras, and with my experience of over 1,000,000 frames taken with current-technology equipment, you can be assured of optimal results.  Spins, jumps, flying camels, spectacular death drops and more are captured at a rate of at least 8 frames per second, allowing you to study the full detail of your technique.  The examples shown on this page are truly representative of the results you can expect to receive. 
• Because this ambitious style of photography will typically produce about five times more frames, your complete photo set is delivered to you on recordable CD or DVD.  This also frees you from painstakingly sorting through your photos to identify the favorite few you would like to take home.  From your CD, you have the freedom to print photos at any time that is most convenient for you. 

Photo Ordering

• Simply contact me by email, mail or phone to place an order, stating the name of the competition, the athlete's name and your mailing address.  Your CD will be mailed as soon as your payment arrives (use the PO Box address below to send payment; checks payable to Marianne Oelund).  Full photo sets are delivered on data CD or DVD, by mail, or in person if you are local to me.  Please add $2 shipping for each order to be mailed. 
• Each CD includes all of your photos from one competition, regardless of the number of events that you participated in.  CD prices are listed here, by competition.  Payment must be by mail or PayPal (my user name is the email address shown below). 

Photo Archiving and Viewing

• All photos taken are permanently archived, and remain available long-term for purchase or replacement. 
• Storage is private and secure, on a computer system that is never connected to the world wide web. 
• For assistance viewing the photos on your CD, please see the Irfanview tips here. 
• Photos are not generally posted for viewing on this web site.  This is due to privacy considerations, and the huge storage requirement and excessive upload/download times involved in transferring tens or hundreds of megabytes of data.  At your request, specific photos or a composite photo file can be temporarily posted here in a private directory for access by family and friends.  Please contact me by email if you are interested in this service.
• If you would like to view a few samples of your photos, I can email these to you; note that these will be reduced size, and may be cropped.  Simply send me a request by email, and you will receive them by return email.  Past photos are also available for viewing on my system when it is set up at events or competitions. 

Events Completed

If you've been skating at competitions in the Portland-Seattle area, there is a good chance that I have pictures on file for you!  Have a look at the athlete lists to find out what's available.  Major events over the last year include Ice Fest, Bremerton Open, NW DanceSport Championships, Portland Summer Open, Bellingham Summer Breeze, Pac. NW Interclub, Sherwood Invitational, Pac. NW Regionals, Ice Crystal Classic and numerous local holiday ice shows.

Upcoming and Recent Events

Prices listed are for CDs picked up in person.  Please add $2 shipping per mailed order.

• Everett Figure Skating Club:  Synchro Exhibition, Jan. 5, 2008.  CD $10. 
• Oregon Skating Council:  USFS Pacific Coast Adult Sectional Championships, March 8-9, 2008.  CD $20-30. 
• Portland Ice Skating Club:  Spring Fest Invitational, April 5-6, 2008.  CD $20. 
• Highland Skating Club:  Blades On Ice, April 26-27, 2008.  CD $20. 
• Seattle Skating Club:  Ice Fest, June 5-7, 2008.  CD $30 ($10 discount if only one program skated). 
• Bremerton Figure Skating Club:  Bremerton Open, June 21-22, 2008.  CD $20. 
• Bellingham Skating Club:  Summer Breeze, June 28, 2008.  CD $20. 
• Washington State Games Figure Skating Competition, July 11-13, 2008.  CD $20. 
• Pacific Northwest Interclub, August 1-3, 2008.  CD $30 ($10 discount if only one program skated). 
• Sherwood FSC:  Third annual invitational, Sep. 5-7, 2008.  CD $20. 
• USA Dance Seattle Chapter:  NW DanceSport Championships, October 25-26, 2008.  CD $20 to $40. 
• Lloyd Center Ice Arena:  Ice Crystal Classic, Nov. 6-9, 2008.  CD $20. 

Scheduling Coverage for Your Event

• If you have an event which you would like me to cover, and which does not conflict with the Upcoming Events listed above, please feel free to contact me for further information. 

Contact

• Email:  This is the fastest way to contact me during normal business hours.

• Cell phone:  425 417-5696
• Post:  Marianne Oelund, PO Box 2232, Redmond, WA  98073.
  Important:  Mail must be addressed to me personally, not to ActionPhotos, or the post office may refuse to deliver it.

Service Provided at Competitions

• At covered competitions, all athletes will be photographed.  It is not necessary to request or pre-order photos before your event. 
• Photos are available for viewing at my networked viewing stations within a few minutes of when your warmup group has finished.  In other words, you can often see your photos even before results are posted for your event. 
• Depending on the competition, photo viewing/ordering may be either self-service, or assisted by volunteers.  When volunteer staff is on hand, you can place an order and receive your CD before you leave the competition venue.  For self-service ordering, I will record your CD and mail it within 1 week of the close of the competition. 

Copyright and Privacy Policy

• CD purchases include copyright privileges for you to print your pictures as you please.  You may make copies of your photo files for backup, or for friends or family, and you may edit your photos as you deem appropriate.  You may submit your photos to publications for printing or other forms of publishing; in this case, I only request that attribution be given to ActionPhotos by Marianne.
• Your privacy is fully respected and honored.  Photo storage is secure, and your photos will not be provided to any other parties for viewing or purchase.  Of course, that means you cannot order photos of other skaters or athletes, unless you have obtained their permission. 

Viewing and Care of Your Photo CDs

• If you use a Windows PC, I heartily recommend Irfanview.  It's fast and easy to use, and is loaded with features for viewing and editing.  It's one of the few viewers that can be set to display your photos right-side-up automatically.  See http://www.irfanview.com for your freeware copy.  Be sure to download the plugins also.  If your CD was recorded by me personally, it will include an Irfanview folder with the software. 
• Since your photos are valuable as a training aid, please do share them with your coach for analysis and commentary. 
• If your CD ever develops defects or incurs damage (or suffers mysterious disappearance), just let me know and I'll send you a replacement. 
• Keep your CD in a cool place away from direct sun - don't leave your CD sitting in a car on sunny days!  Do make backup copies of your favorite photos, on a hard drive or tape.  CD-R media may have a limited lifetime of 2-5 years, depending on the quality of the media, but storage temperature and protection from strong light are the most important factors determining data life on your CD.  DVD-R discs are even more sensitive and must always be kept out of direct sunlight.

Other Services

• Prints are also available, if for any reason you do not wish to make your own prints.  Sizes are:  5x7 bordered or 6x8 borderless, $5 each; 8x10, $10 each; 11x14, $15 each.  Add $5 mailing charge for each order.  Email me to inquire about other sizes, and delivery options. 
• As I have time available to provide them, purchasers of photo CDs may request a few retouched versions of their photos for the purpose of printing enlargements.  Email me with the competition name, athlete's name, file numbers, and the print size that you intend to use (this determines cropping ratio); I will send your retouched files to you by email.  Retouching includes color correction, noise reduction, tone adjustment and cropping.  This service will be complimentary, provided I am not overwhelmed by demand. 

Sincerely,

Marianne Oelund, Photographer
ActionPhotos by Marianne

Last Update:  July 31, 2008.