Photography Web Design and Maintenance About RAK

Website Design and Maintenance

Something I enjoy: working with HTML and other coding to create and maintain websites.

Something you enjoy: not having to.

Think about how I could help you do what you enjoy. I can create a site fairly inexpensively through several free or inexpensive hosting services - and I can design that site inexpensively for you - and I can keep it up to date with content according to your wishes.

And I'd love doing it.

Make me an offer - what can YOU afford? E-Mail me!

Want some examples of my work?

About Me:

Bicycling for Health, Environment and Fun:

I never expected to become a cyclist. It's something I had only done very recreationally, up until about 3 years ago. I was struggling with being overweight, and had done all the diets, with meager results (I was 230 pounds at my heaviest, and was only able to get down to 200 pounds on diets alone). I could not conquer my weight - until I incorporated exercise into my healthy eating lifestyle.

A simple replacement strategy, of bicycling to work instead of driving, has made all the difference. I was able to drop off an additional 50 pounds through consistent exercise, and today can boast that I have managed to keep that weight off for the last two years.

It is not without struggle, of course... overeating was always my problem, combined with a lack of exercise. So I keep it up, bicycling a minimum of 4.4 miles a day (to and from work). My longest ride so far is 25.3 miles, along a general route down Garner's Ferry Rd to the Hopkins area.

My Route? I have recently read about a route on Fort Jackson called the Big Loop that apparently other bikers have known about before. It's only 16.10 miles, but, by the time I add the miles it would take to get to the Ft. Jackson entrance, it would constitute a 30 mile round trip ride. So I think that's a good goal for me. I plan to try that ride very soon.

My Bicycle? A Trek, City/Trekking Bicycle, recommended to me based upon my bicycling habits by the good folks at Outspokin' Columbia. I am quite satisfied with it - I bought it at Christmas time and have racked up 1500 miles on it thus far. It is comfortable on variable surfaces, and has no special equipment at the moment other than front and rear safety lights.

How is Columbia, SC for riding? I would say Columbia has a tremendous amount of work in order to become "Bicycle Friendly." There is a severe lack of bicycle lanes in this city, and the automobile drivers in this area are severely undereducated. The safest route I have found so far, other than restricting my ride to state parks and neighborhoods, has been the one I described above - Garner's Ferry Rd south of the Lowe's/Wal-Mart has an ample paved shoulder that gives a fair margin between me and motorists - although traffic is fairly high speed along that route (55MPH).

Bicycling Resources:

  • 1 World 2 Wheels - A Trek Community (but not exclusive to Trek owners) that is a movement supported by those who believe the bicycle can be a vehicle for positive change.
  • Map My Ride - provides route information and a personal training log. You can also see routes others are using and find out about group rides - a great resource!
  • Outspokin' Columbia - Where I purchased my Trek - a great store with awesome staff and accessories, gizmos and gadgets to enhance your safety and enjoyment of cycling.

Photography

"Life comes at you fast," they say in those insurance commercials.

The other day I was watching a discovery-channel-type documentary on a guy that spends his days out taking wildlife pictures. Waist deep in beautiful lily-pad-strewn lakes waiting for just the right lighting and shadow for the perfect lily shot - or watching nesting habits of Osprey...

Now that is the life!

I want to spend just a day or two in nature (armed with bug repellant) and just wait for that shot!

Or even better, a day or two in an area crowded with a far more interesting subject - people - and wait for that shot!

They say, in wildlife, the longer you remain in an area, the more the wildlife gets "used to" you, and they begin to behave normally.

This is also true of humans.

If I told you I wanted to take your picture, would you let me? In your natural habitat? Would you let me spend a day or two there, waiting for that perfect shot?

Or perhaps a better question is, would I need the bug repellent?

Seriously: I enjoy taking pictures. Please consider my services to assist you in gathering mementos for your event (parties, ceremonies, etc.) or allowing me to photograph you in a creative setting!

OR - let me attend your event and take tons of pictures - and you keep all copyrights for a flat (and reasonable) fee. You get every picture I take in a digital format, which you can then take to your favorite photo processor and have copies printed to your heart's desire! I don't eat much and I don't get in the way.

I enjoy doing community theatre shows, and to help me remember, I put together this theatre "resume."

Show Name: My Fair Lady (Scott Blanks)
When: September 2006
Where: Town Theatre
Job/Role: Backstage help, some photography work
Comments/Memories: This was my very first experience with community theatre. This was Frank Kiraly's first Columbia show (although he had done theatre in Chicago), and how he got involved was they needed more male ensemble people, and Lyn Olive convinced Frank to come down to the Theatre to try out. Also, where I met Erin Hayley Piepgrass (Eliza Doolittle), Scott Blanks (Professor Henry Higgins), Kyle Collins (Freddy Eynsford-Hill), Danny Harrington (although he doesn't remember this meeting, even though I offered my help with future shows...)

Show Name: Mame (Scott Blanks)
When: September 7-29, 2007
Where: Town Theatre
Job/Role: Lightboard Operator
Comments/Memories: got to work with Sara Blanks, who taught me a great deal about Stage Managing, also met Sydney Mitchell, Charlie Duncan. I learned a lot about lighting during this show, thanks to Danny Harrington.

Show Name: There Goes The Bride (Allison McNeely)
When: November 2-17, 2007
Where: Town Theatre
Job/Role: Properties Manager
Comments/Memories: I worked very hard to find that Soda Siphon and never got a chance to see it work on stage... not that it worked at all, apparently...

Show Name: Dearly Departed (Allison McNeely)
When: January 11-26, 2008
Where: Town Theatre
Job/Role: Stage Manager
Comments/Memories: took this show on the road to The Dillon County Theatre in Dillon SC... that was fun! Bill Dewitt, perhaps one of the funniest people I have ever worked with, MonaLisa T Botts was a blast and a sweetheart, that car ride with Evelyn Clary was awesome, and I just felt right at home with the whole cast (Kelly Galvarino, Denise Pearman, Kathy Hartzog, Paul Covington, Josh Bennett, Tom Wattenbarger, Lyn Olive, Eric Burden, Gayle Stewart, Gina Calvert, William Refo)

" MonaLisa T Botts I loved meeting and getting to know you in Dearly Departed! You were the best in every way! Totally organized and so kind to all of us crazy cast members! You kept everything under control or at least you made us believe you did! So with you in charge as stage manager there were "no worries mate"!! Love you always!! "

Richard A Kiraly Was it Dearly Departed when we were doing the photo shoot (with me and Donna Harvey as the Photographers), where we were in the cemetery and a squirrel fell out of the tree with a loud THUNK! And it was traumatic for all of us, but Allison had the worst time of fighting tears over that poor squirrel... who, by the way, got up and scampered away after about 10 minutes of just laying there unconscious!

Bill DeWitt The squirrel bit did happen while doing the photo shoot for Departed--I wish we had captured the look on the faces of Allison and Donna when that squirrel fell, and especially when he jumped up and ran off. Thanks for all your hard work, an for Frank's as well. You guys are great!!



Show Name: Something's Afoot (Scott Blanks)
When: March 2008
Where: Town Theatre
Job/Role: Stage Manager, Publicity - Photography
Comments/Memories: Frank Kiraly was my Light Board Operator - we ROCKED that Light Booth! I also helped with set painting and learned that if something is wrong with a set piece, you can always blame it on the volunteers! Jonathon Jackson and Giulia Dalbec dying on stage together - memorable! And finally hearing Sara Blanks sing on stage.... instead of the light booth... LOL! And apparently, Brett Butler has a teeny little dinghy...

Show Name: Damn Yankees (Greg "Bougie" Leevy)
When: May 2008
Where: Town Theatre
Job/Role: Backstage help
Comments/Memories: Those wedge shaped set pieces were a challenge - they all looked alike! This is where I met Billy Boleyn, Toni Sheridan, Caleb Jernigan and Chris Kruzner, Andrew Stinson, and of course, the late Greg Leevy.

Show Name: West Side Story (Scott Blanks)
When: September 5 - 27, 2008
Where: Town Theatre
Job/Role: Publicity - Photography
Comments/Memories: The rain would not cooperate with the outdoor shots! Abigail Smith looked awesome in that dress, though!

Show Name: Little Shop of Horrors (Jamie Harrington)
When: October 31-September 15, 2008
Where: Town Theatre
Job/Role: Stage Manager/Producer
Comments/Memories: Our show won Best Musical of 2008 via the results of voting on CTCC! This was the first time I met Sean Stephens (although I had seen him in Mr. Marmalade at The Lab Theatre) and Danielle Peterson.

Show Name: A Tuna Christmas (Allison McNeely)
When: December 11-21, 2008
Where: Town Theatre
Job/Role: Costume Dresser
Comments/Memories: Shelby Sessler knitted me a great scarf backstage!

"Bill DeWitt --from Tuna--watching you and Frank "borrowing" the wigs from Helen and Inita--I noticed you didn't seem to want Bertha's--the last show with Danny getting a jump on taking the set down, before we finished the 2nd act--the tremendous job you, Frank, Diane, Shelby, Brett, and others did backstage (without you, there would have been no show)--Allison being so sick during most of the run "

Show Name: Les Liaisons Dangereuse (Scott Blanks)
When: Jan 30 - Feb 14, 2009
Where: Workshop Theatre
Job/Role: Properties during the run of the show - especially those damned pillows!
Comments/Memories: Where I met Paul Kaufmann and Monica Wyche... and Ann Burns!

" Richard A Kiraly I have to admit, William Schuler's entrance from the stage-left wing every night was definitely a highlight of Les Liaisons Dangereuse - also, working with Scott Malyerck is always fun. But you know what is even more fun? Getting knocked over by a naked-Giulia and almost falling on the prop table was THE BEST! "

Show Name: The King and I
When: September 18 through October 10, 2009
Where: Town Theatre
Job/Role: Stage Manager
Comments/Memories: One of the things I love about live theatre is the unscripted moments. Whether they are by accident or on purpose, they keep a show interesting! In the King & I, I remember several moments, but the one that stands out was when Kralahome surprised Louis a little by taking Louis' hat off his head and handing it to him... just a small thing, but still fun, nonetheless!

Show Name: Odd Couple
When: January 15 -30, 2010
Where: Town Theatre
Job/Role: Stage Manager
Comments/Memories: (In Production)

Copyright Richard A. Kiraly © 2005-2010
Valid