Assignment: Crossing Oregon

Dusting off my cowboy boots, firing up the van, ready to hit the road. I will be crossing the state of Oregon from one corner to the other all in one road trip starting today to document our astonishing state’s diversity. Portraits, nuances, landscapes and honky-tonk places.

This trip: from NW to SE

Suggestions for stops along the way are appreciated! Come out and wave at us as we roll through various towns.

Catalyst Magazine: Dr. Tim Bletscher

What an energetic group of people work in the office of Dr. Tim Bletscher! Everyone was upbeat, caring and most have worked in this office for decades. Dr. Bletscher has spunk and charisma – sure takes the fear out of going to the dentist.

I made all of the images for the story, including this cover shot and all inside story images. It was a great assignment.

1859 Magazine: Sunstone, Career Changes and A Lovely Man

I had the exciting pleasure of working on three articles for the Winter 2011 issue of 1859 Magazine.  Traveling to the wilds of Oregon’s most remote SE corner to the town of Plush, I photographed the conflict over mining sunstones.  For another article, I met several people who chucked their corporate jobs and re-invented themselves. And I met a most special man, John Callahan, the literary executive of Ralph Ellison’s unfinished manuscripts.

Thank you, Kevin Max, for giving me these assignments.  They rock my world.

Assignment: Shasta Abbey

I was not sure how I could possibly get an intimate composite of photos in such a short period of time when I visited Shasta Abbey last month.  But Reverend Berthold is a monk who also loves the still image, and he was exceptionally helpful in leading me around the grounds, introducing me to other monks, and showing me how they live day to day.

It was a lovely time, and I still think about many things from that short period of time I spent there.  The quiet rustling of pines, the quick and genuine smiles, the appreciation for the smallest pleasures.

Here is a link to the article that was run in the University of Washington’s magazine.  I will also send a CD of images to the monastery for their use, as I received this email from Reverend Berthold last week:

I thought the UW story and photos were great. A number of the people who have read it said that they felt it really captured us well, so thanks for your help with that. Given that our life is fairly non-standard, I don’t take it for granted that  someone can visit for such a short amount of time and be able to give a sense of us.


Assignment: Gerry Frank

Gerry Frank is da BOMB!  Here he is with one of his famous cakes. (Image was shot originally for 1859 Magazine so I needed to include white space for text.)

His Konditorei in Salem is a lively place, full of wonderful things to eat.  It also seems to be a warm gathering place for many wonderful characters.

This image was also blown up life size at The Bite this year.  I wish I had been in town to see it!

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