Site Redesign and New Images

We have an extensive site redesign and tons of new images that are now live on the site.

New capabilities include customized rights-managed licensing downloads for any region and needs.

Feel free to search the site and enjoy! New images uploaded all the time.

 www.viewfindersnw.com

Above Portland

It's pretty obvious that we love Portland. Bruce Forster, owner and lead photographer at Viewfinders Stock Photography, photographs the city at all angles. Underground, eye level, and then, of course, from the air. And you'd think, after shooting for over thirty years in town, he would have photographed everything! Nope, just the other day, he did something he has never done before. He photographed Portland at night from a helicopter. If you're a photographer, you know night and motion don't mix very well. Out of 60 shots, Bruce got 6 in focus. Hey, not bad!

Aerial photography is like an old hat for Bruce.  Commissioned by multiple clients to get shots of various buildings and spaces makes flight costs lower for everybody. One client who wants to be a part of each flight is Cameron Publishing in San Francisco.  They've hired Bruce to produce the photography for a new book about Portland.  Entitled "Above Portland", this coffee table book will be the first since the death of Robert Cameron, 98, owner of and photographer for Cameron + Company. His grandson-in-law, Chris Gruener, chose Portland because of it's popularity in the bay area. This will also be the first book with a new branding design. Owner of an extensive collection of aerial photography from over the years, Bruce was the best candidate. So, in company with Chet Orloff, a well known local historian and writer, Bruce is combining his library along with new shots to create a perfect aerial view of Portland.


Chris Gruener called just in time too. It's spring in Portland and it just so happens to be Forster's favorite time to get in the helicopter and capture the new growth and greenest greens around this beautiful place. On a routine late afternoon flight after knocking out a few locations, Tyler, Bruce's trusty pilot, informs him of how hungry he has become. Agreeing to grab a bite (not a beer, of course) at Old Town Pizza, they touch down at the helipad nearby. After some incredible pizza, up again they go with the sun below the horizon. It's dusk. Turning the helicopter power off (so they're floating or dropping) reduces the vibrations and therefore reduces camera shake enabling Bruce to capture Portland's nightlife. And how alive it looks! 


Bruce plans to head up again. Preparing will be key. He might take his rigged mono pod for some fisheye shots or maybe a gyroscope to reduce the motion. Aerial photography is Bruce Forster's specialty. It will never become a commodity. Flying in low, sometimes below rooftops makes most people uncomfortable (me included). Please let us know if Portland aerials are something you need. "Above Portland" will be out at Christmas. 

Fall Fun!

Fall is my favorite time of year. In fact, today has got to be the most perfect weather, 60 degrees, no wind, gray, no rain. Ahhhh. For some reason, it also seems to be the busiest time of year. We are still revamping Viewfinders with our addition of new photographers Leah Nash and Zeb Andrews as well as making our keywords absolutely outstanding!

 

photo by Zeb Andrews

This weekend (October 16-18, 2009) is the Hood River Valley Harvest Fest! Yum. I had a local apple yesterday that tasted like drinking apple cider. So sweet. Also out in the Gorge up the hill from Hood River in Odell is the Gorge Fruit and Craft Fair (October 17 & 18) which hasn't been around as long but still has some great treats to check out. I can't think of a better way to spend a fall weekend than hitting up a farm to grab a pumpkin for Halloween and some fresh, perfectly ripe fruit.

photo by Greg Vaughn

Another nice thing about this time of year is being able to stay inside with a warm cup of joe and enjoy a fire. Luckily Barista is downstairs in the Gadsby building so we have constant access to Stumptown coffee. Also, shown in Leah Nash's photo, the Ace Hotel is always a great place to relax with those big comfy couches and beautiful light. Taking photographs there is a dream!

photo by Leah Nash

We have joined Twitter! Our name is ViewfindersNW so follow us. We will be updating with new photos and information! Enjoy the weather before we get snow storms like last year. Yikes!

Meier & Frank Warehouse

In the fall of 2007, Portland-based developer Gerding Edlen announced its acquisition of the former Meier & Frank warehouse in the booming Pearl District, and related plans to convert the building into LEED-certified office space.

Two years later, the building, located just a few blocks from the Viewfinders studio at 14th and Everett, is still standing empty, a symbol of the depressed economy. According to an article in the Daily Journal of Commerce, Gerding Edlen has had trouble securing the financing needed to proceed with the project, thus construction has been delayed.

Viewfinders photographer Troy Klebey obtained access to the warehouse this week and captured this beautiful series of images of the building in its current condition, patiently awaiting its next iteration.

More images from his shoot can be viewed on his website's gallery.

'Graffiti Funhouse' gallery show opens

Last Thursday marked the opening night of Viewfinders photographer Bruce Forster's exhibition at the AIA Gallery in Portland's Pearl District. The multimedia installation entitled "Graffiti Funhouse: A Tribute to the Artists of Pirate Town" featured Bruce's colorful photographs and portions of Pirate Town walls that were scavenged during its demolition earlier this summer.

Kudos to Infinity Images, who produced the gorgeous large-format reproductions of Bruce's photos; and to longtime friend and colleague Mel Ulven, whose design expertise led to the creative arrangement of the installation.

The exhibit will remain in the AIA Gallery throughout the month of September. To see even more images that Bruce shot at the Pirate Town site, check out the "Graffiti Funhouse" gallery on his website.




Additional thanks to photographer Troy Klebey who captured last Thursday's event; his images are displayed here.

Alpenrose Velodrome

There are only about 20 operating velodromes in the United Sates, and I find it highly appropriate that one of them is located in Portland, which has the reputation of being an incredibly bike-friendly city.

Alpenrose Velodrome is a high-banked, Olympic-style bicycle racing track, located in northwest Portland. The track features a 43-degree bank, which qualifies it as one of the steepest velodromes in the country. (A typical track features bank degrees ranging from 25 to 33.) Oregon Bicycle Racing Association recommends that even experienced racers complete one or two training sessions on the track before participating in a race at Alpenrose.


Viewfinders lead photographer Bruce Forster spent a few hours at the velodrome on a weekend earlier this month, capturing a great series of action images. Bruce was in awe of the close proximity of the cyclists during the races, and of the fierce competitiveness that emerged during tight sprints, as captured in the below shot. Hello, elbows...

Pirate Town/Graffiti - Part Deux

A few weeks ago, I posted images of the now-demolished "Pirate Town," a punk/skater/graffiti haven in north Portland, as seen through the eyes of Viewfinders photographer Troy Klebey. Lead photographer Bruce Forster also paid several visits to the site (as always, with camera in tow), and captured a beautiful series of images that honor the color and artistry of the graffiti writers--an interesting contrast to Troy's shots, which exuded a spookier vibe.

A selection of Bruce’s photos taken on location at Pirate Town will be showcased in the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Center for Architecture in the Pearl District in September. As a quasi=preview, a few of my favorites of Bruce's are featured on this page.

Mt. Hood

The first time I flew in to Portland during the summer was in August of 2004, and I was stunned and delighted with the clear view of Mt. Hood that I was able to take in during the airplane's final descent. Window seats rule!

Now working for a photography agency based out of Portland, I have seen more than my fair share of gorgeous photos of the mountain, but two new ones submitted by longtime Viewfinders contributor Rich Iwasaki caught my attention... perhaps because the focus is sharp enough to make out tree lines? Maybe because the evening light is just right?


Rich was coming home to Portland on a flight from Boise a few weeks ago when he took these photos. He says he shot only a few frames, watching Mt. Jefferson line up in the background. Some post-processing magic helped boost the quality of the image (scratches on the airplane window had lent some distortion to the originals).

Hooray for late summer sunsets and clear skies!

Mannequin Beach Party

I first noticed The Lippman Co. party supply store in downtown Portland in February, shortly after I had moved here. My son and I were driving over to Airplay Cafe for a mid-morning playdate, and the exit ramp from I-5 dropped us just in front of the store.

Located in an otherwise industrial neighborhood, the Lippman store stands out not just because it is the only storefront within a few blocks, but because the window displays are brightly colored, amusing and impossible to miss. The display in February was Mardi Gras themed, and on that gray Portland morning in February, it was like seeing Las Vegas light up the dark desert sky.

Viewfinders lead photographer Bruce Forster drove by last week and got such a kick out of the current "Beach Party" display that he parked and took this series of shots. I realize they are inanimate objects, but doesn't it seem like they are having a blast? Happy Summer, Portland!

Pirate Town

A few months ago, a friend of Viewfinders' founder and lead photographer Bruce Forster's told him about an abandoned industrial building in north Portland that had become a haven for graffiti artists and skaters. The friend thought Bruce would really appreciate the artistic value of the graffiti, and encouraged him to pay a visit to the site, and soon: University of Portland had recently finalized its purchase of the land on which the building was located, and was planning to tear down the structure.


Known in various fringe circles as Pirate Town, the building is part of the (formally-named) Triangle Park, a 35-acre former industrial site on the banks of the Willamette River. University of Portland has acknowledged the presence of multiple contaminants on the site, and has reportedly begun cleanup, as first step toward preparing the area for a new greenway and trail, as well as expansion of University facilities.


Both Bruce and Troy Klebey, Viewfinders photographer and studio manager, paid several visits to the site during the last few months, to capture the art and wonder of this unique space. Troy's photos are featured here.


One of my favorite shots from the Pirate Town series is of Tucker, Troy's faithful companion and unbelievably well-mannered, photogenic dog. For more shots of Tucker's adventures throughout the years, check out Troy's blog.

My first aerial shoot

In late April, Bruce Forster, the founding photographer of Viewfinders (and my new boss), mentioned that with the weather in Portland warming up, it was time to start planning for the season's first aerial shoot. Bruce has been doing these for years, and says he can't recall when exactly he got hooked.

Bruce asked if I'd be interested in going along. I said absolutely. He then proceeded to tell me about a shoot several years ago that ended with the pilot finessing a crash landing in the Columbia River. "We ran out of fuel," Bruce explained, nonchalantly. "But I saved the film!"


The river 'landing' story did suppress my enthusiasm a bit (I may or may not have checked that my will is up to date). A few weeks later, however, Bruce booked a helicopter and I agreed to go. On a sunny May afternoon, Bruce, Troy Klebey, Viewfinders' studio manager and a talented photographer in his own right, and I drove to the Portland Heliport in Old Town, and hitched a ride with Precision Helicopter.

Bruce had previously described the skills of the pilot he prefers to fly with: agile. "Most pilots keep the helicopter flying as level as possible, especially when there are passengers who haven't flown before. Not my guy. He can pull some sharp, acrobatic maneuvers so that I can get the shots I want," he said.

I thought about those comments as Troy and I strapped ourselves into the back seats of the helicopter, pulling my shoulder belt tight enough to constrict my breathing. Our pilot, Tyler, confirmed that all of our gear was anchored down, as we would be flying without any doors.

Let me repeat that: with. out. doors.

Bruce had encouraged me to bring a camera and take some of my own shots; in his experience, keeping busy during the flight helps prevent air sickness. I wondered if it would distract me from the obvious fear of falling out of the helicopter. All of the shots on this page were taken by me; to check out how it looks when a real pro does it, go to www.viewfindersnw.com/category/aerial.

It took the engine and rotors a few minutes to get up to speed, and then, in a motion so subtle that I barely felt it, we were off, flying through downtown. We circled the Pearl District a few times; I was able to get a couple of decent shots of the loft building that houses our studio, and some pretty shots of the horizon.


And that's when we started climbing to a peak height of 2,500 feet, quite a bit higher than helicopters typically fly, usually around 1,000 feet. During this ascent, (shortly after I took the shot below of downtown, the near east side and Mt. Hood), at about 2,000 feet, I released the camera, thankfully still attached by the neck strap, and just hung on.

Many people flying in to Portland on a commercial airplane have been gifted with this beautiful view, or one similar to it, so at first glance, the below photo may not seem like anything remarkable. But imagine looking slightly further down: enough to see the left cuff of your jeans flapping in the wind...


When Bruce was satisfied with that series of photos, we descended to a more comfortable working altitude of 500 feet, and headed south to capture other buildings and landmarks as dictated by client assignments. Bruce and Troy worked earnestly, directing the pilot how to angle the helicopter so they could capture the best light, find the most creative angle, get the sharpest shot.


I was incredibly impressed with their stamina and intensity, and yet, their willingness to call out neighborhoods, schools and landmarks to me, the regional newcomer. It was at that moment, tightly belted into a helicopter that was circling a paper mill on the Willamette River, that I realized I could not ask for better guides to my new home region than my photographer colleagues.

After a few hours of shooting, we flew north to PDX to re-fuel the helicopter, giving me a chance to get a closer look at its 500 horsepower engine:















With a full tank of fuel, we headed to the northeast side to get some shots of large-scale solar installations, and then down to the South Waterfront to capture aerial shots of ecoroofs on new high-rise residential buildings. Portland has become renowned for its focus on developing and using alternative energy and green technology; Viewfinders strives to stay on top of these new implementations, and our stock collection features a lot of imagery that highlights these areas.

We landed back at the helipad at about 6 pm, as the evening light was beginning to dim. Bruce asked how I'd liked the outing. I think the below, obnoxious self-portrait says everything: