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

We're Moving!

It's true. We're entering the world of schlepping all of our stuff out of the studio and into a new studio. Boy, it sure is hard work but we've got this! Excited to be a part of Southeast, our new address starting June 7, 2010 will be:

Bruce Forster Photography &
Viewfinders Stock Photography
3245 SE Ankeny Street
Portland, Oregon 97214
Same Fax, Phone, and Email:phone 503.222.5222
fax 503.274.7995
studio@viewfindersnw.com
www.bruceforsterphotography.com
www.viewfindersnw.com

We've really enjoyed our time in the Gadsby and we're sad to say goodbye. But the new studio has free parking! And is right by Laurelhurst Market so that makes us happy. Look for some great new photos in the following weeks and a series of blogs about our contributors! Moving is inspiring. Photos of the new space to come but for now we'll pay homage to this beautiful spot. 

Bye bye old studio. Thank you!

Boarding. Not Boring.

Bruce Forster, the head honcho here at Viewfinders, is not the type of guy you'd expect to see at a skate park (unless you were in trouble and he was your angry dad coming to pick you up). No, we usually find him out in the high desert of Oregon and Washington in a helicopter photographing wind farms, or knee deep in soot getting a compelling shot of a coal mine. Bruce never ceases to surprise me when I arrive at the studio and he sits me down to show me all the graffiti photos he snapped over the weekend or the Erotic Ball he attended at the Crystal Ballroom.

Now, let's get this straight, Bruce is no skateboarding photographer...well, at least he doesn't call himself one. But, for someone who doesn't know anything about skateboarding or the culture surrounding it, he sure does know how to make it look good. And, if you think about it, skateboarding and riding in a helicopter both fall into one similar category, they're exciting, extreme activities.

An old, hip friend of Bruce's, Larry King (not the one on TV), was the first to turn him onto these "other" cultures including skateboarding and graffiti art. These ways of life are different from Bruce's everyday world and, as a compulsive shooter, feed his need to capture.

Photographing skateboarders is not an easy task. Knowing the exact moment to shoot a trick can be, well, tricky. Sometimes it's all about whether or not a skater lands it right. For a first time, Bruce did these skaters justice. Look for more from Pier Park Skate Park and Tigard Skate Park in the next week on our new (and very much progressed) website. 

The times, they are a changin'.

There's a lot going on here in the studio today. Bruce and Troy are about to head out the door to do an aerial shoot and Amaren is building our new Photoshelter account. Much of what we have been learning about here is how to optimize out site in order for it to be seen. Our current Viewfinders Stock Photography site is almost ten years old! We thought it was time for change. Photoshelter is a great site to let us control our SEO and keep an archive of our photos. At the same time, we will have a streamlined look with up to date keywords and new clients (we hope!). Local Portland photographer friend, Craig Mitchelldyer was kind enough to pop into our studio on Monday and give us a big long tutorial. He was very convincing...we signed up that afternoon. Now we just need to upload all our photos.

 

Our new site will allow people to search and view all our different galleries and easily purchase rights managed images. We will also allow download of lo-res mock up images. Need us to create a gallery of a certain type of images so you don't have to do the searching? No problem. There is a client area designed for clients to view, rate, and purchase images in their own specially designed gallery.

We are really looking forward to this new change at Viewfinders! We hope you will check us out when the times comes for the site launch! In the meantime, keep visiting Viewfinders Stock Photography for the most beautiful views of the Pacific Northwest.

Eye in the Sky

I hate to brag but one of the coolest things about ViewfindersNW is the amount of aerial shots we have! Owner of ViewfindersNW and lead photographer, Bruce Forster, does routine helicopter trips capturing the most beautiful views of the pacific northwest. Most people think of aerial shots in terms of maps (think satellite view on Google maps) limited only to a view from directly above. Using a helicopter (instead of a fixed wing airplane) allows Bruce to fly in as low as rooftops (sometimes!) and get an oblique perspective.

Many architectural beauties in this city are amazingly constructed to be seen not only at ground level but also from the sky. Take for example Portland's Walk of the Heroins designed by Mayer Reed which is nestled at the far west corner of Portland State University's campus. The walk honors all the women that have illuminated our lives. From above you can see the beautiful design of the walk encorporating the naming wall and the natural landscape.

The Twelve West Building on SW 13th Ave has the first inner city wind turbines on its rooftop. This sustainable building bridges the division between downtown and the Pearl District while also being one of the most future oriented LEED projects of Portland. The rooftop is not only home to these modern windmills (which, when harvested, provides about 1% of the building's energy) but also to tenant shared barbecues and a rainwater-recycling system. The aerial view shows all the benefits Twelve West has to offer (at least on the roof).  I just think it's cool to see wind turbines when I am driving down Burnside on my way to work!

 

If your vertigo hasn't kicked in yet, tap into this ongoing project Bruce has been diligently powering through. As we all know, Portland's South Waterfront is steadily becoming more and more developed offering green living and waterfront views. Before builders broke ground, Bruce was down there shooting away. Now, whenever on a flight, he makes sure to swoop down and grab some shots of their progress. It's proof of Portland's ongoing changes to both the environment and people's way of life.

 August 16, 2004

October 11, 2009

This year, Bruce has been airborne twice and if there is any foreseeable, dependable break in the weather combined with enough interest, be sure to look for him up there again! In need of some aerials? Get on the flight list! studio@viewfindersnw.com 503.222.5222.

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.

Gone to the Dogs

We're all pretty dog crazy here at Viewfinders, and we are lucky to work in a loft building that allows its tenants to bring their dogs to work!

Lucy (pictured here) is a pit bull/Jack Russell mix; she was a rescue dog adopted by our business development manager five years ago. She commutes in to the studio a few times a month, and enjoys the attention that is lavished upon her during visits.

 

Lead photographer Bruce Forster captured these (strikingly lovely!) shots of Lucy last week while she laid in her favorite spot in the studio: the sunny area rug by the window, taking in a lovely view of Portland's West Hills.

Grape Stomp

Home to more than 200 wineries, Oregon's Willamette Valley has earned a strong reputation for its production of Pinot Noir, one of my personal favorites. (Other varietals produced in the region include Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Chardonnay, Melon, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc, and some Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah.)

This past Sunday, I headed south to Willamette Valley Vineyards to attend their annual Grape Stomp Championship & Harvest Celebration. We arrived at noon and already, the party was in full swing: a local cover band was playing on the lawn in front of the winery; families, couples and other groups were enjoying wine and picnics on blankets and in portable chairs; and a new heat of the Stomp had begun.


Eight barrels of grapes were lined up on wood pallets; a PVC pipe connected each barrel to a plastic one-gallon jug. Liquid from foot-crushed grapes drains through the pipe to the jug. Teams of two people were assigned to a barrel of grapes; one team member was barefoot in the barrel, the other stayed outside the barrel to provide physical support to the stomper and to ensure the jug stayed properly attached to the pipe. The team who had the most grape juice in their container at the end of the five-minute heat was declared the winner.

Some of the teams were dressed in costumes: togas, to channel Dionysus; suspenders and peasant dresses for more of a provincial look; a bright red satin evening gown that was awfully similar to a dress I wore to a formal high school dance in (ahem) the early 90s.

After cheering on a few heats of the stomp, we enjoyed views of the Willamette valley from our picnic blanket, and of course, some delicious pinot noir.



Viewfinders photographer Greg Vaughn has shot dozens of the region's vineyards; his images are posted here. The first two images are of Willamette Valley Vineyards' vines and a previous year's Grape Stomp.

The third and fourth images were shot at Champoeg Vineyard, which is planted on the south facing slope of a small hill known as La Butte, overlooking the beautiful French Prairie.

Below is an image of the Archery Summit underground aging caves, which are modeled on the subterranean cellars of the Côte d’Or. Naturally insulated with volcanic rock, the temperature in the caves remains between 55-59 degrees throughout the year, with humidity below 75 percent.


All of the images are available from Viewfinders for licensing or as gallery prints.

Lost Lake

Because Mt. Hood is so clearly and closely reflected in the waters of Lost Lake, the area allows for some of the most scenic views of the mountain and is a popular postcard shot. On the Viewfinders site alone, there are more than 60 photos taken of the lake and in the nearby woods, which are part of Mt. Hood National Forest.

Viewfinders photographer Troy Klebey paid a late evening and early morning visit (almost exactly 12 hours apart) to the lake last weekend, to capture the quickly fading summer light. He came away with hundreds of shots; these were two of his favorites.

When I look at the images, I can hear the voice of Jon Stewart, closing each broadcast of "The Daily Show," saying, "And now, for your moment of zen..."

Oyster Farm

One of my favorite tasks in my role at Viewfinders Stock Photography is reviewing new image submissions, especially those from photographers who have recently joined the agency. Although we preview photographers' work before inviting them to join the Viewfinders, the first formal submission lends the most in-depth view to their perspectives as artists.

This week, photographer N. Scott Trimble sent in his first batch of images, and I found his photos taken at Oregon Oyster Farms in Newport, OR to be particularly intriguing. Perhaps because I've never visited any sort of marine farm, but mostly because of the way Scott successfully captured light and vibrant color in the series. His images are featured here; they will be live on the Viewfinders site very soon.

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...

Seattle Light Rail

I'm an unabashed fan of writer/director Cameron Crowe, and my favorite of all his films is "Singles," an ensemble romantic comedy set in early 90s, Grunge-era Seattle. One of the main characters, Steve, is working on a proposal to build a public transit, high-speed train line in an effort to ease the city's renowned gridlock. His efforts are ultimately shot down because, as another Seattleite character explains, "I just love my car."

Fast forward 17 years (wow... where did that time go?) and the attitude toward public transit in Seattle, and elswhere, has changed vastly. Seattle's light rail transit system commenced service in mid-July , and Viewfinders photographer Paul Gordon quickly jumped on board to capture photos of the inaugural month. His images are featured here.


One thing that caught my eye in the images was the embracement of art and design in the commuter stations and on the train platforms. Kudos to the Sound Transit art program (STart) on their efforts!