Happy Birthday Bruce!

Today is Bruce Forster's birthday! We didn't do anything to celebrate it and I am the only one in the studio. Troy went to learn how to cook Indian food in Mosier (go figure) and Bruce is out helping Ginny with a laser paper cutter. So that leaves me, Amaren. Don't get me wrong, we got him presents so we didn't ignore it completely. But, I did give Bruce a huge lecture on social media and how I am going to master it in the next few months. Probably not the most fun thing on one's birthday, right?

This is Bruce Forster

Let me ask you a question. When you are piddling around on peoples' sites that interest you, what are you most curious about? I mean, is it their content (like, what the site is there for) or is it their About page? I mean, seriously, when I find a photographer I like, say this Portland wedding photographer, You Look Nice Today Photography, I am most curious about what that photographer looks like! What is that? I mean, I love their photography but since I don't know their name, I am even more investigative when I peruse their site. Am I the only one here?

We are busy busy here in the studio (well not at this exact moment, per se, but...) shooting portraits and constantly throwing content on the Viewfinders Photoshelter site! Just in the last couple of days, we have uploaded all our contributor's photography. They are not live yet but soon to be! Really looking forward to receiving some new stuff too.

Make sure to take a look and get some stunning Pacific Northwest shots. This is honestly the most beautiful part of the country...beach, mountains, and desert all within a 2 hour drive radius of Portland. What? That's amazing!!

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. 

A Few Wise Guys

Woo, it's been a while. What with Thanksgiving and the change in season, it seems like there's never enough time! But I tell you, I wouldn't change anything. The view of Mount St. Helens out my hall window this morning took my breath away. I love it when Portland comes through with a crystal clear day after the dreary gray days everyone (who doesn't live here) thinks we have. Best kept secret!

New things just keep happening in this studio! First, we got ourselves a photoshelter account which we are adding to more and more. Then, Bruce Forster has started a new company with Mel Ulven and Gary White called WiseGuys3. For over 35 years these three have collaborated on project after project. Bruce on photography, Mel on graphic design, and Gary on copy writing. Together, they encompass all that any company would want and need for their advertising and promotional campaigns. Since the 70's Bruce, Gary, and Mel have worked with companies such as Lumilite, Skamania Lodge, Heathman Hotel, the Japanese Gardens, and Renaissance Homes to name a few. Mel and Bruce have traveled twice (!) around the world for work for ESI and Techtronix.

WiseGuys3

from left to right: Gary White, Bruce Forster, and Mel Ulven 

The three well experienced creators have formed a virtual agency with everything to offer. Now, a company can hire all or just one of these men or one of their associates, Troy Klebey (digital guru and the guy that makes ideas happen) and Mick Geary (videographer) to get a good job done.

WiseGuys3 Pretending to Find Their Way (Think three wise men)!

With their combined experience, respect for each other, and fun they have together, this mini pool of freelancers are perfect for any type of project!

It's Windy Out There.

I don't know about you but I am totally fascinated by the landscape once I drive past The Dalles in Eastern Oregon. It's like entering another world. Not only does the sun finally appear but there is hardly anything green. Hello desert! The rolling hills sandwiching the Columbia River Gorge make for some of the best wind harvesting in the country. Now that there are over a thousand wind turbines blanketing the vast terrain, it's really starting to look like a new planet.

Klondike Biglow Canyon Oregon

Nighttime at Windy Point Wind Farm, Washington

These wind farms, measuring in at around 300-400 ft. tall (taller than any South Waterfront Condominium) and weighing over 200 tons, are the future of our electricity. The most powerful turbine in the gorge is Siemens Power Generation's 2.3 megawatt which can power almost 600 homes continuously. Despite their cost at over $1.5 million a pop, the motivation behind these technologically advanced windmills is saving money. If you can believe it. Within 7 months these modern day "farms" (a group of 50 turbines) can be up and running. Wind harvesting, as opposed to grain or vegetable harvesting, happens year round. The term "harvest time" has a whole new meaning.

Windy Point Wind Farm, Washington

Since our new venture with a photoshelter site, we have been uploading hundreds and hundreds of images.  Making sure they are all optimized for search engines takes time but one gallery that is completely done is our Wind Turbine gallery. Packed with some recent shots of Klondike Biglow Canyon and Windy Point, these beautiful images by Bruce Forster will fill all your stock needs! Check out the new site and throw us your opinions. We want to make it as easy to use as possible. And next time you have a free day, take a drive to Eastern Oregon to gawk at these non-traditional farms!

Windy Flats, Washington

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.

Berlin: Non-Stop Action!

Despite all that's gone on in Berlin, the people of the city still manage to live up their nights to the fullest! One of our newest contributing photographers, Leah Nash took three weeks to immerse herself in one of the most progressive cultures in Europe. Sent to do a story that marks the 20th anniversary of the falling of the wall, she rented an apartment with a performer friend of hers, borrowed a pink bike, and partied at three clubs a night! (Not a bad gig, eh?)

 

The reason for Berlin's insane nights? Tons of artists are flocking there because of the amazingly cheap rent. The queer scene is popular because of the tolerant sexual culture. And, the city never sleeps: clubs stay open all night until noon the next day with no last calls. Pretty much you can do whatever you want in Berlin!

 

We always love submissions from Leah! See more of her Berlin photos on her website. We're looking forward to her next project!