Farm Portraits Project is an ongoing effort to document many of the Portland metro area’s urban farms and farmers. During 2012-2013 I worked closely with 3 Portland urban farmers in an effort to document a typical day in the life. Out of this project I began focusing on single, high resolution portraits of the farm, as much as the farmers, with as much emphasis on the land and surroundings themselves as the individuals.
For me what is interesting is the variety of settings for each farm. Some farms are only side yards hidden within inner Portland neighborhoods - just beyond a normal looking fence there could be 2 acres of working farmland. Other times they are either on the fringes of the urban landscape or just beyond - sometimes occupying even ex-industrial sites that are under superfund status.
I've learnt that we don't need much to supply the food we eat. We can still live in our urban comfort and support a diverse and vibrant community of farms, often times as close or closer than many of us commute.
For me what is interesting is the variety of settings for each farm. Some farms are only side yards hidden within inner Portland neighborhoods - just beyond a normal looking fence there could be 2 acres of working farmland. Other times they are either on the fringes of the urban landscape or just beyond - sometimes occupying even ex-industrial sites that are under superfund status.
I've learnt that we don't need much to supply the food we eat. We can still live in our urban comfort and support a diverse and vibrant community of farms, often times as close or closer than many of us commute.
Bio
I don't think I need this whole section. Sorry, was 'late' last night when writing this piece.
After graduating from TESC in 1993, I spent the next 7 years living in Vietnam, first as an English teacher then in advertising where I specialized in corporate photography, studio photography, graphic design and print production servicing a host of international clients such as Motorola, Coke, The British Council and Citibank. At the same time, I also started actively working on HTML and web design, with an emphasis on Flash applications for the web and desktop. I attribute my technical interest back to TESC and the digital imaging lab at the time, where Steve Davis was an early adopter of computer aided imaging and photography. Ask him about 'Rio'.
About 5 years ago, I started photographing again with intent. It was around this time I started using a Gigapan system as a way of creating high-res images that can be printed in very large format. I enjoy the preparation and compositional challenges that stitching multiple images presents. Not only is the equipment heavy and cumbersome to use - much like field cameras were in their heyday - there are limitations to how the technology works that are not unlike issues with older films and processing techniques.
About 5 years ago, I started photographing again with intent. It was around this time I started using a Gigapan system as a way of creating high-res images that can be printed in very large format. I enjoy the preparation and compositional challenges that stitching multiple images presents. Not only is the equipment heavy and cumbersome to use - much like field cameras were in their heyday - there are limitations to how the technology works that are not unlike issues with older films and processing techniques.
The last few years I have been showing my work around Portland and the NW. My last showing in July at The Best Art Gallery in Portland entitled 'Marin Trees' that was a series of large format portraits of trees in and around the north San Francisco bay area. I was also recently commissioned by 2 of Portland's landmark parks (The Pittock Mansion and Lan Su Chinese Garden) to produce limited number of panoramic images for sale as 9x4 postcards, fine art prints and collateral material for their marketing. In January, 2 images of mine from a series on NW logging will be part of a group exhibit entitled 'The Meaning of Wood' at The Seattle Convention Center and most recently another Gigapan image of mine won bronze in an international panoramic image content by Fuji.
Grey Horton at home and farm, Sauvie Island Portland, Oregon
Ted Whittaker and his garlic, Sauvie Island Portland, Oregon
Carrie Sendak and her Park Rose property, NE Portland, Oregon
