Category Archives: People
Portrait Session with Grandma Teshima
Here are more shots from my portrait session with Shizuko Teshima. We sat, held hands and chatted about her long and amazing life.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
Think you’ll find the best barbecue someplace like North Carolina or Texas? Well, think again. Because Rochester, NY has some of the best barbecue ever. So incredibly good that my husband, who spent part of his childhood in the South, will make a journey back to Rochester for the meat at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que alone. Their food is absolutely delicious, the space preserves history and they serve it all up with Upstate hospitality. Being a hometown girl, I got a complete tour of the former railroad station. I especially loved checking out the enormous ovens, where they were busy smoking some amazing-looking brisket. Then we were generously loaded up with t-shirts and BBQ sauce. Thank you to Kevin, Monica and Danielle for such a memorable meal and fabulous time – we’ll be back for sure!
Rochester’s Public Market
One of my ongoing photo projects focuses on businesses that have been around a long time. So, when I was back in my hometown of Rochester, NY, I just had to capture some images at the Public Market, which has been in business since 1905. Since 1905, folks! If anything in Portland can hold a candle to that, please let me know.
The Public Market is simply amazing. It’s open 3 days a week, every week of the year. Fruits, veggies, cheeses, breads, meats, food trucks, incense – you name it and you could probably find it here. And the quality of the produce! I saw cabbages the size of basketballs. And listen up Portland: No one has to tell Rochesterians to leave the SUV strollers and dogs at home. No wonder Rochester’s Public Market was voted America’s favorite farmer’s market in 2010 – it’s got it!
Hale Pele
When it comes to all things tiki, Craig Hermann and Blair Reynolds know their stuff. They’re the owners of Hale Pele, Portland’s newest tiki lounge, a where you can take a trip to the islands without even hopping on a plane. This place is awesome – from the puffer fish lights to the fresh poke to the extensive cocktail list. Read Ruth Brown’s write up in this week’s WW to learn more about this fun bar and tiki culture. And mahalo Craig and Blair for one of the most colorful portrait sessions yet!
Outtakes: Shooting A Million Dollar Fire Truck for WW
As part of the assignment for last week’s cover story, WW’s Ben Mollica asked for a photo of the fire department’s gleaming new million dollar fire truck. This meant heading out to the fire bureau’s training center over on 122nd, a huge lot where they can create all kinds of scenarios firemen might encounter. It’s a very impressive place, actually. Plus, because it happened to be the day the firemen-in-training were being put through their tests, they were aiming to please and pretty much did anything the Battalion Chief told them to do. Which was pretty much what I told the Chief I wanted them to do. Needless to say, super fun shoot!
Behind the Scenes: Shooting The Commishes for WW
Reverend Linville and His Ass Car
Where do I even begin with the Reverend C.E. Linville? I think I’ll just let writer A.P. Kryza fill you in on The Reverend and his totally irreverent Ass Car. I will tell you that I hung out with The Reverend for over two hours, he orchestrated much of the shoot (from the shirt changes to putting his beloved dogs in the car) and told some of the most far-out there stories I have heard in my life.
Thuyn
Last week, I had the honor of shooting for the Willamette Week’s Best of Portland 2012 issue. I was assigned some of the quirkier nominees on the list, starting with Thuyn Pham and his reptile shop on Division. This shoot was a blast, even though I can now fess up that I’m scared of snakes. But Thuyn cracked up as I shrieked, and after we finished up he treated me to a margarita and tales from his homeland of Vietnam. Check out Matthew Singer’s write-up of Thuyn and his shop, Rose City Reptiles, here. And huge thanks to Ben Mollica, Willamette Week’s Art Director, who helped to make this shoot a total breeze.
Foster Avenue Portraits: Ivan’s Cut & Style
Men in the know from all parts of Portland will tell you that Ivan Parvankin, of Ivan’s Cut & Style, is the best barber in town. He also has a pretty amazing story.
Born in Gradetz, Bulgaria, Ivan escaped the country in 1951 for what was then Yugoslavia. From there, he made it to a refugee camp in Italy where he was recruited for the U.S. Army. Ivan says of this experience, “I’ve been everywhere, almost. From the Panama Canal to the Philippines.”
Ivan was based in Fort Lewis, Washington, and when he finished his service he decided to move down to Portland. He enrolled in barber college, then apprenticed with a master barber for three years: “In those days, you had to serve as an apprentice. You didn’t just do something. School only gives you the basics, you still have to learn from a master.”
Ivan’s building at 5324 SE Foster has been used as a barber shop since 1938! He took over ownership of the space and opened Ivan’s Cut & Style in 1977. The next time you need a cut or beard trim, I highly recommend you check him out – he most certainly did give my husband (photo #6) the best cut I’ve seen in our fifteen years of being together.
India
The Darjeeling Limited is one of my favorite movies. The cinematography is so beautiful, it really brings me back to India. Here are just a few photos from a three month journey to one of the most amazing places in the world.
