"Your Premier Workshop Leader!"

Bob's Brag Page
AKA . . . About Me

Hello Dear Friends,

      I've been around the photography business since 1958. Back then I was employed as a photographer in a studio in Portland, Oregon doing portraits of models. In those days it was mostly B&W film and either medium format or 35 mm, one might say I cut my molars with the 35 mm camera. Today the evolution, or should I say metamorphosis, has taken me through the range of large format to medium format and on to 35 mm and back again to medium format, none of which has given me the ability to be as creative as I am now with the digital format. Yes I'm a digital advocate now where not so long ago I was almost unreasonable about films superior quality.
       Currently I have a portrait studio in The Dalles, Oregon where I work monday through friday photographing families, high school seniors, babies, etc.. Evenings you'll find me at Columbia Gorge Community College and Central Oregon Community College teaching photography and Adobe Photoshop CS3. Then there is the weekends, where my wife and I go on safaris not only as guides, but, ever so frequently, as explorers seeking new places to photograph. It's this exploration and meeting people that has opened doors with land owners and ranchers allowing us to bring photographers such as yourselves to their lands.
      When I'm not involved with photography you'll see me hanging out with the grand babies. Of course I have the cutest and the smartest grand children on the planet (but then don't we all?).
      Hope to see all of you this year and in the years to come as well. There is so much to see and photograph here in North Central Oregon and South Central Washington that we can't do all of it in just a few visits. So come, share some time, the experience, and create a legacy of images to rival that of Ansel Adams.

What People Say About Me

"BTW, do you know you're like a breathing photographical encyclopedia?! J THANK YOU!!!"

“I had the best time.. .I’m in heaven. Thanks to everyone, [and] Bob was great, very enthusiastic.” 

 “I like how he [Bob] approached and said "may I make a suggestion"..."do you mind?" And how he helped me out on a few shots too. He truly wanted everyone to have a nice time and get some good shots. I felt he was very sincere about that.

For me, this was a photographic trip of a lifetime.  It was the opportunity to get to places in the winter that I never dreamed I would get to.

This trip has to be one of the most unique trips available.  There is such a wide variety of photographic opportunities.  Landscapes, Old buildings, inside, outside, close-ups.  I have never had it so good.

"I think he really wanted to share his "back yard" and his passion. He really wanted us to walk away with good shots. To me, that is a good photographer, someone who is willing to share secrets and tips....” 

 “ [We] had a great time and look forward to more field trips. I learned a lot from Bob and enjoyed his teaching style as well as his knowledge. He was encouraging while showing us rookies the things to look for, and how to make a picture.” 

Bob is an experienced leader and knows these places well.  Bob also gave me very helpful suggestions regarding my photography and possible shooting angles.

This one [safari/workshop] was fabulous.

Thanks! I really had a great time. Warm conditions or not, it was great fun and hope to do it again sometime.

"Bob showed me a neat trick. I was going to take a photo of one of our club members through a window of the house.  Bob asked me to stop and asked the club member to move his hand into a specific position and look up.  When this happened I was amazed at the photograph that Bob had just created.  Bob had managed to make it appear as if this other club member was turning on a light switch in the house and making a sunlight beam come in from above.  Bob showed me the difference between "taking a picture" and "making a picture."

My Artist Statement

      My passion for creating images comes from a strong desire to create/capture the essence of life which is fading/changing/altering around me. This passion for photography is deeply rooted and has become an, almost, obsession for that one-perfect-photograph. Life is in great abundance around us, and, to be able to share this life, albeit in a still - two dimensional - form, with others gives me great pleasure and satisfaction.

       It’s this vast plethora of life that’s filled with color (sometimes B&W) that titillates and challenges me at the same time. I love to watch as the light changes throughout the day, seeing colors deepen then slowly turn to pastels, then back to deep rich color, becoming a plethora of visions that mesmerizes, holding me in a state of pure awe, then releasing it’s hold, enabling me to be in a creative state filled with inspiration. You walk, you look, you wait. Of the three, the last is the most important, and the most elusive.

       Granted photography is an ever changing Art form, though it’s basics are the same as they were 75 years ago, they remain solidly valid today. Visualizing the subject from the cameras point of view and seeing what the light is doing to the subject are two of these basics. For me to use these basic tools to create, manipulate, to capture a moment of time, is an elation only those who have experienced this euphoria can fully understand. To find the beauty in the ugly not only challenges, but rather, pushes the envelope even farther towards excellence and intuitive creativity.

       I pray my passion fills my images and relates this emotion to the viewer in some positive manner, that may, possibly, inspire them to becoming an Artist with their camera.

Thank you!

Contact me:    ghosttownsafari@aceweb.com
541 296 2553