1859 Magazine - Mark Scott - Shredding Design

Mark Scott, professional skateboarder and owner of Dreamland Skateparks, stood still long enough (1/250th of a second) for me to take his picture. 1859 Magazine's Into the Soul profile.  Mark was a good sport, performing tricks for me over and over again, while still managing to keep a pencil tucked behind his ear.  He also managed not to laugh outright as I slide up and down the sides of the skate park, trying not to kill myself with my lights.  Was feeling rather proud of myself until I realized when I got home that I had sacrificed a sandbag to the skatepark gods of Lincoln City. D'oh.

NYT - Artist Chris Johanson

Artist Chris Johanson posed at home for me, and the New York Times.  Chris is low key but is making big waves with a monograph out this year on his work out from Phaidon. Such an interesting guy, sweet, quirky, with a knack for saying things unlike anyone I'd ever heard.  Example.  Instead of saying, "Should I smile?" he says, "I'm feeling happiness now, would you like me to show it?"  Perfect. His home was crammed with art (a man after my own) most of which he had swapped with his fellow countrymen, all of which had a story.  Spent about 45 minutes with him and then an extra 30 with that cookie cutter, figuring out the best way to shoot the damn thing (note: kitchen background most successful).  When I finished and am out the door, Chris peeks his head out of his front door and says, "You have a nice way about you.  I had fun."

Aw schucks.

On Location - The Rose Festival - Newspace Center for Photography Photo Workshop

Just taught a class at Newspace Center for Photography on how to create compelling images at Portland's Rose Festival. Students learned how to hone their own personal style while shooting the Rose Parade, City Fair, and the Milk Carton Boat Races. So sorry you missed it.  But....I'm teaching another class this summer at Newspace, Finding Your Documentary Passion.

EAT COLLECTIVE: Lamb four ways at Levant

East Burnside eatery Levant chef Scott Snyder dishes up Lamb Four Ways for Willamette Week.

Aids in India on Hunger.tv and Feature Shoot

Both Feature Shoot and Hunger.TV recently featured a profile of some work I did about AIDs in India.  Done for my Master's Project and supported by a Fulbright Grant, I lived in India for six months, documenting their epidemic and drinking heavily.  It was a topic I feel fortunate to have brought to life, in however small a way, but it was often hard to sleep at night.  And that's probably enough about that, read the interview for more. If you don't know, Feature Shoot is a great place to see new and fresh work and if you ask, they will deliver it all quite tidily to your inbox everyday. HungerTV is this edgy British web site and magazine that had the brillant idea of combining Art & Culture, Fashion, Music, Film and most importantly, photography....but not just celeb or fashion photography. They have a whole section devoted to documentary work, which features not only upstarts like myself, but also Martin Parr, and Magnum photographer Rene Burri. Not a bad crowd to run with.

Oregon Business Magazine - Eleek - Designing Light

Pulled out all of the stops and all of the speed lights (well, all four) to light a portrait of Eleek co-owner Sattie Clark for Oregon Business Magazine. Sattie was gracious and fun and Eleek is a pretty amazing green company and is considered a pioneer in the design and manufacture of energy-efficient lighting.  While I was there the place was humming as they worked on a huge project to recreate lighting fixtures for Seattle’s 1906 King Street train station, based solely on historic photos. The monumental fixtures differ from the originals only in their durability and that LEDs are replacing gaslight.  Eric Kaster, her hubby and co-owner took a brief moment from production to pose for a few pics as well.

Plus no toxic substances are used in manufacturing, and local scrap metal and other recycled materials are first choices, as well as products that come from sustainable businesses and from within a 50-mile radius, in order to help reduce their carbon footprint.  I also found out that Eleek hires from the neighborhood, pays full benefits, offers flexible scheduling and pays bonuses to employees who walk, bike or bus to work.

All things that add up to an amazingly cool and progressive Portland business.  Oh, and did I mention that Sattie and Eric met while both performing at Berbati's Pan some years ago?  Yep, I know.  It's like the perfect Portland love story.

Bad Habit Room - Saraveza - Portland Event Space Photography

A good friend of mine Mickey, who is the party planner guru at Saraveza in North Portland asked me to photograph their fabulous event space, Bad Habit, for their new website. My partner in crime, Christopher Onstott and I photographed the space empty and then again for an engagement party.  And since we ended up falling in love with the place, stay tuned for our upcoming party there!  Maybe we'll put you on the list...

Making Marriage Work When Only One Spouse Believes In God

Back in January NPR asked me to drive up to Longview, Washington to photograph Maria Peyer, Mike Bixby and their family for a story about interfaith couples with the lovely print and radio journalist, Deena Prichep.  They were such a wonderful and thoughtful family, makes you realize you don't have to have the same type of relationship with God (or even one at all) to love and respect each other. (Listen to the story here)

L is for Lyophilzation

I photographed the Oregon Freeze Dry plant for the Bloomberg News wire service recently and learned all about how to make beef stroganoff last for 8-10 years.  Oregon Freeze Dry is the largest food freeze dryer in the world, a process also known as lyophilization.  They also cook all their food there, which I thought was pretty cool.  One thing is for sure, if I ever need to survive some sort of end-of-days disaster, I'm heading here.

When Millenium's and Politics Collide

One man, one place, one light, (my new kick ass Canon 600 EX RT), one hour, 4 setups.  Ready, set, go.  This was my first adventure as a newly minted Canon photographer, and I have to say, things weren't pretty.  Getting used to totally new gear, where everything basically turns the opposite way that you think it should, made my brain hurt.  But Andy Welsh, my subject, was patient and one of my personal mottos isn't "Fake it til you make it," for nothing. When I am tasked with shooting a portrait fast, I always make sure to scope out my surroundings; looking for doorways I can shoot through, interesting angles, unique light, anything where I can make something out of nothing. Plus I pay close attention to any natural gestures that the subject makes to include his hands to give the image interest and a feeling of intimacy.  Finally, I like to do at least three or four setups, cuz' I want the New York Times to know they are getting their money's worth (they are).  And that's how the magic happens (or not).  You can read the full story of why Andy thinks politicians suck, HERE.

Ok, ok. the last one has two lights, I admit it.

Cheap Eats, Not Cheap People

I love shooting for the Willamette Week Cheap Eats Guide every year.  Perhaps because it is so in line with my sensibilities.  Those who know me, know I have a reputation for being a bit....thrifty (I find that word has a bit more dignity than cheap).  And here I have a whole guide that says, "Hey Leah, it's ok you drink pabst. We get you."  Some of the tasty highlights include Boke Bowl, Baowry, Helser's, the mini-food world that is Ocean and the new, but very popular kid on the block, Bar Dobre.  Plus, I got to shoot the cover, which I always love.  Can't beat that poppy yellow background (also known as poster board).  Thanks to Lela's Bistro for providing the local and the slurpable noodles.      

On Assignment with Portland Monthly: The Synagogue Sampler

So in love with the layout that Portland Monthly did for my March story on synagogues, The New Shul.  One thing I was really intrigued by was the different ways the religion is interpreted.  On one end of the spectrum you have a female Rabbi, Ariel Stone, leading the congregation at Shir Tikvah (they even share a space with a Gay-friendly church).  On the other end is Congregation Bais Menachem, an ultra-Orthodox Chabad Shul where men and woman are not allowed to touch.  And in the middle was Shaarie Torah and Rabbi Zucky, a former Israeli soldier who owns not one, but two purple suits and a pink felt pool table that holds a place of honor in his office.  One thing all these places did have in common was how welcoming everyone was.  The assignment was a swirl of bagels, sacred scrolls, elaborate stories and open arms.  A fabulous blend of down-to-earth-sensibilities mixed with mysticism.  Perfect for a girl born to a Jewish father and a Catholic mother.

Read about Powell's... In Swedish

The Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter contacted me to photograph Portland's world renowned bookstore, the ever fabulous, Powell's.  As a girl who spent a lot of her youth at the library, Powell's gives me that same warm and inclusive vibe.  Maybe it is that slightly used, cozy smell, which the guy in my photo below seems to be drinking in.  Or maybe it is the homeless people.  Regardless, Powell's is one Portland institution that everyone can agree is pretty amazing.  And just one more reason I love this city.  And Sweden agrees!  Or at least I will assume so, because, hey, I can't read Swedish.  

Farm to Table at Noble Rot

Hung out at Noble Rot, the restaurant above the city and their kick ass rooftop garden, which was totally amazing, as was the weather.  Chef and owner of not only the restaurant but the best rock star name ever, Leather Storrs, gave me a tour.  Then he picked our lunch from the roof, got to cooking and I fought writer Lynne Curry for the spoils of our labor.  Or rather of his.  But whatever.

Miracle on 135th Avenue

I come from a family of educators and so I know, yeah, those summers off look like a pretty sweet deal, but teaching is hard.  So it was a real treat to photograph a positive story about education for Willamette Week.  Visit the cafeteria of David Douglas High School and you feel like you are at the United Nations, 55 plus languages bounce around amidst chocolate milk and tater tots.  But it seems like they make it work.

On Assignment - Portland Monthly - What I Learned in School

There is nothing like spending a few days back in high school to make you take a little stock in your life.  As I creep up on my 20 (holy crap) year reunion, I think back to that time, fondly I guess.  But I am also struck by how much cooler kids today seem.  Do I blame the internet?  Cable TV?  Back then couldn't see and didn't know too much past my own town and these kids can access the world in their pocket.  Does that make them happier?  More worldly?  Or more weighted down?  Things definitely seem a lot more complicated now, then they did back in 1993.  If you are feeling the need for a little teenage angst revisited, check out the world of Lincoln, Catlin Gabel and Century High School, which I shot for Portland Monthly Magazine's February issue. (read the story online here)

Tim Gallagher will punch you in the face with his designs.

Tim Gallagher is the mad scientist of designers. He's pimped out Snoop Dog's Playstation3, had brass knuckles made for a client, and has an office space that includes a soccer field, a pool and a skateboard ramp.  Plus he let me photograph him with a bedazzled skull for 1859 Magazine.  I want him to adopt me.  Just for a little while.  This is where I write nice things about my trusty producer, Christopher Onstott, who took this picture of our lighting setup.

Asian Students Help U.S. Religious Schools Prosper

Private U.S. high schools, particularly religious schools, are enjoying a tuition windfall from high-paying Asian families eager to give their U.S. college-bound kids a head-start through enrollment on U.S. campuses. A few months ago I photographed students at St. Mary's School in Medford, Oregon for the Wall Street Journal story about U.S. academies luring a growing number of Asian students.  It is such an interesting mix of cultures, religious school with Communist students, and irony that seems to work for everybody though.  I was also struck by the fact that so many Chinese are clearly now wealthy enough to send their children across the globe and pay $49,000 a year for tuition, room and board (it is worth noting that locals only pay $12,000).  All with the hopes of getting them into a US college where the acceptance rates are much higher (even Ivy Leagues like Harvard!) than any college in ultra-competitive China.  Want to  know more about this fascinating two about a clash of cultures and countries?  Read the full story here.

Eat and Drink - OX - Portland Monthly

I had the pleasure of photographing Argentine-inspired Ox, One of Portland's newest and hottest restaurants for Portland Monthly's Eat and Drink section. Anytime I can shoot a portrait when someone is holding an ax, I'm pretty stoked.  Luckily, Ox husband and wife owners Gabrielle Quinonez Denton and Greg Denton seemed to share my sentiment.

Stuffing the pages of MIX, with Compote

I love any job that involves stringing hand-made snowflakes and drinking bubbly.  Thanks to MIX Magazine I got the chance to spend a holiday brunch with the owner of Compote Cafe, Shana Lane-Block.  I arrived early to photograph Shana cooking and found myself pitching in on the holiday festivities which included taste testing, wardrobe consultation, and decorating.  It is always a treat to be invited into someone's home to share in their merry making, especially when it tastes so good.