Digital Photography

I found this mural somewhere on 11th street and of course it stood out. While the word Chaotic is the first thing that catches one’s attention, I mainly appreciate the phrase off to the side, “can’t stop art.” True words! Art doesn’t have to be limited to the traditional concept of fine art (painting, ceramics, drawing, etc.), it comes in all forms from architecture to culinary to fashion. Therefore, art can’t be avoided, it is everywhere, providing color and character in any shape imaginable!

I didn’t notice until after I had taken the picture how the cracks in the street and the electricity wires fall into an X shape, as if trapping the house in its place. One of my favorites from the north Tulsa series.

The sunset taken the night we went to Rocky Butte. Beautiful view of Portland and of course, nearby Vancouver, WA.

When I had Andrew stand in front of the door, I didn’t even notice until after the picture was taken that the door appears crooked in the frame. That was a happy accident, considering the metaphorical weight the image represents for the subject.

Downtown messages symbolizing contrasting implications create an interesting dichotomy

I was walking around the street corner when I came across this sight. We don’t know the story behind the apparent rebellion, but it was a great opportunity for a picture! This was honored to be published in TU’s 2017 Stylus Journal of Art and Writing.

Sweet close friend of mine.

This photo was honorably published in TU’s 2017 Stylus Journal of Art and Writing.

This photo, 1 of 3 was honorably published in TU’s 2017 edition of Stylus Journal of Art and Writing.

Part of north Tulsa series

One day I was hiking at Powell Butte in Portland and was just taking pictures with bees flying around. I found one sitting atop a flower when I soon realized the bee had company… It was literally head to head with a white spider! Of course I immediately started snapping pictures once I discovered this rare opportunity as a photographer to capture a struggle in nature. The spider had its jaws in the poor bee’s head but I witnesses no movement from either side the entire time I was there; I didn’t want to meddle with nature but just out of curiosity with what could happen, I blew on the flower a couple times. Nothing, absolute stillness.

This image is to create contrast between structure and standing out, or rebellion in a sense. Notice the dividing line that separates the mural from the girl in business attire in a public space that generally goes unmarked. Essentially the picture is a metaphor for the subject’s internal conflict between rigid societal expectations and a pull towards freedom of expression.

Mount Tabor Park is my favorite place to hike in Portland. I was taking a new path that day and came across this bundle of colorful plants. I couldn’t tell you what kinds they were, but they were so pretty I had to get a shot of them. I love the variety of hues and textures portrayed in this picture.

We were driving to see friends in Seattle and made a few stops on our way, including a park. Wish I could remember the name of it, but I enjoy picture taking of lonely-looking paths.

I never considered myself a beach person (as in choosing between mountains or beaches) but I LOVE Cannon Beach! I finally had the chance to road trip there towards the end of my time in Oregon and it was amazing. It was a big thing for me just in the simplicity of saying I went to the beach on my own time. Haystack Rock is in the background of the movie The Goonies so it is a well-known tourist attraction.

The two trees are completely different colors. Yet what I love about this shot is that the leaves appear to almost bridge the gap between the trees. There are both colors of leaves on each side of the photo. In a way, it could represent that perhaps we as individuals are not so different from each other as we may initially come across. That's how we should approach each other out of humanity; we can have our own opinions and differences, but at the same time, we should also try to reach an understanding of each other. Who knows? Maybe there are more similarities than we'd expect.

One of many sunsets that we spent at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. This view could look so different from night to night, but they were always pretty. What I liked about these pictures was the different types of trees visible in the horizon, allowing for a variety of shapes captured in the silhouette.

Lone flowers in the midst of greenery have always been a special pull for me, coming from a tendency to search for symbolism in most things.

Photo of the charcoal drawing “Stone” on the Illustrations page.

One night at the beginning of the pandemic, when there was much confusion about this shakeup, we girl Fellows decided we needed to just go watch the sunset. For the sake of spontaneity, Liz simply entered “park” in her GPS and Rocky Butte Natural Area was the first to pull up. We’d hadn’t been there before and it is a beautiful area that provides a 360 view of Portland- it is simply gorgeous. I would discover that night that I love taking pictures at dusk.

I just love the variety of hues in the fall. How boring would it be if the leaves never changed colors?? Thankfully they do, props to our Creator for this delightful and creative aspect of nature!

At first I wasn’t excited about having to do an independent study for my Digital Photography class but it quickly became my favorite course that semester because it allowed me so much time to just go out and take photos. For my subject, I chose to focus on north Tulsa, an overlooked part of the city. I truly enjoyed getting to know more of my hometown that fall. One day, I stumbled upon Pancho Anaya, a Hispanic bakery at 1st and Lewis that had a Donut Bar sign outside. Of course I had to check it out and it was soooo good! I made a couple more visits to it in between my photo shoots.

One of my favorite parks in Portland is Laurelhurst. I spent one afternoon taking pictures and I was LOVING the fall colors! The Pacific northwest has a beautiful autumn season for sure.