Stephen Tamiesie - Commercial, Architectural, Fine-Art Photographer - Portland, Oregon

2012-01-09T16:26:00.000-08:00

Oil Field
Taft, CA. 2011

© Stephen Tamiesie

NEW WEBSITE

2012-01-04T09:15:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the new year. I did a redesign of my website in the fall which is now up and running at www.tamiesie.com. Lots of new work and much larger images to peruse. Have a look!

2011-12-15T09:31:00.000-08:00

"Don’t worry about being better than anybody you know personally or whose work you admire. Simply try to be better tomorrow than you were yesterday. You are not so much in competition with others as you are with yourself. Be your own toughest critic. Show only your best and develop your self-editing abilities so you know just what your best is. Beyond that, if you’re a documentary photographer, which I assume anybody who wants to work for the Geographic probably is, I’d suggest not spending all your time looking at other photographers but to look at other artists, painters, in particular, painters throughout the centuries. See how they take space and divide it, portion it out; how they capture your eye and attention with their use of a given space. How you put your pictures together is what will separate you from others..."

--Bill Allard

--The Photo Society

2011-12-15T09:27:00.000-08:00

Highway 33, 2011

2011-12-15T09:25:00.001-08:00

Topher at Lizards Mouth, 2009

2011-11-28T15:38:00.000-08:00

I was in Seattle a few weeks ago and stopped by the library.

2011-11-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

The November issue Landscape Architecture Magazine has a feature on Hotel Modera using some of the images I shot for Lango Hansen. Dope!

2011-11-14T17:53:00.000-08:00

Andreas Gursky's Rhein II sells for a cool $4.3 million, breaking his own record previously set by 99 Cent and setting a new auction record for a photograph. Uh, just make the check out to CASH, please.
I've always been a fan of Gursky's work. In my opinion Rhein II is one of his least remarkable pieces. There's a great little commentary about the fallout of this sale over at Conscientious.

© Andreas Gursky

幸せ

2011-11-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

I have a photograph currently on exhibition at Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts in Japan.

TUMBL'D

2011-10-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

I have a tumblr page now. Follow me here: tamiesie.tumblr.com
I'll keep this blog updated for a while too. What's that old adage... two blogs are better than one? No, I must be thinking of something else. Guns maybe? Yes, that's it.

BONNEVILLE DAM

2011-10-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

FISH HATCHERY @ CASCADE LOCKS

2011-10-06T12:35:00.000-07:00

WRITTEN IN THE WEST

2011-10-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

I stopped by Powell's Books last weekend to peruse their photo book section and was glad I did when I happened upon a used copy of Wim Wenders' Written in the West. Wenders - likely best known for his motion picture accomplishments with films such as Paris, Texas - also knows his way around a large format camera quite well.

PREPARE TO BE INSPIRED

2011-09-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

The Art Producers Photographers List is awesome. Get ready to spend at least 20 minutes looking through the site - lots of great work from many great photographers.

SAUVIE ISLAND

2011-09-27T12:31:00.001-07:00

LABOR DAY

2011-09-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend and I met my family for Labor Day weekend at the Oregon Coast. It was beautiful one day and foggy the rest of the weekend, which was fine with me. I went out and explored the fog.

HOTEL MODERA

2011-09-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

Another really cool architectural project for Lango Hansen Landscape Architects. The courtyard at Hotel Modera - designed by Lango Hansen - was created with a living garden wall on one side. Not only is this wall totally beautiful, it also gives the modern update of the hotel a nice inviting feel when you walk through the courtyard to the lobby entrance. I can't believe this place used to be a Days Inn!

SIT

2011-09-09T23:24:00.000-07:00

I got this, here.

ZARA - 50 STATES 50 PHOTOGRAPHS

2011-09-09T23:10:00.000-07:00

Zara recently contacted me about using a few of my images in a campaign for the launch of their US stores. Very awesome to be included with some heavy-hitters on this one - Richard Renaldi, Jake Stangel, Bryan Schutmaat and Daniel Shea. A fitting homage to the Motherland, I must say.

HALO FOUNDATION

2011-09-09T22:44:00.000-07:00

I'm stoked to be a part of this auction for The HALO Foundation. I have two prints from The Salton Sea up for auction and they can be yours! If you're in Portland stop on by on Sept 15th. And buy my prints. I'll be the guy in the tan XXL photo vest. That's right.

Each ticket sold provides three meals for the full orphanage.

GEISEL LIBRARY - UC SAN DIEGO

2011-08-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

LUMBER ROOM/LANGO HANSEN

2011-08-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

Another project I shot last month for Lango Hansen Landscape Architects. The Lumber Room is part residence and part gallery space located on the top floor of its building in the Pearl District of Portland. It's also 100% awesome. Lango Hansen designed the two outdoor terraces which nicely incorporate much of the surrounding urban environment. I got a few interior shots while waiting for the sun to go down also.

LANGO HANSEN

2011-08-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

Last month I had the chance to photograph a couple of recent projects for Lango Hansen Landscape Architects. The first project was a light rail station just outside of Portland. One of the firm's objectives was to have the platform mimic the movement of the train as it passes through the station. I think they nailed it.

MORE CALIFORNIA

2011-08-09T21:33:00.000-07:00

Lots more work to be posted from my recent trip to the Golden State. These shots are from the Salk Institute in La Jolla. Jonas Salk - father of the polio vaccine - founded the Salk Institute in 1962 as a center for biological studies. Salk hired architect Louis Kahn to "create a facility worthy of a visit by Picasso."
'Ol Pablo would've been impressed.

BERNAL HEIGHTS, SAN FRANCISCO

2011-07-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

TAKAHIRO IGARASHI

2011-07-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

I went to college with Takahiro and always admired his work when we were classmates. I was fortunate enough to work on some projects with him while in school and was consistently in awe of his creativity. He lives in Japan now and is still making incredible photographs. Check out his website and blog.

GRIFFITH PARK - LOS ANGELES

2011-07-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

OCOTILLO WELLS

2011-07-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a road trip to CA visiting friends and shooting some new work along the way. The image above is from Ocotillo Wells, CA - a place I've stopped a few times to photograph, but never when the light out was nice. On this trip I happened to have some extra time to wait for the sun to go down while I was in the area. Ocotillo Wells is likely one of the more photographed places in California (much like the Salton Sea) and I've seen many other photographer's images from the area, but I've wanted to get some good shots here for years and had to return if only to redeem my previous attempts.

NICHOLAS ALAN COPE

2011-05-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

I found Nicholas Alan Cope's work about a year ago, but then forgot his name and couldn't find it again. Luckily his photographs came up again on another blog and this time I made sure to bookmark his site.

2011-04-18T20:52:00.000-07:00

Construction Fence
© 2011

2011-03-30T08:49:00.001-07:00

Washington State
© 2011

2011-03-17T09:26:00.001-07:00

2011-03-09T09:01:00.000-08:00

SECRETS OF THE SELF-EMPLOYED

2011-03-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

"What you think becomes your reality. I always had a belief that if I cleaned out my recycling bin in my studio I would get new work. And guess what, it always happened. If you think the industry is screwed and there is no work to be had, guess what you will find out there?"

"Worrying about the competition does very little to help your career. I know it’s hard sometimes to ignore what other people are doing (we all think that others are doing better than us), but every one of us is on a different life path. We are all here to accomplish different things and even though it would seem like one person’s path is similar to yours, it is not."

-via Keri Smith

RICHARD MISRACH: CHRONOLOGIES

2011-03-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

I recommend a good cup of coffee while flipping though this behemoth. At 280 pages Chronologies spans about 30 years of Richard Misrach's photography career and is his most comprehensive publication to date. But according to Misrach, this book doesn't come close to summarizing his work. There's a great interview with Misrach here where the photographer says he still has over 35,000 unprinted 8x10 negatives.
Regardless, Chronologies contains many stunning photographs which have garnered Misrach quite a large following in the contemporary art community. In my opinion, Misrach's influence on the medium of photography is on par with Stephen Shore and William Eggelston - he's a forefather of contemporary photography. More of his images can be seen at Fraenkel Gallery.

2011-02-22T21:28:00.000-08:00

2011-02-17T14:05:00.001-08:00

2011-02-07T11:55:00.000-08:00

2011-01-31T09:35:00.001-08:00

MR. TOLEDANO

2011-01-26T08:53:00.000-08:00

There's a great interview with one of my favorite photographers, Phil Toledano, over at A Photo Editor from last week. Here's a little slice:

"For me, part of being an artist is understanding that at some point, there’s going to be an audience. I’m not interested in doing stuff only for myself, if it would end up only in my closet. I have to make the art that I make, but the second part of the equation is that there are going to be people who want to look at it. For me, I’ve always wanted to do stuff that speaks to people, that addresses issues, that talks about the world we live in, that makes people feel things. I remember saying, even when I was a kid, that if I could just make stuff that made people think differently about stuff, then I would feel happy."

-Phil Toledano

NADAV KANDER: YANGTZE, THE LONG RIVER

2011-01-25T12:56:00.000-08:00

Start your new year off right - go get this book. Nadav Kander's latest monograph Yangtze, The Long River is a beautiful upstream journey through China featuring some of his best work (in my opinion). There's also a wonderful section of artist's notes for many of the images - particularly interesting for an artist of this caliber. 2011 is looking good.

2010-12-05T16:55:00.001-08:00

2010-11-28T14:19:00.001-08:00

2010-11-21T15:59:00.001-08:00

NEWS-ISH

2010-11-16T09:32:00.000-08:00

I've neglected this blog lately, I'll admit it. But that stops today! Ok, we'll see about that, but I do have some recent happenings to post and more to come in the next few weeks. First, I had an image in a retrospective show for my Alma Mater - Brooks Institute, in Ventura, CA - that was used as the title piece for the show (see image below). A big thanks to Jesse Groves, gallery director at Brooks Institute for the opportunity.
Second, a selection of images from The Salton Sea are currently being featured in Deep Sleep, an online magazine from the UK. Thanks goes to Martin and Sam for the publishing of the work. I encourage everyone to check out the other artists in the current issue of the magazine as well.
That's all for now.

LOUISIANA

2010-09-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

Last week I returned from a shoot in Louisiana documenting the fall-out of the BP oil disaster on local fisherman working in the area impacted by the spill. The photographs will be used in the documentary film Plight of the Fisherman chronicling the decline of commercial fishing in America. I had the opportunity to follow two local fisherman as they guided me through the bayou and explained what is happening to the region's economy because of the oil and the clean-up efforts. What an incredible experience. Here are a few photographs from the trip.

EMPIRE, LOUISIANA

2010-09-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

More to come when I return from the bayou.

MOSSLESS MAGAZINE

2010-07-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

Aaron from Mossless Magazine asked me a few questions about my work for the Mossless website. Check it out here. Mossless interviews a new photographer every couple of days, so there's always something fresh on their site. Fresh.

CHAD CHEVERIER

2010-06-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

Watch my friend Chad Cheverier paint his room in record time. He's also a wonderful photographer.

NEAL CREEK HOUSE - HOOD RIVER, OR

2010-06-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

I recently photographed the Neal Creek Residence for Paul McKean Architecture. This house is wonderfully designed inside and out - and the juxtaposition with the rural space surrounding the house made me want to never return to urban life. Maybe.

2010-05-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

I am not sure if I am successful professional photographer. If “successful professional” means I can live a good, somewhat luxurious, life by the profession, then I am certainly not. I am represented by well-established galleries in New York, Chicago, Santa Fe, Los Angeles, and others, and I sell decent number of work every month. But fine art photography requires a lot of money to produce. I spend a lot for films and prints and also traveling. I work full time 5 days a week and I don’t do anything else. My expenses are almost as high as my photography income and I have so little left at the end even when I am lucky. Then why am I doing photography? I think it is a combination of passion and stupidity. For me, photography is intellectual, artistic, and curiosity fulfilling. I love making photographs.

-Hiroshi Watanabe

via Two Way Lens

2010-05-13T09:17:00.000-07:00

People ask me how I find my pictures. I tell them I drive around. I drive and drive and I mostly don’t find anything that is interesting to me. But then, something calls out. Something that looks sort of off or maybe an empty space. Sometimes it’s a sad scene. I like that kind of stuff. So I take the photos and some are good. And I keep driving and looking and taking pictures.

-Todd Hido

TENNIS COURTS

2010-05-12T13:28:00.000-07:00

I love tennis. Now that spring is here I can actually play more, too. These are the courts near my house at Mount Tabor Park. Where else can you play tennis on a volcano?

GORDON HOUSE: FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

2010-05-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

KMOPA - YOUNG PORTFOLIO ACQUISITIONS 2009

2010-03-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was the opening of the 2009 Young Portfolio Acquisitions at Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts in Japan. I have 4 photographs in this show - including works from Places and Signs of American Life. I mentioned in a previous posting that not only are these 4 photographs on display for the exhibition, but they have been purchased by the museum for their permanent collection. I wish I could have made it to the opening - damn this recession! I hope to have some photos of the exhibit at KMOPA and post them here soon.

TOUGH TIMES

2010-02-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

Office Space, 2009.

THE PORTLAND REVIEW

2010-01-31T12:43:00.000-08:00

Local magazine The Portland Review used a photograph of mine for their current issue's cover. If you're in Portland, check it out at any major bookstore.

PRINT RELEASE BY 52 EDITIONS

2010-01-21T09:26:00.000-08:00

Starting this week I have a limited edition print released by 52 Editions. The image available for purchase is Two Trees, taken in Sun City last year. Each week a new print is featured at 52 Editions for 7 days and then placed in their catalog until the edition is sold out. A great concept with really great photography - be sure to check out the past editions still available, there's some incredible work. A big thanks to Arnaud - the owner - for this opportunity!

OBJECT OF DESIRE: BRAVO 20

2010-01-17T22:57:00.000-08:00

I was at Blue Sky Gallery yesterday to check out the Olaf Otto Becker and Céline Clanet shows (both of which are beautiful) and came across a copy of Bravo 20 by Richard Misrach in the gallery library. What an incredible book.

© Richard Misrach

IN PRINT: NEWSWEEK

2010-01-10T16:05:00.000-08:00

Newsweek used this photo I took in Palm Desert for their 2010 ISSUES Magazine. I like it.

© 2009 Stephen Tamiesie

IN PRINT: ESQUIRE...

2009-12-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

I just got the tear sheet from some photographs I had featured back in July of this year in Esquire... Russian edition. I was not aware this magazine existed before the photo editor contacted me, but I jumped at the opportunity since the images were used in a David Sedaris piece. Definitely cool to have my name next to his.

2009-12-15T13:42:00.000-08:00

2009-12-07T18:56:00.000-08:00

I've been going through the archives lately doing some scanning. Here's one I overlooked from a while back.
I love New York.

© 2005 Stephen Tamiesie

2009-12-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

Gifts for Her
© 2009 Stephen Tamiesie

2009-11-23T15:27:00.000-08:00

Auto Wrecking Yard
© 2009 Stephen Tamiesie

2009-11-16T16:33:00.000-08:00

Guest Room
© 2009 Stephen Tamiesie

VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

2009-11-07T11:14:00.000-08:00

The one place I really wanted to see when I was in Hawaii was Volcanoes National Park. It was definitely one of the most fascinating places I've ever been. A very alien landscape indeed.

© 2009 Stephen Tamiesie

HAWAII

2009-10-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a week stay in Kona, Hawaii for a little vacay. Amongst visiting volcanoes and coffee plantations I shot quite a few images and also stumbled upon an idea for a new series which I'm really excited about. I'll post more about the series as it develops and more photos from the trip soon.

idPURE SPECIAL EDITION 2009

2009-10-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

Swiss design magazine idPURE has just released a 2009 Special Edition of photography which I'm exited to be included in with 10 pages featuring work from The Salton Sea. There are 15 photographers featured in the issue including Vincent Fournier, David Maisel and J. Bennett Fitts among others. It's incredibly rad to be included in the same issue as all of these talented photographers. You can buy a copy here as well as at most newsstands in Europe and Border's and B&N in the States. Or if you're in the PDX area stop by Powell's Books or Rich's on Alder St. Check it out!

MULL IT OVER INTERVIEW

2009-10-05T13:54:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Cherry of the website Mull It Over asked me a few questions last week about my series Places and where I draw inspiration to put on the site. Check it out here as well as many more conversations with other fantastic photographers like Emiliano Granado and Tim Carpenter. I think it's great to hear the thoughts of artists - especially those emerging - so I'm thrilled to have had this opportunity to say a few words about my work. Cherry is the mastermind behind this conversational project, and he's also an excellent photographer. His work can be seen at www.jonathancherry.net and www.k-of-e.com.

KMOPA JAPAN SHOW

2009-10-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

I recently received some very exciting news from the Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts in Japan that I will have four photographs in their Young Portfolio show in February of 2010. The Museum has also purchased these works for their permanent collection, which is also quite an honor.

ONE SAD TREE

2009-09-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

ART SPEAK GENERATOR

2009-09-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

"It's difficult to enter into this work because of how the internal dynamic of the negative space verges on codifying the accessibility of the work."

Like what you hear? You too can speak like an art savant, with the Instant Art Critique Phrase Generator. Ok, maybe an idiot savant. I can't wait to drop some knowledge at the next gallery opening.

MORE BEACH WORK

2009-09-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

Gotta get my beach trips in now before it's too cold.

ON THE BEACH

2009-09-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

Over the holiday weekend I visited the Oregon Coast with family. The weather there always makes for great photos.

NIKE SB

2009-09-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

Nike continues to amaze me with their ads. This is their best one yet. Maybe ever.

That tré flip down the stairs is switch by the way. P-Rod is amazing.

FIRE

2009-09-03T09:28:00.000-07:00

I thought this photo might be appropriate (unfortunately) what with all the current fires burning in Southern California. The photo is what's left of a house after the Tea Fire in Santa Barbara County last fall. The bizarre thing is that I lived here about 3 years before it burned down. It was such a cool house too.

732 Coyote Rd., Santa Barbara, 2008

SAN PEDRO PT. 2

2009-08-31T12:11:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from working on a project in Los Angeles for Magic Light Foundation - a non-profit production company based in CA. The company is currently producing a documentary film titled Plight of the Fisherman, chronicling the decline of the commercial fishing industry over the past 50 years or so. The film will also include still photographs documenting certain aspects of decline - Hurricane Katrina, economic fluxuations, etc. The director and producer of the film asked if I would photograph a segment focusing on the changing landscape of the San Pedro fishing industry, which I gladly accepted. Given the subject matter (decaying architecture and industrial waste) this assignment was right up my alley. And Jacquie (director) and Marco (producer) are about the most fun people I've ever worked with. Check out the trailer for the film and watch for it on PBS, Discovery Channel and film festivals in about a year.

17TH & BROOKLYN ST.

2009-08-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

Carpet Cleaners, 2009.

SAN PEDRO

2009-08-12T15:12:00.000-07:00

Terminal Island, San Pedro, California 2009.

SEAN STEWART

2009-07-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

A little while back photographer Sean Stewart contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in trading prints. His work is fantastic and I happliy agreed. Have a look at his great work.

All Images © Sean Stewart

FRANK BREUER

2009-07-15T23:02:00.000-07:00

CALIFORNIA CITY

2009-07-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

HAPPINESS...

2009-07-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

...is a warm gun. Mr. Kenny Hyder.

SEARS, ROEBUCK & CO.

2009-07-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

SAN SIMEON, CA

2009-06-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

I was recently camping with some pals up near San Simeon, CA - possibly one of the most beautiful places I've ever pitched a tent. Though I wish I had something like this to travel around in instead.

BRANCHING OUT

2009-06-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

When I think about quintessential nature photography (i.e. plants, animals, bugs, etc.) I'm usually not too inspired. But generally, I'm a sucker for interesting trees.

ARTISTS SPACE

2009-06-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Sort of a late post, but I recently found out I was featured as the artist of the month at the Irving Sandler Artists File at Artists Space in New York. I highly encourage all emerging artists to place their work in Artists Space registry. It's free.

AUSTIN, TX

2009-06-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

I was in Austin, TX about a month ago visiting some friends and checking out the town. I've always heard so many great things about Austin, I had to see if it lived up to all the hype.
Yep.
I was surprised to see so much culture in such a small town. In the middle of Texas nonetheless. The people, food, art and general attitude of the town are all quite diverse. But everything still has some Texas flavor, which made for some fun. I only shot a small amount of photographs while in Austin, but now I have an excuse to return other than SXSW.

I took this at a used car lot - almost asked for a test drive.

2009-06-10T09:28:00.001-07:00

JESUSITA FIRE

2009-05-28T15:25:00.000-07:00

Just picked up some film I shot of the Jesusita Fire here in Santa Barbara a couple of weeks ago. I'm not exactly Mr. Current Events. The fire is out now, thank goodness.

MOJAVE DESERT

2009-05-04T12:58:00.001-07:00

BE COOL

2009-04-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

The last one is the best. Taken from HERE

PRINTS

2009-04-09T16:17:00.001-07:00

I've recently had some inquiries to purchase smaller prints of my work. I now have a site where a selection of my prints are available for purchase in a certain sizes of open editions HERE. I plan to add more photographs in the future - so check back soon.

B SIDES

2009-04-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

I seem to have quite a few photographs that don't quite fit within my portfolio - for now anyway. I imagine most photographers have the same problem. What better place to display these images than on a blog... that six people read.

SUN CITY - PART III

2009-03-12T12:19:00.001-07:00

BIGWHEELS

2009-03-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

SUN CITY - PART II

2009-03-02T13:09:00.000-08:00

More images soon to come from Sun City. The thought of scanning film right now does not sound like fun. For now, say hello to Jason.

Jason, Sun City, 2009.

FUN IN THE SUN (CITY, AZ)

2009-02-13T13:41:00.000-08:00

I'm leaving for the Arizona desert in a couple of days - Sun City to be exact. For anyone that doesn't know about Sun City, it's the largest community of retired citizens in the US - it's an ENTIRE city of people over the age of 65. Every photographer's dream right? Manicured lawns, golf carts, desert flora, seniors. I've been brushing up on my shuffleboard game and am expecting to have quite a good time. My good friend and fellow photographer Jason Roque - who basically made the trip happen due to the fact that we'll be staying inside the retirement community with some of his family - will also be coming. I've wanted to visit Sun City for about 2 years and only recently came across Peter Granser's work of the retirement community. This seems to happen often - finding that a photographer has already done something I've been thinking of. Granser's book captures the essence of the town wonderfully and regardless of the fact that this idea is not original for me, I'm looking forward to what I can find there.

© Peter Granser