I’d like to officially thank Rod Bien of Pandora’s backpack in downtown Bend for hosting my photography show last Friday(3/6/09)  The store is great, Rod has always been generous in allowing my huge fine art prints and cumbersome easels to clutter up his store and the staff at Pandora’s backpack is also a great group of people.  Mo, Jordan, Thad and everyone who chipped in at last Friday’s art walk.  It is very appreciated.  

Mt. Bachelor and Red Indian Paintbrush in the Central Oregon Cascades

We had a great turn out and it was especially nice to see some old friends and collectors who I had regrettably lost touch with in the past couple years.  Above is one of the many images that are still hanging at Pandora’s backpack which I captured with my large format 4×5 film camera.

     For those of you that don’t already know, Pandora’s backpack is according to my understanding a Patagonia concept store.  Meaning they are privately owned but carry almost a full line of Patagonia clothing.  Perhaps if Rod Bien happens to stumble upon this entry , he could give us some details.  Regardless, it is full of high quality, well made outdoor gear from my favorite outdoor company, Patagonia.  Old Patagonia catalogs were one of my early photography inspirations.  When I lived in Kentucky with my parents, I had a small collection of photos cut out of old Patagonia catalogs taped up next to my spot at the dinner table.  It was my happy spot!  Back to Pandora’s Backpack.  It is a beautiful store with very attractive brick walls and some nice rugged wood details, all of which combine nicely with my large format fine art prints and the hand made cherry wood frames that I create for them.

Lichen covered basalt columns in Central Oregon's High Desert

The above is another one of my fine art photos which is currently hanging at Pandora’s backpack.  I captured this image near the alder springs area outside of Sisters, Oregon.  I met lots of new Bend residents at the show virtually all of who are living in Bend for the outdoor experiences that are available here.  Having the Deschutes River, the high desert, old growth ponderosas, and the Cascade Mountains all within minutes of each other and minutes of Downtown Bend make this an amazing place for me to live.

Middle Sister, North Sister, Mt Washington, Three Fingered Jack, and Mt. Jefferson as seen from Tam McArthur Rim

This is yet another fine art image hanging at Pandora’s backpack and yet another reason I feel lucky to live and work in Central Oregon.  An endless supply of beautiful photography subjects and some amazing sunsets are nothing to complain about.  The above photograph was taken from Tam McArthur Rim high on the flanks of Central Oregon’s Broken Top Mountain in the Oregon Cascades.  The sunset was clearly stunning but the view is always grand from this location.  From left to right are Middle Sister, North Sister, Mt. Washington, Three Fingered Jack, and Mt. Jefferson.  It is truly an amazing volcanic viewpoint.  

     If any of you are interested in seeing more of my work in person, please stop by Pandora’s backpack where my work is semi-permanently displayed.  It is located at the On Bond street in the St. Clair building in downtown Bend.