Portland: A Love Letter

Portland A Love Letter

Photography and Poetry by Amy Sakurai

Portland A Love Letter

Photography and Poetry

by Amy Sakurai

All photographs and text copyright Š 2008 by Amy Sakurai All rights reserved.

Book design by Amy Sakurai Release 1.0, April 2008

This book is dedicated to my Portland aunts and uncles: Lily, George, Dick, Sandy, Judy, and Hiroshi.

These family members are an important part of my many Portland memories.

Introduction SoFoBoMo. That trendy new enclave in the city. Edgy hip-hop reggae band.

The sentence that comes out of a mouth horribly overstuffed with food.

Not any of that, of course, Solo Photo Book Month is the brainchild of Paul Butzi – his challenge to photographers to create a book of 35 photos within 31 days, starting from scratch. What a intriguing idea! Less than a year after I began to get serious about photography, I signed up for the adventure. I’m delighted to be a participant in the event’s inaugural year.

The goal is not to be perfect – but simply to do the best that one can do within the constraints. The intent is to have fun, let go of perfectionism, and simply finish.

This book is the result of that spree.

I thank Paul Butzi for launching this event. I also thank Gordon McGregor for adding inspirational fuel to the fire – and for setting up the Yahoo!Pipe so that the participants can easily follow each other’s SoFoBoMo blog entries.

One more person to whom I’m indebted is my friend and co-worker Thom Dickinson.

He challenged me to infuse the book with structure and multiple levels of meaning.

Our discussions of photos, art, and theme were lengthy, intense, irreverent, insightful – and wildly entertaining. Without him, my book might have been little more than a random collection of images.

And then there is Portland – a most wonderful, welcoming city – and a paradise for pedestrians and photographers. The photos in this book are the tiniest window into my city. I hope the images do her justice.

Rising

slowly you awaken, stirring gently, then with purpose – moving, making warmth and reaching for the morning light. i see you rushing to meet, to feel, to be the newborn day. you give me hope, anticipation, expectation that the dreams within you, around you coalesce into a sharp reality.

Shining

and then you smile. my heart is filled with love of all you bring into my life. a day of joy. delight. a day of being in your radience, witnessing your grace and your beauty.

a long day made sweet... you brighten my journey with unexpected gifts.

Reflecting

i’ve seen you in the quiet times. and when i walk with you in drizzle sprinkle shower break then rain again again you whisper peaceful, patient wisdom i can keep and cherish always. drops that fall -- a veil against a crazy, dizzy, non-stop world. harsh noise and color soften, fade... you seem a shade more pensive; yet your spirit never falters. against the world this rain is my protection, and you embrace it, too.

Setting

golden hour, sun’s retreat... time slows as shadows grow. in the darkness i am lost. i flail in isolation then you save me; you are there. in spite of all my failings you are there to offer haven, grant me peace, show me love, and comfort me in shadow.

and in the end all that matters is how perfect, how fortunate, how glad i am i spent the day with you.

Notes

Portland from the Burnside Bridge Nikkor AF 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 30mm, 1/500s, f/9.5, ISO 400

SW Yamhill St. Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 75mm, 1/30s, f/5.6, ISO 1600

Vista Bridge Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 200mm, 1/90s, f/5.6, ISO 400

Downtown Portland Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 32mm, 1/30s, f/4.2, ISO 1600

Everyday Music Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 29mm, 1/6s, f/4.8, ISO 1600

SW Yamhill St. Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/45s, f/5.6, ISO 200

Ringler’s Annex Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 34mm, 1/10s, f/4.8, ISO 800

SW Morrison St. Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/500s, f/4.8, ISO 1600

Portland Waterfront Park Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, 1/500s, f/8, ISO 400

Nordstrom with Jackson Tower reflection Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 18mm, 1/30s, f/5.6, ISO 1600

Portland Saturday Market Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/500s, f/4, ISO 800

Portland Farmers Market Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, 1/500s, f/4, ISO 400

SW Morrison St. Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 112mm, 1/10s, f/5.3, ISO 800

1000 Broadway Building Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/750s, f/2, ISO 200

Portland Farmers Market Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, 1/750s, f/4, ISO 400

Big Pink (US Bancorp Tower) Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 56mm, 1/90s, f/5.6, ISO 1600

Congress Center Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/4000s, f/2, ISO 200

Portland Farmers Market Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, 1/500s, f/4, ISO 400

Portland Farmers Market Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, 1/350s, f/4, ISO 400

Oaks Amusement Park Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 112mm, 1/350s, f/8, ISO 400

Portland Japanese Garden MicroNikkor AF-S 60mm f/2.8 @ 60mm, 1/90s, f/9.5, ISO 200

NW Couch St. Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/125s, f/8.0, ISO 800

Powell’s Books Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/180s, f/5.6, ISO 200

Portland Japanese Garden MicroNikkor AF-S 60mm f/2.8 @ 60mm, 1/500s, f/3.3, ISO 200

Portland Waterfront Park Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, 1/125s, f/16, ISO 400

NW 23rd Ave. Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, 1/90s, f/4, ISO 200

Japanese-American Historical Plaza Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/750s, f/4, ISO 400

Oaks Amusement Park Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 18mm, 1/350s, f/6.7, ISO 100

Sammy’s Flowers Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/250s, f/5.6, ISO 200

Pioneer Place Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/90s, f/6.7, ISO 200

Oaks Amusement Park Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 36mm, 1/250s, f/9.5, ISO 200

Portland Farmers Market Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, 1/2000s, f/4, ISO 400

SW Yamhill St. Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/250s, f/6.7, ISO 800

Oaks Amusement Park Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 105mm, 1/125s, f/6.7, ISO 100

SW Yamhill St. Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/180s, f/4, ISO 1600

Vista Bridge Nikkor AF 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 34mm, 1/250s, f/5.6, ISO 1600

Portland Waterfront Park Nikkor AF 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 32mm, 1/180s, f/8, ISO 400

SW Broadway and Alder Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/250s, f/4, ISO 200

NW First Ave. Nikkor AF 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 22mm, 1/45s, f/9.5, ISO 200

Portland Waterfront Park Nikkor AF 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 45mm, 1/350s, f/8, ISO 400

SW Yamhill St. Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/45s, f/6.7, ISO 800

West Burnside St. Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/60s, f/8, ISO 200

NW Naito Parkway Nikkor AF 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 55mm, 1/125s, f/9.5, ISO 400

SW Yamhill St. Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/125s, f/5.6, ISO 800

Big Pink Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/1500s, f/6.7, ISO 800

Pioneer Courthouse Square Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/250s, f/4, ISO 200

SE Hawthorne Blvd.

Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/750s, f/8, ISO 400

On the Burnside Bridge Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 130mm, 1/30s, f/5.6, ISO 200

In front of Art Media Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/2000s, f/4, ISO 1600

SE Hawthorne Blvd.

Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/500s, f/8, ISO 400

U.S. National Bank Buildiing Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/350s, f/11, ISO 800

SW Yamhill St. Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 @ 35mm, 1/125s, f/4.8, ISO 400

NW 23rd Ave. Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, 1/90s, f/2.8, ISO 200

On the Burnside Bridge Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 18mm, 1/125s, f/5.6, ISO 200

On the Burnside Bridge Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 95mm, 1/250s, f/8, ISO 800

Portland Art Museum Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 44mm, 1/15s, f/5.6, ISO 1600

SW Park Blocks Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 52mm, 1/6s, f/5.6, ISO 1600

PGE Park Nikkor AF-S 18-200mm VR @ 38mm, 1/8s, f/5.6, ISO 1600

Equipment I used for SoFoBoMo 2008 – plus all receipts (SmartMeter pay station receipts, TriMet pass, and Arctic Circle receipt) from the adventure All Portland photos were captured using a Nikon D300 DSLR, saved in NEF (Raw) format, and processed using Adobe Lightroom v1.3.1 on an Apple Power Mac G5 with 23" Apple Cinema Display.

This book was created using Adobe InDesign CS3 under Mac OS 10.4 on the Apple Power Mac G5.

The font Minion Pro is used for all text.

Postscript In 16 calendar days –14 actual days – I shot over 2000 photos. I took 400 pictures at Portland Farmers Market alone, from dawn setup through midmorning bustle – which might make a good photo story some day – but it wasn’t a fit for my SoFoBoMo book.

I had gone into this project with only the rule that all photos must be taken within the Portland city limits. I had some themes in mind, but I knew the early photos would speak to me – and they did. The anticipation of all the marvelous places in Portland where I had thought I would be shooting washed away with the rain. I found myself more and more being called to return to downtown. I wandered through parts of the city I’d not ever seen. I experienced and learned a lot about Portland. That alone made the project worthwhile.

I loved the rain and wanted to shoot more through the gray, shiny filter... but the weather wouldn’t cooperate. So my book changed directions again.

I didn’t get all the photos I wanted.

Compromise. I adjusted and moved on. I experimented with different techniques and came away with photos unlike anything I’d done before. SoFoBoMo is about letting go of the comfortable earth – and flying.

I learned more about my camera, my lenses, and what works best for street photography.

I changed my strategy for packing and carrying gear and learned to be quicker on the draw. I still make lots of mistakes.

SoFoBoMo lets me embrace mistakes.

Am I happy with my book? Yes. Absolutely.

And I’m a bit amazed that it all came together in a three-week period. That’s the magic of SoFoBoMo. Sign me up for next year.

About Me Photography suits me, in spite of the fact that it wasn’t until March 2007 that I decided that photography might be something I could do well and consequently should start taking seriously. I’m an artist in general – but also a technogeek, as I make my living as a software developer and IT enterprise architect. For me, photography shines brightly at the intersection of art and technology.

I’m also a writer, although I don’t get the chance to write much for myself. My poetry days are largely behind me, and I haven’t had a chance to work on my novel. I write a lot of technical documentation at work, and I maintain a personal blog, so my keyboards get plenty of exercise.

On the web, here’s how to find me: Blog: http://lovelyangel.livejournal.com Photo Gallery: http://lovelyangel.zenfolio.com Website: http://members.macconnect.com/~lovelyangel

A book by Amy Sakurai

/ Kokoro Designworks