First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Bend, Oregon (12/2/2011)
I’m pleased to announce that I will return to my frequent art haunt of Patagonia of Bend for tomorrow night’s First Friday Art Walk. Patagonia Of Bend is located at 920 NW Wall St, where I will introduce a new Print of Central Oregon’s beautiful Proxy Falls. I just viewed this print for the first time today and I think it looks fantastic!
Oregon Waterfall
Proxy Falls may be my favorite waterfall anywhere and I am very excited to share this new framed print! In addition to this new Oregon Waterfall Print, I’ll also have the following favorites on display during the First Friday Art Walk festivities.
Sparks Lake near Bend,Oregon.
Bend Oregon’s very own Sparks Lake during a beautiful sunrise. Below is another stunning waterfall image from the Bend,Oregon area, Bend’s own Tumalo Falls, captured this past summer!
Bend Oregon Waterfall
I will also be showing one of my favorite Oregon snow images, taken from the top of Bend’s Tumalo Mountain.
Bend Oregon Snow
Please stop by Patagonia of Bend tomorrow night to see my new Proxy Falls Print as well as these older favorites!
I hope to see you there,
Mike Putnam
First Friday Art Hop in Bend, Oregon!
Hello Photography friends! After a two month sabbatical, from First Friday festivities, I will be back with with new Fine art prints at my familiar haunt, of Patagonia of Bend. Patagonia of Bend is located at 920 NW Bond Street, in Downtown Bend, Oregon.Fall Art Hop and my show will take place this Friday, 10/7/2011. I’ll be in the store from 5:00 PM until about 9:00PM. Rumor has it that the affable owner of Patagonia of Bend, Rod Bien, will be providing his signature frosted animal cookies and some only slightly toxic white wines, for free! I’ll be showing some new prints including the image of Tumalo Falls with summer wildflowers seen below. This Tumalo falls photograph is printed, framed and ready to show. It is definitely my favorite summer image of Tumalo Falls, and I think my collerctors will love it!
Bend Oregon's Tumalo Falls with summer wildflowers
The diversity of color and texture make this a visually stunning print. Because of the heavy snow fall in the Central Oregon Cascades last winter, Tumalo Falls’ flow was the highest I’ve seen it last summer, so it will be all but impossible to duplicate this wildflower and waterfall Photograph.
The following image of Paulina Peak, Paulina Lake and the Central Oregon Cascades as seen from the Newberry Crater National Volcanic Monument will also be premiered during Bend’s First Friday Art Hop.
Newberry Crater and Paulina Lake
This Newberry Crater/Paulina Lake is one I’ve been trying to capture for two years. Until now I’d been foiled by snow,clouds, wind, you name it, I’ve been beaten by it, until now! A wonderfully colorful sunrise against the pinnacles of Paulina Peak, heavy snow cover on Mt. Bachelor and the distant Three Sisters, and the misty shores of Paulina Lake far below make this landscape photograph worthy of all my efforts. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do!
One of my favorite Prints and one that I have shown very lightly is from Canyon Creek Meadow, at the base of Central Oregon’s Three Fingered Jack. The Canyon Creek Meadow hike is one of my favorites in the Bend area and this is one of the most flower filled landscape photographs I’ve seen. There are always lots of lupines in Canyon Creek Meadow but the year of this photo was exceptional. It was simply the best and most dense stand of Lupines I’ve ever seen.
Canyon Creek Meadow hike
Another lightly shown image in my collection of Landscape photographs is from Bend’s beautiful Deschutes River Trail. The Deschutes River runs through the middle of my beautiful hometown of Bend, and the Deschutes River Trail parallels much of the Deschutes River. The section of the river trail seen in this stunning autumnal image is located south of the city of Bend. This photograph was captured last fall, perhaps the best year for fall color along the Deschutes River that I’ve ever witnessed.
Deschutes River near Bend, Oregon
The fact that such beautiful scenery can be found just minutes from the city of Bend makes me feel lucky to live here!
I haven’t yet decided which additional prints I will display during the First Friday Art Hop, but the following image of the Oregon cascades is a leading candidate as it captures what I think is the best composition of Oregon’s beautiful Cascade mountains.
Oregon Cascade Mountains
Please, if you are out this Friday(10/7/2011), stop by Patagonia@Bend and say hello! I look forward to seeing some of my photography friends and to meeting some new ones.
See you Friday Night,
Mike Putnam
The Art of Photography partners with the Art of Brewing! First Friday Art Walk at the Bend Brewing Company!
I’ve had lots of different Landscape photography exhibits at the Bend Brewing Company, but this one is a little different! First of all, this will be part of downtown Bend’s First Friday Art Walk. Art will will take place between 5-9PM Friady May 6th 2011. For those poor hopless(sorry!) souls, that have never been to the Bend Brewing Company, it is located at 1019 Northwest Brooks Street in Downtown Bend. Finally you can have some great beer with your art filled Friday night stroll. I’ll unveil following four brand new prints at the Bend Brewing Company Friday night.
Columbia River Gorge
Patriarch Juniper Tree
Deschutes River Trail
Mariposa Lilies
All these new fine art Landscape Photographs and that isn’t even the exciting part of the evening. One of my images, will grace the label of a new Bottled beer, Outback X made by the BBC. Pretty Awesome for a beer drinking photographer like myself! Both Me and Superstar brewmaster, Tonya Cornet will be on hand to sign beer bottles, and perhaps drink beer! Stop by and enjoy the fun!
Cheers,
Mike Putnam
Patriarch Juniper Tree!
Those that know me as a photographer are well aware that I struggle with trees. The challenge of capturing the essence of such wonderful living things, has vexed me in the past. In my job job as a landscape photographer i spend lots of time exploring the Central Oregon area. Last summer, while I was looking for Mariposa Lilies in bloom, I stumble across this absolute giant of a Juniper Tree. It is approximately seven feet in diameter at its base and it is very healthy. By far the biggest and most character laden juniper tree I’ve ever found. One of the things that defines Juniper trees is there ability to survive in hostile climates. This huge, weathered(yet healthy) Juniper most embodies what I think a Juniper Tree should look like. I made several separate visits to this old growth Juniper tree in an attempt to capture the best composition possible.
Patriarch Juniper Tree
My initial efforts were less than stellar, yet I kept returning. this big Juniper had a certain personality that repeatedly drew me back. After some introspection, I realized that this Juniper reminded me of my father. I’m sure that there are some awful Freudian connotations there, but it’s true! It is big, embracing, and has a certain warmth about it. All traits which distinctly remind me of my Father. Thus the title, Patriarch Juniper Tree. You can see this image and three other new images during the First Friday art walk at the Bend Brewing Company, Friday May 6th, 2011. I hope to see you there!
Best,
Mike Putnam
Mariposa Lilies!
One of my favorite aspects of landscape photography is the ability to isolate pieces of the landscape. Oregon’s high desert is largely dry and vegetation is relatively sparse during the summer months. Periodically, spring rains and weather patterns combine to stimulate blooms on one of my favorite wildflowers, the Mariposa Lily. Mariposa Lilies bloom for about 24 hours and they are usually found as isolated specimens. This was a rare grouping of Mariposa Lilies, growing wild on a friends property in Central Oregon.
Mariposa Lilies near Bend, Oregon
To capture two Mariposa Lilies in full bloom is exceedingly rare. To capture three more blooms about to open is even more unique. Finding this luminous grouping of Central Oregon wildflowers is lucky but being able to share them via my photography is a joy. This Landscape photo and three other new images will be on display tomorrow, May 6th, 2011 at the Bend Brewing Company in downtown Bend, Oregon. Please stop by during Bend’s First Friday Art walk celebration and let me know what you think about this Photograph.
Thanks,
Mike Putnam
The Art of Beer! First Friday May 2011.
I’ve mentioned the Bend Brewing Company many times before in this blog, which , frankly is odd, because this blog is supposed to be about photography! Well, I’m so excited, I have to mention the BBC (Bend Brewing Company) again. I always have my Oregon Landscape Photography displayed in the main room of the BBC, and occasionally my landscape photos are displayed in the hallway,which is reserved for a rotation of artists. I’m happy to say that my art will be displayed in the BBC “Art Hallway” during the month of May, 2011, and that I will be at the BBC for the first Friday Art walk(May 6, 2011) in downtown Bend, Oregon. Even more exciting, My Photograph, “Ponderosa Glow” will be featured on the label of the BBC’s newest bottled beer! The label of the beer is seen below.
Outback X Beer label from the Bend Brewing Company!
The BBC’s exceptionally talented brewmaster, Tonya Cornett(2008 World Beer Cup Brewmaster of the year!), will be there to sign bottles of this amazing beer. Outback X is , in fact, one of the most awarded beers in the world over the last 4 years! Below are some of its recent awards:
2010 Great American Brewing Festival-Bronze medal
2010 NABAA -Bronze medal
2010 World Beer Cup- Gold Medal
2009 Great American Beer Festival- Silver Medal
2008 World Beer Cup- Gold Medal
Wow! As you can imagine, I am honored to have my photograph grace the label of this exceptional beer. This honor is especially cherished because the management and staff at the BBC have been so kind to me and my family over the years. Thank You to them! Below is an image off the Ponderosa tree that is seen on the Outback X label.
Ponderosa Pine Tree
It is perhaps my favorite tree in the world and the second largest ponderosa tree I’ve ever seen. I’ll also have a large print of “Ponderosa Glow” on display for the First Friday Art walk, May 6th, at the Bend Brewing Company, so save that night on your calendar for a fun combination of beer and art!
Cheers,
Mike Putnam
First Friday Art Walk, Bend, Oregon
Hello, everyone, I will be at Pandora’s Backpack, AKA Patagonia of Bend(920 NW Bond St, in Downtown Bend), tonight, Friday January 7, 2011 from about 5-9PM displaying a few pieces of my work. If any photography fans are in the downtown Bend area, please stop by and say Hello.
Sparks Lake near Bend, Oregon
The following image of Sparks Lake will accompany me tonight, as will a few of my other images. I will also have my Oregon Greeting cards for sale at the show only price of $20 for a mix pack of 8 cards. I hope to see some of you there tonight.
All the Best,
Mike
Bend Oregon Fall Art Hop
It’s that time again art fans, Fall Art Hop! As is often the case, I’ll be sharing my fine art landscape photography at Patagonia of Bend, located at 920 NW Bond Street, in Downtown Bend. The good folks at Patagonia will be sharing their now famous iced animal cookies. It is a touch of class that you can’t just find anywhere, so come on in and enjoy the ambrosial flavors of tiny animals dipped in frosting. Confectionary Greatness! This greatness will be balanced by the astringent notes of Patagonia of Bend’s signature brand of slightly rancid wine, that I generously think of as good vinegar! What more could you ask for?
Tumalo Falls, near Bend, Oregon
The above picture of Bend’s own Tumalo Falls will be on display at this particular art hop. It is a picture that has special meaning to me because I captured this images with my beautiful daughter, Emma. While Emma may not be at the show, this Central Oregon Landscape picture will.
Dwarf Monkeyflowers blooming near Bend, Oregon
This vibrant macro picture of dwarf monkeyflowers blooming in the high desert outside of my hometown of Bend, will be displayed for the first time tomorrow night. It captures one of the splashes of color that make high desert hikes so worth while. Another new pictured that will be displayed for the first time at art hop will be the following picture of Broken Top Mountain.
Broken Top Mountain near Bend, Oregon
I’ve enjoyed dozens of hikes along the Broken top Trail including several overnighters but I’ve never found a better wildflower foreground with “No Name Lake” and Broken Top in the background. This was a morning picture and more importantly is was a low wind morning which allowed me to get good detail of the wildflowers in this beautiful scene. The following landscape picture of Bend’s famed Sparks Lake was taken last year. This picture will also be available at Patagonia of Bend for fall art hop.
Sparks Lake near Bend, Oregon
Probably my favorite Sparks Lake Picture to date, this image captures a gorgeous sunrise with placid waters from one of Oregon’s most iconic locations. Fresh snow on South Sister and Broken Top, certainly add to this serene Central Oregon Picture.
Oregon's Mount Jefferson
The above picture of Oregon’s beautiful Mt. Jefferson will also be on display at Art Hop on the night of October 1st. If you are in the Bend area, please stop by , check out my work and say hello.
I hope to see you all at art Hop!
Thanks,
Mike Putnam
First Friday Art Walk 9/3/2010 in Bend, Oregon
Tonight for Bend, Oregon’s First Friday Art Walk, I’ll be back to my old haunt of Patagonia of Bend. Bend’s one and only Patagonia store is located at 920 NW Wall St in Downtown. I’ll have my work displayed and downtown Bend should be bustling with activity. Get you art groove on and stop in and say hello if you happen to be in the downtown area tonight from 5PM to 9PM. I’ll spend most of my time at the Patagonia store but my work will also be displayed at the Volcano Vineyards tasting room located at 126 NW Minnesota St, just around the corner from Patagonia of Bend. If you don’t see me at one place, I’ll be at the other and my Oregon landscape photography will be at both!
Mount Washington, in Autumn
The above image of Oregon’s Mt. Washington along with several other landscape images will be at Patagonia of Bend. Also available at Patagonia of Bend will be their now famous iced animal cookies and Rod Bien’s family label of Rot-Gut wine, which is great for quickly removing tartar from you teeth! Stop in for great photography and a free teeth whitening!
Meanwhile at Volcano, will be Sangria, Merlot, viognier, and their exceptional Syrah. I hope to see some of you in Downtown Bend tonight for the September 3, 2010 art walk!
All the Best,
Mike Putnam
Bend Oregon Art Walk. Split shifts between Volcano Vineyards and Pandora’s Backpack.
I’m pleased to announce that I will be in downtown Bend, Oregon for the First Friday Art Walk from approximately 5-9PM this Friday, March 5th. I will start the evening at the Volcano Vineyards Tasting Room located at 126 NW Minnesota St I’ll be there from approximately 5-7PM.
The walls of the Volcano Vineyards Tasting Room festooned with beautiful Photography!
At 7Pm I’ll move to Pandora’s Backpack which is located just around the corner at 920 NW Bond St where I’ll reside from approximately 7-9pm.
Patagonia by Pandora's Backpack located at 920 NW Bond St. in Bend, Or
I’ll have some of my best work displayed at these locations so please stop by.
Volcano will have their always stellar wines available for a very fair price and the Pandora’s Backpack will have their always awful wine available for free! It should be noted that while Rod Bien’s(owner of Pandora’s Backpack) taste in wine has been know to make winos gag, they do have a beautiful collection of Patagonia clothing that will make any outdoor enthusiast giddy with excitement.
smiling and helpful staff members, like Whitney, seen above, will be available to serve you some semi-toxic wine tomorrow(3/5/10) at Pandora's Backpack
Please stop by for good or bad wine and hopefully great Photography! Below is a small sampling of the work I will have available.
Mt. Washington at sunrise.
Photograph of Shevlin Park in Autumn.
Photo of a beautiful sunrise from one of Oregon's most photogenic locations, Central Oregon's Sparks Lake.
Sunrise on Central Oregon's Broken Top Mountain with a wildflower filled foreground.
Please stop by as it should be a great evening!
All the Best,
Mike Putnam
First Friday Art Walk at my newest Bend Art Gallery: Volcano Vineyards Tasting Room
The First First Friday Art Walk for February 2010 is almost upon us and I’d like to officially invite everyone to the Volcano Vineyards Tasting room located at 126 NW Minnesota St(between Bond St and Wall St.) in Downtown Bend. I’ll be there Friday February 5th between 5PM and 9PM and my Fine Art Photographs will be hanging there through March 2010. I will have several new fine art photographs on display and the Quons will be playing as well, which should make for an entertaining evening.
Interior of the Volcano Vineyards Tasting room in Downtown Bend, Oregon
As the First Friday art walk for downtown Bend was cancelled for January( because it was on New Years Day) This Art Walk for February should be especially busy and exciting. Below is another shot of the interior of The Volcano Tasting Room with some of my fine art landscape photographs on the walls.
My fine art photographs hanging at the Volcano Vineyards mothership in downtown Bend.
Finally one last shot of the lovely and affable Liz Ratcliff who along with her husband, Scott, is the owner and operator of Volcano. If you see Liz on Friday night, buy a glass of their amazing Syrah and tell her the landscape photography looks stunning!
Liz Ratcliff of Volcano Vineyards fame!
I hope to see some of you Friday Night At Volcano! Come enjoy the Great Wine, Great Music and Great photography at my newest fine art photography gallery in downtown Bend!
Thanks for Visiting,
Mike Putnam
Oregon Landscape Photography, Three Fingered Jack at its Best.
Last summer, My wife ,Debbie, My Daughter, Emma and I made what has become an annual overnight pilgrimage to one of my favorite camping locations, Canyon Creek Meadows, at the base of Central Oregon’s Three Fingered Jack Mountain. I visit this location at least once per summer because it is beautiful, relatively easy to access, and I always find some interesting photographic scenery. Three Fingered Jack is itself a gorgeous mountain which has colorful volcanic striations decorating its rocky towers. Canyon Creek Meadows, located on the eastern flank of Three Fingered Jack always has a strong wildflower display and in some years it is stunning. This year(2009) was definitely a stunning year. The Lupine meadows were the best I’ve seen in the 10 years I’ve been hiking to this phenomenal location.
Picture of Canyon Creek Meadow and Three Fingered Jack in the Oregon Cascades
As a Bend Oregon photographer, this location is a must see. I certainly can’t promise that the flowers will be as stunning as they are in the picture seen above, but even if the oregon wildflowers aren’t blooming, the scenery is breath taking. I will introduce a fine art print of the landscape photograph seen above on the first Friday in January at the Volcano Vineyards Tasting room located on 126 Minnesota St in Downtown Bend, Oregon. I hope to see some of you there! Scott and Liz, the owners, and operators of Volcano Vineyards, are funny,smart, and talented people who have the courage to operate a winery out of the high desert town of Bend. They wouldn’t know it until now but they are my heros! I’d love to have a winery business, but I’ve never had their bravery, or wine crafting talent for that matter. If you are a wine connoisseur and find yourself in Bend, you should definitely stop in and have a glass. I recommend their Syrah, it is firm but elegant, and my favorite! OK, enough about the good folks at Volcano Vineyards.
My new photography logo!
The following image of Three Fingered Jack was also taken with my large format camera on this trip with Debbie and Emma, which is now pictured in my logo and hopefully as a favicon to the left of the URL in your browser right now.
This fine art print can currently be viewed at Pandora’s Backpack in Downtown Bend. I hope Rod, Mo and company won’t be mad that I’m changing venues for a month! It is a rare occasion in which I can capture more than one image in the same trip that is worthy of making a fine art print. Well, I guess that these two fine art prints are a testament to how beautiful Canyon Creek Meadows was this year!
Picture/photo of Sunrise on Oregon's Three Fingered Jack
I’ve got a couple more fine art prints to introduce over the next week, so please stay tuned for some beautiful new Oregon Landscape Photography!
As Always,
Thanks For Visiting,
Mike Putnam
First Friday Fine Art Photography show at Pandora’s Backpack
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.
First Friday Art Show- 12/5/08
Broken Top Basin
Deschutes River in Autumn
The above image was taken near the Deschutes River Trail just south of Bend. The next photo, also never shown before is of Mt. Bachelor taken from the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. This is the most dense stand of Indian Paintbrush that I’ve found in the Bend area. I also like how the small cloud cap adds another element to the composition.
Mt. Bachelor and Indian Paintbrush
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