Mike Putnam Photography

We asked Mike Putnam to give us a snapshot of his life as a local professional photographer. See more of his work and chat with the man himself at our next Artist Spotlight Event, Friday April 11 from 5 to 8 pm at Eastlake Framing.

Eastlake Framing: How did you get started in photography?

Mike Putnam: It evolved from a passion for the outdoors. I always liked backpacking and I liked to share those trips with friends and family. The pictures were always terrible so I wanted to more accurately represent the beauty of the backcountry. I became a professional photographer 10 years ago, and it’s been an evolution of getting better and getting different camera setups. I taught myself everything. It has taken thousands of hours of reading and learning and making mistakes along the way. What’s unique about me is that I use a large format 4×5 film camera, which allows me to make a huge image that’s finely detailed. It’s slow and really heavy, and most people don’t have the patience for it. But it’s pretty unique and allows me to make big, gorgeous, finely detailed prints.

EF: How long have you known Deb?

MP: I’ve known Deb ever since I first became a photographer. She has done framing for years for the Family Resource Center auction and I met her through that. I actually recently switched to going to Eastlake Framing to frame my prints not only because I appreciate the charity work that Deb is involved in, but because the quality of Eastlake’s framing is excellent.

EF: What inspires you?

MP: The great outdoors: trees, mountains, rivers, and streams. I get really energized by it. I love sharing that with others, especially people who can’t get into the backcountry as often as me. I can’t think of anything healthier to do. It gives me a rush that motivates me to get back out there.

EF: What is your favorite location that you’ve shot at?

MP: I don’t have a favorite place [laughs]. Central Oregon, I guess. There’s so much diversity within a 90-minute drive that I’m hardly motivated to ever leave the area. I love the Three Sisters Wilderness, the Deschutes river, the Metolius River, Painted Hills, Cascade Lakes Highway, McKenzie Pass, Santiam Pass, everything. I have the best job in the world, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

EF: What does photography mean to you?

MP: It’s a way to share something beautiful with other people who appreciate the same things I do. It has allowed me to help others, whether it’s through print donations or seeing the joy on others’ faces when they receive a new print. I like to help groups that need my work, including the Deschutes Land Trust, Deschutes River Conservancy, Oregon Natural Desert Alliance, and the National Forest Foundation. There are not a lot of other groups who you can help as effectively on a day-to-day basis. They are solid groups of well-organized people who have put their time and effort squarely into preservation and enhancement of wild and beautiful areas in Central Oregon.

EF: How has your work changed over time?

MP: Drastically. My composition and technique have changed a lot. I put more depth and feel into my images. I strive for images that tell a story and invite the viewer into the image. It’s hard now to find a scene that’s attractive enough to make my portfolio better. My shooting style has also changed a lot. I’m better at finding those scenes now than I used to be.

EF: What is the most challenging part of what you do?

MP: I have to do a fair amount of computer work, which is still rewarding but it’s my least favorite part of the job. I’m more of a people person: I’d rather be meeting with someone eye-to-eye than writing a story about my latest shoot. It’s still not really that bad, it certainly could be worse. But my heart lies in the backcountry. So I try to find ways to make myself more efficient. I love finding the scenes and capturing the scenes. I love it when my prints come back, and when the framed print is finished. Another source of joy is getting to share it with people and seeing how happy they are. I can officially say I have very few complaints.

EF: What are your future plans?

MP: More of the same. I have some shots that I’m not going to share yet that I think will be really beautiful that no one has really captured well. What’s always in the back of my mind is how I can get out and take that next great shot. I might start doing more in the printing world and selling posters, and a lot of people are suggesting that I write a book. I have a line of greeting cards that sell really well, so I’ll continue with that. There are definitely some projects that I look forward to in the next few years.

Thanks for sharing your art with us Mike! To see more of Mike’s work, visit his website at http://www.mikeputnamphoto.com.

Eastlake Framing is located at 1355 Galveston Avenue in Bend, Oregon. Subscribe to our newsletter to ensure you don’t miss other great features on local artists and shows!