Jubilation

©Nicole Barker

Celebrating the Timbers third goal over the New England Revolution. One last home game before concluding our debut season in MLS.

NOTE: Colors are not toned perfectly yet, as I am in the midst of 11 projects, but I wanted to get this up Now.

Different trees, same forest

©Nicole Barker

Idiot Trod

©Nicole Barker

Combining beer, running (correction, walking, sometimes crawling) and costumes, the Urban Iditrod is yet another example of Portland's finest.
Here's my partner in crime's vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHf3_Ulvi1k&feature=autofb

Funk.

©Nicole Barker

Goodfoot, Southeast, Portland, Oregon, USA

Let 'er Buck!

The Pendleton Round-Up turns 100 and I get published in a book. So that's cool. It's mostly American Indian and cowboy artifacts that I photographed at Tamástslikt Cultural Institute and the Round Up Hall of Fame. But there's also action shots of mine from the '07 rodeo.
http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9780882407739-0

Grunge is back

©Nicole Barker/US Outdoor

Quick, last minute shoot to advertise our custom "snow water land" logo embroidered flannels at the shop.

Breathe Taking

If you've never understood what I see in journalism, watch at least a couple of these:
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/1-in-8-million/index.html

Proof that new media can tell timeless stories.

Abbotsford, British Columbia

©Nicole Barker

Sikh festival. More soon.

Q: So Niki, what do you do at your day job?

A: I'm glad you asked; Many very important pictures.

Downtown Denver

©Nicole Barker


©Nicole Barker


©Nicole Barker

Notice the sky in the first compared with the subsequent photos; This was within 45 minutes of one another.
I was generally unmoved by domestic metro architectural photography, until I realized it's Portland itself that doesn't yet inspire me.
(Yes, I know - sin of all sins for me to critisize your prized city).
My complains are two fold: 1) I'm already bored of the incessantly diffused light and blown out skies, and, 2) The architecture is bland - despite the significance of the painfully unattractive Portland Building.
Clearly the problem lies within, and I am not so unreasonable as to blame an entire city for my lack of inspiration. But post-storm Denver affirmed my mounting suspicion that downtown Portland is aesthitically bland.
Prove me wrong?

BLEAT.

©Nicole Barker
Found this opp while scouting portrait locations for Tyler and Michelle's upcoming farm wedding. Speaking of - looking for contract assistants in the Willamette Valley and metro areas.
First post since moving back stateside. Been a bit preoccupied with my new job shooting for http://www.usoutdoorstore.com/
Additional NZ images to ensue, as well as my take on Stumptown.

Autumn to Winter

©Nicole Barker

"Lest We Forget"

©Nicole Barker

ANZAC day in Arrowtown, NZ.

A girl and her chooks

©Nicole Barker
Kiwis, such as young Stella here, call chickens "chooks".

Only in dreams

©Nicole Barker

Sun after the storm

©Nicole Barker
Lake Tekapo

Back to Black

©Nicole Barker
Sacred island tree in Golden Bay.

NZ Gecko

©Nicole Barker

Fancy mud

©Nicole Barker

Big Bowls Fan

©Nicole Barker
This bloke was quite intent on watching the old hens compete in a riveting match of bowls at the Government Gardens in Rotorua.

Waiting in Welly

©Nicole Barker

Cable Bay

©Nicole Barker

... Go All Blacks!

©Nicole Barker
http://www.allblacks.com/

Cat of Lancashire

©Nicole Barker
One of my NZ besties

Buzz cut

©Nicole Barker
It's sheep shearing season here at Tiahronga. They look pathetic after the deed.
Farm life has been great and all, but I miss photojournalism so much. Time to dig back into it!

The grass is always greener

©Nicole Barker

Honest

©Nicole Barker

Hit me with music

©Nicole Barker
From a piano that I'm getting to know.

Kekes by Heli

©Nicole Barker
I live here.
PS - this Web page was not designed by Erik Hidle, but by yours truly. Nice try though.

Hunting for Moa

©Nicole Barker