Painting with Light:
Photography Juried Show

Gary Randall is an award winning professional photographer, artist, writer, traveler and adventure seeker who lives in the foothills of the south side of Mount Hood, Oregon. He has been a lifelong resident of all sides of Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge and has spent his life exploring the outdoors. He currently resides in the little town of Brightwood. Gary has been taking photos since he was about six years old when he was given a Brownie Hawkeye. Taking photos has been a passion since. He bought his first 35mm SLR, a Yashica, when he joined the U.S. Navy and immediately wanted to learn how to develop his own photos. He joined a camera club and started spending hours at a time in a darkroom learning new techniques from the “old guys” there that were willing to teach what they knew. It was during his stay on the little atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Midway Island during the late 1970’s that he got his first taste of the world of travel, adventure and was where he first became serious about the hobby of photography. After raising a family, he has two grown sons Chris and Matt, and a career change that lead back to the use of a camera, he has transitioned to photography full time. Since digital photography has come into play and has developed into a high quality method, it has allowed him the ability to do many of the darkroom processing techniques that he learned in the past, plus a lot more – all with the lights on.

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Through the last 15 years his digital photography has developed to a point where it is recognized as some of the best in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, and is starting to be recognized on the world stage. Collectors are realizing the value in his photographs as an investment. Gary has been featured in books, magazines, TV, web sites and blogs. Gary has been recognized for his work both for photography and volunteer work in his community including the Clackamas County Marketing Innovation Award, Volunteer of the Year Award from the Mt Hood Cultural Center and Museum and was the recognized artist of the year in 2014 by the Mt Hood Chamber of Commerce. Gary is a writer and a public speaker and has given presentations to groups such as the Oregon Professional Photographers Association, the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs and several Photography Meetup Groups. He writes a monthly article for his local newspaper focusing on photography related subjects. He is a licensed outfitter and guide who conducts photography tours and teaches classes and photography workshops. He earned a Silver Medal award from the Professional Photographers Association 2017 International Photographic Competition.

Whenever he’s not at home taking care of business, you can find him wandering near and far to find the the unique scenery that makes up his work. He shares his adventures with his girlfriend Darlene, his dog Betty and his PPV (Photographic Pursuit Vehicle) his 1990 Jeep Cherokee. Photography is his life. Photography is his reason.