Sculpting Portlands Past

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Studio 3 Inc

Studio 3 Portland had our Senior Photographer, Henry Ngan, take a walk around this beautiful city capturing what Portland had to offer. Amongst the many landmarks that keep Portland weird and unique, he came across a couple of sculptures that reminds this fresh and hip city of its rich history.

You can find James Gion’s sculpture of the dapper “Italian Immigrant” statue in the traffic island at the intersection of NE 99^th Ave, Sandy Blvd and Killingsworth. Many statues honor an individual, a war, an event. The “Italian Immigrant” gives tribute to anyone and everyone who took a path that led us here. It reminds Portland of our sense of community. Those who came before that laid the foundation for us, is now brought back to the Rose City where they are honored at the heart of the Parkrose district. Standing tall and confident, the Italian Immigrant invites all that come from around the world, to set their briefcase down in search for a new adventure here in Portland.

Artists/Architects Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo of Lead Pencil Studio wanted their representation of the past from a different point of view. The bold new art projects titled, “Inversion: Plus Minus” is a set of towering sculptures that stand along SE Grand Ave. Pictured, is the tower on Belmont street. Using weathered steel angle iron; the artists’ brings “ghosts” of former buildings to life. One half of the towering set (not pictured) is located on the Hawthorne corner. This structure will feature a matrix of metal that almost appears as a solid building. The other half, the Belmont sculpture, emphasizes negative space. Referencing the outer shells of ordinary industrial buildings. Portlanders continue to find ways to remind the present, invite the future and remember the past. Whether it be honoring people, places or things; it all represents Portland. And we SUPPORTland!

Drinks on Seattle Magazine!

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Studio 3 Inc

Seattle Magazine recently approached Chris Eltrich, to do a drink photography shoot. Seattle Magazine’s goal was to showcase the best watering holes in Seattle. In order to truly capture the spirit of each Seattle destination, they gave Studio 3 the task of capturing each bar’s signature cocktail’s unique look and recipe. Luckily, we had help from a mixologist, from each bar. The mixologists whipped up the drinks, and we couldn’t be happier with their styling skills.
On set, we enjoyed hanging out with all of the talented mixologists and testing all of the different cocktails. Our favorite beverage included the salad drink, it made us all feel quite “healthy”. It’s multipurpose nature, won us all over. However, with that said there wasn’t a cocktail that didn’t agree with at least one of us! We can’t wait to visit these spots as a team and try all of their fun drinks!
Besides the team having a blast on set, Seattle magazine was quite impressed with the results, running one of the images as the cover. Stephanie Mennella, from Seattle Magazine, shared a few words with us on the feedback received regarding the images:

It looks AMAZING!! It’s getting tons of compliments, and I appreciate the extra mile you guys went to accommodate the hectic schedule of getting all the drinks shot.

With such awesome words, we couldn’t help but feel great. It’s always a blast working with Seattle Magazine, especially when spirits are involved. We look forward to our next shoot with them and hope perhaps it involves Seattle’s best restaurants…
On that note, we expect the months ahead to be full of fun drink photography shoots and hope to get a call to work with you on your next drink project!

The infamous salad cocktail from Rocco’s

A delightful concoction from Cafe Flora

The cover image, a beautiful treat from Stoneburner

This edition of Seattle Magazine is now available on newsstands, so check it out!

Meet the Team Video

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Studio 3 Inc

Our video department at Studio 3 Films took a break in between jobs to create a story of the team at Studio 3. It was important for both directors to convey the story of each individual and what they like to do outside of the work place. Directors David King and Craig Wagner worked together to flawlessly intertwine the story of both cities. Read on for their individual perspectives and to view the video!

For our “Meet The Team” video, I was assigned the task of shooting all of the Portland based Studio 3’ers. I worked with each individual to come up with a little vignette that would showcase their personality, be visually interesting and fun to shoot.
We featured Henry whipping up a veggie stir-fry spectacular, Corban strumming away on the roof of the bar next door, Liz browsing a vintage shop around the corner, Nikki relaxing with a good book and her favorite snake, Elsie-Ann ripping it up on her skateboard and Craig out on his boat, cruising the Willamette river.
It was great fun spending a bit of time with everyone outside the office, getting some cool shots and discovering some hidden talents.
-David King

I traveled to our Seattle Studio to film the Northern teams clips for the project. I was really excited to showcase the aspects of Seattle, and really giving it that city feel. Upon arrival, I met with Megan, Seattle’s studio producer and discussed the concepts of each teammates sequence, some were very defined while others were a bit loose and abstract, requiring some creativity to nail down the concept. After some brain storming I felt ready to help express each individuals unique personality.
Wanting to incorporate the city in as many ways as we could, I chose backdrops that would showcase both the individuals “talent’”and the city. I thought it would be important to show our team in the environments they call home. So off we went into the city, for street performances, driving fast cars, and getting supplies.
In the end, several of the clips required a run and gun style of shooting, while others were more controlled in a studio set environment. All in all it was a true team effort and so much fun!

-Craig Wagner

New Assistant Photographer! Welcome Jonny!

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Studio 3 Inc

We wanted to welcome our new Assistant Photographer to our Portland Studio! A few words from Jonny!

My interest in photography was born on four wheels. I received my first skateboard when I was 12 years old and haven’t been able to get off one since. I grew up in rural Wisconsin, which is not the most optimal place to learn how to ride a skateboard. But that didn’t stop me from sacrificing my elbows and knees to the concrete gods. As I quickly obsessed about all things skateboarding, so did my passion for documenting it. I watched every skate video I could, studying angles and dreaming of my first fish-eye lens. It was at this moment when I began to think about camera angles everywhere I went (that was skateable). I started out with disposable Kodak cameras. I photographed my friends at the local skatepark and inevitably moved over to video (Hi-8 and VHS-C). I spent almost all of my time skating, filming, and working at the local pizza shop. I spent the first year of college ‘undeclared’ until I came to my senses and joined the film production program. My junior year I landed a summer internship in Portland. After I graduated I packed up and made the journey westward.
My goal was clear: get into the camera department at all costs. After a couple of years freelancing in reality TV land as an assistant and as a local videographer shooting weddings and smaller jobs, I felt dissatisfied with the progression of my camera and lighting skills (reality TV doesn’t necessarily lend itself to creativity). So I took a chance and tried photo assisting. I instantly fell in love with photography and the amount of precision and tinkering to get that perfect shot. A half a year later I was a busy freelancer frequently working for Studio 3 when an opportunity arose and I swiftly jumped on it.

Time Lapse: Forest for the Trees Northwest

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Studio 3 Inc

About two months ago, we were approached by Portland artist Gage Hamilton, the organizer of a public mural art project “Forest for the Trees Northwest“, as a possible site for one of 10 new murals that would be going up the week of August 19th. The south wall of Studio 3 was of particular interest due to it’s size, accessibility and well, it looked like it could use some artistic love. Just standing in the parking lot looking at the vast orange canvas that would be transformed into an original piece of art, we wanted to find a way to document the process. All we were told was that the artists would be painting for 5 days, that the outcome would be a surprise and that the result would be epic and spectacular.

After much internal discussion around documenting this creativity, we decided the best way to document the week of painting was going to be the creation of a time lapse video. We set up a GoPro Hero 3 on the roof of our neighbor, the Jolly Roger Bar and Grill and recorded from dawn til dusk for 5 days. The GoPro also took an exposure every 30 seconds. Through our friends at Star Rentals, we were able to provide the two scissor lifts to the artists to assist with the project.
Hawaiian artist, Kamea Hadar (@kameahadar), and Australian artist David “Meggs” Hooke (@houseofmeggs), worked throughout the week and gave us an amazing addition to the studio and the Hawthorne neighborhood.
Check out the resulting time lapse video and the amazing art that the guys created. Better yet, drop by the studio and check it out in person. ~ David King / Director / Studio 3 Films

To see more of the “Forest for the Trees Northwest” art work located in the Portland area please visit their website at http://www.forestforthetreesnw.com/

Meet Corban: Digital Artist, Video Editor, Animator, Illustrator, an all-around Artist!

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Studio 3 Inc

We are so excited to introduce Corban who’s now a part of the Digital Art Studio 3 team in Portland! He has many amazing talents. Read below to learn more:

“I’m a renaissance man, jack-of-all-trades, or as Wile E. Coyote put it: “Super Genius”. The universe is my playground. Even though I’m not yet a master, I’m a journeyman at so many things I can do practically anything. This curious state of being comes from my insatiable thirst for knowledge. There’s always something new to discover. My mind rebells at stagnation. I need problems to solve. I need work to create. Who needs television when the real world is one big sandbox?

Born and raised in Oregon, I was encouraged to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather by becoming an engineer. It certainly made sense considering my aptitude for math and science. Electrical engineering in particular seemed a good choice. I loved technology and what could be done with it. Being on the cutting edge of electronics seemed an exciting prospect.
I enrolled in engineering school at the University of Portland. By day I was your mild mannered engineering student. But by night I was an artist teaching myself drawing, animation, and graphic design. Often people would ask me “What are you doing in engineering school? You should be an artist!” And they were probably right.
The arts were part of my life since childhood. I would draw my favorite cartoon characters or sculpt them out of clay. I’d listen to radio plays or construct cities with Lego bricks on the living room floor. In school I was involved with music and theater, playing multiple instruments, acting in Shakespeare plays, and singing in musicals. From drawing and sculpture to film and theater, the arts captured my attention. But, strangely, it never struck me to pursue it as a career.
The summer after graduation, it finally dawned on me that I was meant to be an artist. Engineering just wasn’t as entirely satisfying as I had hoped. The work was fairly easy. But life in a cubicle didn’t sound exciting or creative. It sounded like a dependable boring job. And that wasn’t really what I wanted.
So it was off to DigiPen Institute of Technology for four years to get educated in the digital arts. It was during that time I fell in love with story, film, and animation. Storyboarding and video editing in particular are my two favorite parts of production. In fact the digital arts as a whole have been wonderfully engaging. As an artist you need to learn everything there is to know about everything to synthesize new art. And the technical nature of the industry satisfies the part of my brain that enjoys solving the puzzles of process.

After working in Seattle for a year, once school was finished, I finally returned to what I consider home: Portland. Seattle was nice, and one day I may return, but for now I’m right where I want to be.” ~ Corban Monger, Digital Artist/Studio3, Inc.

Studio 3's Photographer Craig Wagner & CMD's Art Director Lawrence Wolf collaborate!

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Studio 3 Inc

See below to view Craig Wagner’s in-studio Product Photography and his lifestyle images!

Studio 3, Inc, Behind the Scenes, Commercial Product Photography, Commercial Lifestyle Photography, Lawrence Wolf, CMD
We are excited at Studio 3 about our latest partnership with CMD in Portland. Craig Wagner (Photographer) and Lawrence Wolf (Art Director) talk about their thoughts around their latest creative venture. Read below to hear more about the collaboration between Studio 3 Inc. and CMD.
A few words from Lawrence Wolf at CMD.
“One of the great things about working at CMD is the way the company embraces the Rose City’s bike culture. Bike commuting is actively encouraged year round, with a lot of extra support for people who get into the saddle for the Bike Commute Challenge each September. And, as an art director, I get to spend my days crafting the visual language of all the things we make for our clients: websites, mobile apps, brochures, you name it. It’s a process where I’m fortunate to work with some really talented individuals. This brings me to Studio 3 Photography, and partnering on a creative project that reflects my personal passion for cycling as well as that embraced by Portland and CMD.
I first worked with Studio 3 in December 2010, shooting bird’s eye views of two Western Star trucks. It wasn’t an easy shoot, given the sheer size of the trucks. And thanks to the unpredictable nature of Pacific Northwest skies in winter, we were forced to shoot inside a warehouse. In that kind of situation, you can only get an angle so wide before running into problems with distortion.
But Craig was very methodical in overcoming these logistic issues. Over the two days we shot, we bonded over a mutual appreciation for all things on wheels, be it two, four or eighteen. That shoot was just the beginning of a strong professional relationship, and then this past spring, something got us talking about my old bike.

I’ve been customizing this vintage Trek touring bike since the birth of my son. It had sat in my garage, collecting dust for several years, because it’s so much heavier than my aluminum road bike and I tend to opt for speed. But it’s always been a great bike. The steel frame gives it a really comfortable ride. It reminds me of the matching, yellow Schwinns that my parents used to pedal me around on. When I started thinking about how to introduce my boy to cycling, I swapped out the drop bars for mustache bars (to accommodate a front-mounted child seat). This gave the bike a totally different look, and I suddenly developed a new appreciation for the bike’s classic styling.

Soon after, I added a Brooks leather saddle and matching bar tape. Then it kind of took on a life of its own. Since then, I continue to adjust little details like striped white tires, or black dice valve covers.

My latest addition was designing the “Slow Ride” aluminum head badge, which I had made at International Graphics. “Slow Ride” was influenced by a few things: My son’s 70s-era, Evel Knievel helmet, and the fact that the bike weighs upwards of 30 pounds. We won’t be winning any races on this thing, but that’s hardly the point of our rides.

I was thrilled that Craig was interested in collaborating on a “Slow Ride” shoot featuring the customized bike. As an art director, I really admire his attention to detail and the way he plans a shot. He’s keenly aware of potential challenges, and always has a good solution for telling a story through his lens. Half the fun of this shoot was working together on the idea, putting together moodboards, and scouting locations.”

A few words from Craig Wagner at Studio 3, Inc.
“Working with Lawrence’s “Slow Ride” concept was fun and allowed me plenty of creative freedom. The mood boards were coherent and well designed. With a clear understanding of the desired outcome and tone, we were ready to go. I look forward to many more future projects with Lawrence’s creative concept development and the CMD team. See below for some of the shots we got on-location!”

Get involved in the Bicycle Transportation Alliance’s Bike Commute Challenge by clicking here.To view CMD’s joint blog post click here.

Photographer Craig Wagner: Light Manipulation!

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Studio 3 Inc

Craig Wagner is brilliant when it comes to manipulating and controlling light. Read below to hear his thoughts around these beautiful images!
I’ve always enjoyed some of the surreal imagery created by Man Ray during the 20th century. My inspiration for these images initially stemmed from past memories of his work. He would use a process known as solarisation and the visual impact, yet basic, was amazing! He created a photogram silhouette of an object, by placing simple objects directly on film plates and adjusting the exposure. This technique would create a “rayogram” look and feel. He was well known for this look and I wanted to create something similar with glassware.
For this shoot I chose to use the Canon 5D Mark III with the Canon 90mm tilt shift lens. This lens allowed more control of the plain of focus, as if I was using a large format view camera.
With my first image I began with a silhouette type look, playing with the composition and selective focus of the glassware, this led me to stacking the glasses on set. I wanted a cooler black & white feel so I began adjusting the hue. I did this by gelling the lights.

My next thought was toward tonality, I wanted to simulate a warmer Gelatin silver print so I changed my camera angle to give it a different perspective.

Again wanting to create as much “in camera”, not in Adobe Photoshop, I altered the image by holding different glassware in front of the lens until I achieved the “Motion Blur” effect you see here.

I must say since I spent so many years shooting with film and now exclusively digital, I sometimes miss the older technology and the in camera control.
To view more of Studio 3’s Product Photography click here!

Meet Niki: Chaos Wrangler with a passion for Commercial Photography!

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Studio 3 Inc

Niki our newest Studio 3 team member loves Commercial Photography and a space filled with creatives!

Studio 3, Inc, Behind the Scenes, Portrait Photography, Lifestyle Photography

Every Commercial Photography Studio needs a Niki! We are so elated to introduce our newest addition to the Studio 3 team in Portland! She’s a woman of many talents, interests and experience. She always has something interesting to share with us, to say the least. Read below to learn more:

I love sorting through hurricanes of disorder and packing things away neatly into beautifully labelled little boxes. I’m obsessed with systems: analyzing them, creating them, breaking them down and rebuilding them again. This fascination led me to a crazy wonderful studio in the heart of Portland. At Studio 3, I can use my skills to continually improve our near flawless work flows – meaning clients get their photo and video assets faster, with less hassle. Every creative environment needs some structure to balance the forces of inspiration, creating the ideal blend of impeccable execution and expressive flair.
Of course, that doesn’t satiate my need to wrangle the chaos of life. When I’m not at work, I’m keeping track of cats, snakes, chickens and chores at my urban oasis. Thanks to Studio 3, one of my beautiful snakes is determined that she has a modeling career in her future.

On the weekend, you can find me at exotic pet shops, Portland’s legendary Urban Farm Store, or piecing together larger than life house projects with a little more than bubblegum and a prayer to the DIY Goddess. My tireless fiancé, a converted cat lover and avid skateboarder, helps me tend to the tomatoes and ensures we have time to tear up epic dance floors at The Goodfoot. Creating our ideal blend of uproar and order is second nature; if anything, it’s where we shine.
When things finally feel calm enough, everyone knows I plop down with a full cup of coffee, a plate of bacon and a textbook on political economies.