Webinar: The Story Behind the Picture

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Register

Friends of the Columbia Gorge invites you to a live webinar about photography and storytelling -- the power of documenting people and places, how photography can be used as a tool to empower and advocate. Our presenters are two professional photographers who have worked in the Gorge and around the world.

Join Friends online for a live discussion with photographers Paloma Ayala and Peter Marbach, plus follow-up Q&A, on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. Pacific.

Whether you are just starting out in photography or are intimately familiar with terms like "aperture" and "aspect ratio," this conversation with Paloma and Peter aims to help you unlock the full storytelling potential of your camera. Get inspired to capture something deeper in your subject, whether it's in the Gorge or beyond, and use your skills for the greater good. You'll see and hear about the stories behind these artists' work, how they found photography, and what it means to them to be a photographer today.

This discussion takes place during the submission period for Friends' sixth annual photo contest, Picturing Protection. Photos will be accepted through Dec. 31, 2020.

Join us live with Paloma Ayala and Peter Marbach Thursday, Nov 12 at 5:30 p.m. Free event; see registration link below.
 

Featured speakers

Paloma Ayala is a graphic designer and photographer. She serves on the Board of Directors of Columbia Riverkeeper and The Next Door, Inc. Paloma also earned a master's degree in conflict resolution and has a long history of nonviolence work in Mexico. She lives with her husband, Patrick, and son, Oliver, in Hood River, Oregon, and spends as much time outdoors as she can.

Peter Marbach‘s evocative landscapes reflect time spent working with light at the edges of day. He has produced six photo essay book projects, including 2019's “Healing the Big River - Salmon Dreams and the Columbia River Treaty,” and has had a diverse list of clients, from National Geographic to Travel Oregon. His work is part of a permanent collection at Oregon State University.

 

Host

Natasha Stone is Friends’ community engagement specialist. Natasha manages Friends’ outdoor youth education efforts and works to build a diverse and inclusive network of community partners to help protect, preserve, and steward the Columbia Gorge. Before joining Friends, Natasha worked at Oregon Public Broadcasting as a production assistant for the Think Out Loud radio program. A graduate of Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Ethnic Studies, Natasha is passionate about working with underrepresented communities and has seen firsthand how outdoor recreation and education can be empowering tools for communities while working for Portland’s Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization.

The webinar will be recorded and uploaded to Friends' YouTube page within a few days of the recording.

Photo: Cycling through the Mosier Twin Tunnels. (photographer: Cate Hotchkiss)