Ray Pfortner | Instructor, Fall
About this Artist
Ray has worked in photography for over 3 decades—as an educator, stock photography agent, book editor, consultant and photographer34in New York, California and Washington State.
He teaches for colleges throughout the NW, including the University of Washington, Bellevue and Seattle Central. He is also an instructor for artist leagues, art centers, libraries and not-for-profits from botanical gardens to historical associations.
His students range from middle schoolers to retirees. Ray’s focus is improving camera skills but especially image design, photo styling and the business of art for all art mediums. A primary objective always is sharing art to make a change, especially to the environment and our impact on it, through increased awareness and inspiration.
Ray is a Fellow and Board Member of the North American Nature Photography Association. His photography is represented by Getty Images. He is a graduate of Yale and the Duke School of the Environment.
About this Work
Photography is powerful. Incredibly powerful. Carlton Watkins’ Yosemite images convinced Congress and President Lincoln to create the park —sight unseen. The Terror of War image of napalm victim, now anti-war activist Phan The Kim Phuc changed the course of the Vietnamese War.
We can leverage the power of our own photography. Start by working close to home. We owe it to our community Collaborate with a local nonprofit—land trust, food bank, library, health center, even elected official. They need our art to advance their cause. How? In newsletters, brochures, websites, exhibits, for lobbying and presentations.
Working with nonprofits will also advance our careers. Often there is funding for licensing our work. When there isn’t, go for barters for value (not simply for a credit), for something that matters to you. Like a profile in a newsletter or blog, a show in their offices with an opening and fine art sales, a talk at an annual meeting, special access to a location or event, even helping us secure model releases to allow full use of our resulting images.
Working with a nonprofit is a marriage made in heaven—for both parties. It can lead to working with parent organizations statewide or even nationally. It can lead to national exposure. One recent graduate from our program, Stan Matsui, shoots events for Seattle Children’s Hospital. His photographs of their first patient prom just appeared in People magazine.
My collage represents 32 years of working with nonprofits in my community. Clockwise from from upper left:
Whispering Firs Bog, photostyled image, auction to purchase our only bog - Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust
Great Blue Heron Rookery, auction to purchase our bog, annual meeting presentation - Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust, Vashon Bird Alliance
Beal’s Point, logo - Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust
Sunrise Flight, save the pier - Friends of Tramp Harbor Dock, Vashon Parks Foundation
In Our Hands, photostyled image, save the pier - Friends of Tramp Harbor Dock, Vashon Parks Foundation
Save Our Salmon, demonstration against a gravel pit - Preserve Our Islands, Backbone Campaign
A marriage made in heaven indeed. Try it. Nothing is more satisfying than making a difference with our art.
