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 photographer - in 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 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:
I made the breaching orca in 1994 just after I moved to Vashon Island. I purposely set my Nikon to Automatic, so I could concentrate on focus, composition and when to press the shutter. I got 3 shots of one breach out of 8 - and out of over 600 frames.
The orange orca is the same male, Ruffles, taken just before the breach. It has been widely published, including for postcards.
The breaching Ruffles turned out to be one the most important photographs I have ever taken anywhere in the world. It has also been widely published. It has been included in traveling shows about endangered species and the resident orcas of our Salish Sea.
But more importantly, the breaching orca image has helped change Vashon forever. The image was used successfully to lobby our legislature, as evidence in court and to rally Islanders against an enormous gravel pit.
The shot of one Islanders’ demonstration against the pit, made from a neighbor’s plane, has become a major piece of Island history.
And just this spring the breaching orca gained new life - after 29 years. It was selected as the cover for Vashon’s annual magazine, going to all Islanders and visitors far and wide.
When is comes to your photography, never ever take your neighborhood for granted. Photo ops abound. And never let your important photographs languish. Get them out there, never stop to use them to make a difference.
