Fine, I admit it. Corvallis Rocks!

1985 Emporium department store in the Valley River Center Mall in Eugene Oregon

Photography in Corvallis Rocks!

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away my family ran a string of 34 very successful department stores throughout the Northwest. The Emporium department stores. The headquarters of the whole operation was located in a small college town here in Oregon, and to show some local pride the company donated to the college's little known football team. For many years, the logo of our family business could be seen on the stadium's scoreboard which stoked the fires of an unbelievably strong love for the team throughout our family. To us, the boys on that team WERE family. To this day, if you cut me I will baffle the best Hematologist by bleeding green and gold. As you may of guessed by now, the team I’m talking about has become the unstoppable force known as the Oregon Ducks.

For many years I treated that beautiful city like the allies treated Germany in World War II.

So considering my deeply ingrained love for all things Eugene, Oregon, you can only imagine the pain and inner turmoil typing the following sentence is about to cause me. I freaking love Corvallis Oregon! For many years I treated that beautiful city like the allies treated Germany in World War II. Any runs I had to make into Corvallis were treated like covert operations with the main goal being to get in and get out before being spotted by enemy troops. But as my own family business required me to do more portrait sessions in Corvallis, my eyes began to open to the beauty and diversity that Corvallis has to offer. Everywhere you go, the town offers up amazing locations to photograph clients.

Let's start with the enemy hive itself... Reser Stadium. In 2005, the folks over at the Hunt-Wildish Joint Venture spent $80 million on what became know as the Raising Reser Project, and it was well worth it! As a visual artist, I love the design and beautiful flow of the stadium's architecture. From time to time, I get a client that is a die hard Beavers fan and wants to have their portraits at Reser Stadium and I love it! Reser Stadium is B-E-A-utiful!

Next on my “why Corvallis rocks” list is the downtown area. If you were like me and refused to venture behind enemy lines, it’s time to let it go and explore the visual playground that is downtown Corvallis. The downtown area is a wonderful mix of old world and modern design. As a photographer, the downtown area offers amazing locations to take senior portraits. A great example and one of my favorite places to photograph senior portraits or even family pictures is On the Edge Salon. (find name.) The interior is a glorious mix of modern clean lines using old world and period correct materials. But if you're not a photographer or design geek like me, just go for the view out on the second story deck. Check it out around sunset for a jaw dropping view of the downtown area (find bridge name) . While you're there pop into some of the local stores and restaurants like (Aomatsu Sushi and Blackledge Furniture). In my mind, there's nothing better than shopping for that perfect vintage accent piece that will complete your room followed by a great meal. But bring your camera because photo ops are everywhere!

If the hip urban thing doesn't work for you never fear because Corvallis has some of the best outdoor parks and hiking trails around. Case in point: Bald Hill. I love love love doing family portraits at Bald Hill. It’s an easy hike for anyone traveling with children, and the view at sunset is gorgeous. Or maybe your children have four legs and are covered in fur? In that case grab a leash and let’s do some doggie portraits at Crystal Lake Park. This park offers both a leashed area as well as a bunch of off leash hiking trails to choose from. This is one of the area's best options for anyone wanting to include Fido in their family portraits. Not to mention a beautiful place to just let your furry friend burn off some energy.

Last but not least on my list of beautiful places to photograph/ visit in Corvallis is of course Oregon State University. I once viewed the campus as ground zero for the epidemic known as Beaver Fever, but after visiting and displaying no symptoms I began to explore OSU on a regular basis. The campus is a fantastic place to let your eyes wander and drink in the stone columns, vintage brick work, and beautifully manicured lawns. My family portrait clients and college senior portrait clients love using the campus as a set for their portraits. The campus provides an old world and slightly regal look that really works well for formal portraits. For those of you who aren't photographers the campus is a really wonderful place for an early evening walk with a loved one. You can almost feel the history in the walls around you as you walk and that feeling seems to help calm the mind and open the heart. At least it had that effect on this die-hard, never-to-be-caught-dead in Corvallis Duck's fan. So now with an open heart, humbled soul, and a revised opinion, I’d like to raise a glass of Two Towns Cider and offer a toast to the most beautiful city I have ever unjustly hated.

Cheers,

Daniel Troutman

Daniel Troutman
daniel@troutmanphoto.com
Albany, OR

Daniel Troutman started his career in 1999, is an internationally published photographer. He began as a staff travel photographer, and is now runs a retail studio in Albany, Oregon. His images have been published by some of the largest agencies in the world, such as Newsweek, VH1 Music Television, The Food Network and Best Western Hotels.

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GeneralDaniel TroutmanAugust 13, 2016