Welcome
Hello, I am Michael Skourtes and welcome to Oregon Foto Guide. I am a Portland, Oregon photographer who specializes in pictures of Oregon. You can visit my website Oregon Foto to see my galleries. As a Portland native, I have set out to capture the beauty of the state of Oregon. 
I travel throughout the state to take photographs and discover the best oregon hiking, camping, and photography locations. Some of them may be familiar to all such as Mt. Hood and other places may be harder to discover such as a lone homestead outside of Shaniko. My photographic experience spans over 15 years, starting with traditional black and white darkroom technique and now evolving to mostly a digital workflow. Everyonce in a while I will still shoot in film, maybe out of old habits, or because I miss the unique grain effects that film brings to a shot that digital just can’t truly bring.
Photography is the medium of choice for my creative expression. A snapshot is meant to record a literal moment in time but my goal is to rather capture the emotion and experience of the moment. For the majority of my images, I try to capture the scene so that its sense of place can leave a lasting impression for others to enjoy. A photograph that can convey its sense of place to someone who has never been there to see the beauty in person is what I consider a great shot.
I hope that from my Oregon hiking guide you can discover the top destinations in Oregon for hiking, camping, and photographing. Please enjoy viewing my photos and reading my adventures while exploring Oregon. I encourage you to make your own adventure.
Hi Michael
I really like your black and white photography. Your images are of a very high quality and the write-up is interesting. I will definitely be back!
Stew said this on May 29, 2008 at 7:48 am |
Hello!
I found your hiking guide through internet..
EXCELLENT !!
Thank you so much and keep in touch !
A.
alex said this on June 3, 2008 at 5:49 am |
Hi Michael,
My name is Kasey Van Dyke and I’m contacting you on behalf of National Scenic Byways Online. I’m an Information Specialist and Researcher for byways in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. I love your photography and would love to have them on our website.
Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon,
Kasey Van Dyke
Information Specialist/Researcher
National Scenic Byways Online
byways.org
Kasey said this on January 14, 2009 at 1:43 pm |
Hi Michael,
Great photos and great guide. I’m not quite as adventerous as you, but I have a similar site for South Dakota locations. Check it out at http://www.dakotagraph.com when you’re not out in the field.
Good luck shooting,
Chad Coppess
Chad Coppess said this on January 22, 2009 at 9:36 pm |
Michael-
Outstanding photos-you have a real talent. Keep up the adventures. You should put more pictures in your guide, which is fun to read.
Cheers
Retep Htro said this on March 11, 2009 at 6:15 am |
Michael:
Both my wife Carol and I love your photography because we love Oregon. Your career in photography in Oregon spans so many years and so many places.. Your work truly does “. . build confidence in the creative spirit.” as Ansel Adams said.
John Chadwick
pdxren said this on May 4, 2009 at 9:19 pm |
Hi Michael,
I found your site through the nature blog network and find it absolutely wonderful!! I spent a few years of my life in portland and loved the NW for the many nature hiking opportunities that it provides. Now thanks to your guide i can relive many happy memories!!
ROS
ROS said this on June 17, 2009 at 10:33 pm |
Your Pictures are AMAZING! I am working the month of January for a startup company here in Boston that has created a website for outdoor enthusiasts to find hiking, biking, climbing or skiing in their area based on their interests. The Website is called http://www.alltrails.com. This is (and will always be) a free website that’s goal is to make access to the outdoors possible for anyone and everyone in the United States. To be successful, however, we are going to need help building more specific content for the website. This is where we would love to have you assist us. In return we can offer you specific incentives through our website that would include driving people to your hiking guide. Please know that we are not at all trying to just take your already very useful information. We are simply trying to create and interactive website that will allow people to further discover the outdoors. If you are interested, I would love to talk with you about the opportunity.
Thanks and Best,
Mike
Michael Bower said this on January 18, 2010 at 8:55 am |
Hi Michael,
i came across your fantastic website while planning for my January trip to Seattle. I’m planning to visit norteast Oregon and hope to catch some rugged coastline and waterfalls. Would it be proper to ask you for advice of places to visit in the end of January?
/Roger
Roger Moe said this on December 25, 2011 at 7:27 am |
Sorry.. meant northwest…
/Roger
Roger Moe said this on December 25, 2011 at 7:28 am |
Hi there, I’m so glad to have stumbled upon your blog. I’m an Oregon resident and love hiking and camping in the Northwest. We are planning a trip in SE Oregon, and if we are lucky, will get to check out one or two of the places you have written about. Thanks for the tips!
Alicia said this on May 14, 2012 at 8:33 pm |
Michael:
I have always thoroughly enjoyed your writing and photography about our beloved State of Oregon. Your portraits often prove inviting and i rush to make my own visits to places you feature on your blog. Keep up the good work! More! More! my own Word Press blog about Portland was partially inspired several years ago by your own work here!
John Chadwick said this on May 15, 2012 at 5:17 am |