Here are original Clyde Keller documentary photographs drawn from the rural areas of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. Many of the photographs were published and are presented in this portfolio for the first time. Of particular note are the rural subjects who comprise the "Valley People" and "Skagit Spring" series, both publishing projects centering on the original pioneer families and survivors of the pioneers who first settled these regions. There's a good measure of Americana in this collection as well with colorful iconic characters who bring to life the lore, history and traditions of the Pacific NW peoples.

KESEY ON STAGE, Poetical Hoo-Haw Arts Festival, Clyde Keller Photo

"KESEY ON STAGE"
Ken Kesey Poetical Hoo-Haw
Arts Festival Documentary Image

16x20 Inch BW Archival Giclee Print
Image Dimensions are 11.2x17 inches
Heavyweight Epson Satin Paper
Signed/Dated on lower white border

Clear Sleeved on Foam Core, Corner Mounted
Shipped Flat, Insured with Tracking

This archival giclee print offers an exquisite range of tone and brilliancy faithfully capturing this important figure in American Literature. In this photo Ken Kesey is shown launching his Poetical Hoo-Haw with two cohorts before an assembled crowd of several hundred enthusiasts who proceeded to break out into a celebratory dance. The print offers considerable graphic depth augmented by cool and warm gray quadtones in the best tradition of black and white fine art printing. The B&W negative from which this print is made is in pristine condition with little if any deterioration. Makes a strong impression with excellent scale at this larger size. Suitable for immediate safe viewing (the print is clear sleeved on foam core board) and ready for framing.

CLICK ON IMAGE to view complete picture and purchase information.

Price: $300.00

MIGRANT CAMP CHILD, Back To The Future, Clyde Keller Photo

"MIGRANT CAMP CHILD"
Ron's Upper Migrant Camp
Washington County, Oregon
June 1974

16x20 Inch Archival Giclee Print
Image Dimensions are @11.3x17 inches
Printed on Heavyweight Epson Satin Paper
Signed/Dated on lower white border

Clear Sleeved on Foam Core, Corner Mounted
Shipped Flat, Insured with Tracking

In this vintage documentary image I was focusing on poverty as it could be found throughout Washington County, Oregon. The subject of the solitary child gathering a can of water was photographed at one of the numerous farms (known as Ron's Upper) that employed migrant farm labor in the 1970s. Entire families lived in small one room plywood shelters with bunk beds without water, cooking or toilet facilities. According to Ron Tankersly, one of the owners I spoke with, these migrant laborers loved to "camp out" during the cucumber season. This photograph highlights the actual living conditions such as I found them in June of 1974.

In this new era of foreclosures, unemployment and resulting poverty, this haunting image serves as a sobering reminder that adverse economic conditions have been with us all along. It is what Arianna Huffington now describes as an emerging "Third World America." Like the movie, "Back To The Future" the past has become present but in a downward spiral of increasing poverty.

It is what prompted the late Oregon U.S. Senator Wayne Morse (after viewing these photos in 1974) to argue for a continuing need to address human rights and to be "our brothers keeper" on behalf of the disadvantaged.

In an affluent society these concerns have far too often been ignored during better times. But, as this child reminds us, we are in the stream of a history where such hardships are never further away than in an economic downturn or now, in a "recovery" where millions live under the threat of losing their homes or becoming homeless.

I would like to mention the work done by photographers during the Great Depression, especially under the direction of Roy Stryker's Farm Security Administration or FSA. When we think of the images which defined that era, the work done by such greats as Dorthea Lange and Walker Evans come to mind. I traveled to the Library of Congress in 1976 (two years after this image was taken) to look at the wealth of images that came from the work of the FSA and was profoundly impressed by the variety and scope of these important documentary images. Sadly, this effort was to never be recreated. In this country we never have had the equivalent of the Canadian Film Board whose efforts have supported contemporary documentary and publishing projects similar to the efforts made by these great artists during the Depression. Nonetheless without the work of such gifted artists as Dorthea Lange, we would not have an interpretive photographic record that put a human face on those who struggled sometimes under very adverse conditions.

The B&W Negative used to make this print is in pristine condition with little if any deterioration. Makes a strong impression with excellent scale at this larger poster size. Suitable for immediate safe viewing (the print is clear sleeved on foam core board) and ready for framing.

"MIGRANT CAMP CHILD" Copyright © 1974 Clyde Keller

NOTE: Copyright information does not appear on the final print, which is signed on the lower right white border beneath the far right image.

Price: $295.00

OLDEN DAY FARMER, Oregon Pioneer, Clyde Keller Photo

"OLDEN DAY FARMER"

Portrait of Felix McCullough
In Gear with his 1925 Tractor
Scoggin Valley Pioneer
Washington County, Oregon

16x20 Inch Archival Giclee Print
Satin Paper, Pigmented Inks
Image Dimensions @ 17x11.4 Inches with white border
Signed/Titled and Dated by Clyde Keller

Presented in Archival Sleeve, Unframed
SHIPPED FLAT, Insured with Tracking

From Original B&W Film Negative

This portrait of Felix McCullough was taken in September of 1977. This portrait is part of a series about the authentic pioneer heritage of the settlers to the Tuality Valley and surrounding farmlands of Washington County, Oregon.

One of my favorite images from the 1978 Valley People Documentary Series, but archived for many years. Now, 34 years later, with much of Washington County engulfed by change, these photographs are a precious historical remembrance, capturing the unvarnished flavor of its heritage. Scoggin Valley in now under water... McCullough's farm no longer exists. I asked Felix if he would demonstrate his 1925 tractor for a photograph... the resulting portrait memorializing the event and the end of an era"

OLDEN DAY FARMER Copyright © 1977 Clyde Keller

Price: $195.00

Oregon Coast Homestead, Suislaw Forest, Clyde Keller Kodachrome photo

Oregon Coast Homestead
Suislaw Forest, Rural Oregon
From the Original Kodachrome.

View of rustic house in the mist of the Suislaw Coastal Region. The November 1978 photograph was taken as part of a photographic calendar project documenting Rural Oregon. The original Kodachome is in pristine condition and has been kept in dark storage.

16x20 inch archival giclee art print
Image dimensions are @11.3x17 inches
Heavyweight Epson Satin paper
Signed/Dated on lower white border

Clear sleeved on foam core
Shipped flat, insured with delivery confirmation

My archival B&W giclee print offers an exquisite range of tone, depth and brilliancy. Makes a strong impression. Suitable for immediate safe viewing and ready for framing.

Price: $195.00

Oregon Outback, COUNTRY WISDOMS, Paisley Pioneer Saloon, Keller art

"Country Wisdoms"
Paisley Saloon signboard- double take
Oregon Outback, October 12, 2011

16x20 Inch Archival Giclee Print
Image Dimensions are 11.3x17 inches
Heavyweight Epson Satin Paper
Signed/Dated on lower white border

Clear Sleeved on Foam Core
Shipped Flat, Insured with Tracking

The Oregon Outback is a most desolate yet beautiful region, once inhabited by the Snakes Indians and now home to ranchers of cattle and sheep. We found this hand written signboard (entitled "Country Wisdoms" ) while eating good grub (home made chili) at the local Paisley restaurant, well known as the Pioneer Saloon. I asked permission to slip behind the counter bracing my Nikon on the ceiling beams for a birds eye view of this authentic institution.

The three bits of wisdom read as follows:

1. A fellA who is too quick with an apology likely screws up A lot.

2. LAZy and Quarrelsome are ugly Sisters!!

3. It's downright Annoying to Argue with a fellA who knows what he's talking about!!!

My original archival giclee print offers an exquisite range of color, tone and brilliancy faithfully capturing the local color of this Outback subject. Suitable for immediate safe viewing and ready for framing.

"Country Wisdoms" Copyright 2011 by Clyde Keller

Price: $145.00

Pioneer Farmer Felix McCullough, Clyde Keller photo

Pioneer Farmer Felix McCullough
Portrait of Felix driving his 1925 Tractor
Scoggin Valley Pioneer
Washington County, Oregon

This portrait of Felix McCullough was taken in September of 1977. This part of a series of images selected for a photographic calendar which offered unique images of the authentic pioneer heritage of the settlers to the Tuality Valley and surrounding farmlands of Washington County, Oregon.

One of my favorite images from the 1978 Valley People Documentary Series, but archived for too many years. Now, 34 years later, with much of Washington County engulfed by change, these photographs are a precious historical remembrance, capturing the unvarnished flavor of its heritage. Scoggin Valley in now under water... McCullough's farm no longer exists. I asked Felix if he would demonstrate his 1925 tractor for a photograph... the resulting portrait memorializing the event and the end of an era."

Price: $195.00

Portrait of the Thaxters, Oregon coast sweethearts, Clyde Keller photo

Portrait of the Thaxters
Old-timer sweethearts
Nehalem Country Hinterlands

In the Spring of 1973 I was nosing out interesting folk for possible photographs who lived in the rural hinterlands of the small coastal community of Nehalem on the Oregon Coast. The Thaxter's proved to be a delight, a retired elderly couple interested in gardening, wildflowers and herbs. They are shown standing by their primitive cottage (by the Nehalem river) during a lull in the drizzle, typical for coastal weather. It remains a favorite feature photograph and portrait. Years later, the charm of the Thaxter's fairytale continues to resonate, with its straightforward joyous simplicity.

Price: $250.00

Seattle Pike Place, FARMERS MARKET MUSICIAN, Clyde Keller Photo

"FARMER'S MARKET MUSICIAN"
Seattle Pike Place Farmer's Market
Vintage 1980 Kodachrome

16x20 Inch Archival Color Giclee Print
Image Dimensions are 10x15 inches
Heavyweight Epson Satin Paper
Signed/Dated on lower white border

Clear Sleeved on Foam Core
Shipped Flat, Insured with Tracking

This poetic image of a street musician holding his mandolin is from a larger 1980 art calendar project entitled "Market & Square." Seattle often has a blue cast to its light, particularly in the darker months and especially late in the afternoon on partially cloudy days. The concurrence of the ferry boat in the distance completes the picture to capture a wistful feeling and romance of the Pike Place Market overlooking Puget Sound, here observed in a special moment made nearly 30 years ago.

This archival color giclee print offers an exquisite range of tonality and brilliancy faithfully capturing this historical Pioneer Square subject. Suitable for immediate safe viewing (the print is shrink wrapped on foam core board) and ready for framing.

"FARMER'S MARKET MUSICIAN" Copyright © 1980 Clyde Keller

Price: $195.00

SKAGIT VALLEY FOLK, Kodachrome, Clyde Keller Photo

"Mother And Son"
Skagit Valley Folk
Photographed April 1980

16x20 Inch Archival Giclee Print
Satin Paper, Pigmented Inks
Image Dimensions @ 11.6x17 Inches with white border
Signed/Titled and Dated by Clyde Keller

Presented in Archival Sleeve, Unframed
SHIPPED FLAT, Insured with Tracking

From Original Kodachrome

"Mother And Son" is a documentary portrait of one of the older families who settled in the historic Skagit Valley, Washington. The mother and son are representative of the valley's rich history. Part of a documentary project concerning the folk and history of the inhabitants of the Skagit Valley.

"Mother And Son" Copyright © 1980 Clyde Keller

Price: $250.00

SKAGIT VALLEY RAINBOW, Kodachrome, Clyde Keller Photo

"RAINBOW IN THE VALLEY"
Skagit Farmlands, Washington State
May 1980

16x20 Inch Archival Giclee Print
Satin Paper, Pigmented Inks
Image Dimensions @ 11.6x17 Inches with white border
Signed/Titled and Dated by Clyde Keller

Presented in Archival Sleeve, Unframed
SHIPPED FLAT, Insured with Tracking

From Original Kodachrome

"Rainbow in The Valley" captures a sectional view of the Skagit Valley in a pastoral rendering of inspirational beauty shaped by a cloud cover and rainbow breaking through the diffused light in the distance. Ironically this tranquil scene was taken just a few days before the eruption of Mt. Saint Helens.

This poetic image is included in a larger documentary project concerning the folk and history of the inhabitants of the Skagit Valley.

"RAINBOW IN THE VALLEY" Copyright © 1980 Clyde Keller

Price: $195.00

Skagit Valley, World's Oldest Trucker, Clyde Keller photo

World's Oldest Trucker
Skagit County, Concrete Hamlet Backwoodsman
Portrait of Rodney Gray at 97 years

This vintage documentary arts image captures 97 year old Rodney Gray posed by his all chrome Mack Logging Truck. Photographed in April, 1980 near Concrete, Washington. The photograph was taken during the making of the published photographic essay, "Skagit Sring." In this photo I used a Nikon F2 with a 24mm Nikkor wide angle lens. Rodney was quite engaging and proud of his capabilities. He said the only thing that bothered him was being a little hard of hearing in one ear... remarkable for a man nearing 100 years.

My archival giclee print offers an exquisite range of tonality and brilliancy faithfully capturing this historical Concrete (Mt. Vernon) subject. Suitable for immediate safe viewing (the print is clear sleeved on foam core board) and ready for framing.

Price: $195.00

Skagit valley, Tony Hartman with Horse Drawn Plow, Clyde Keller photo

Tony Hartman with Horse Drawn Plow
Skagit Valley, Washington

The photograph was taken as part of a photo essay on the history and folk of Skagit Valley. It is part of art of a larger collection and body of work that is included in a permanent historical archive. Pictured is farmer, Tony Hartman, now deceased (Thanksgiving 1998) with horses owned by neighbor Williard Lyon. He gave a demonstration of what he called, a little bit of antiquity, a plow drawn by horses across a field.

16x20 Inch archival giclee print
Image dimensions are 11.3x17 inches
Heavyweight Epson Satin paper
Signed/Dated on lower white border

Clear sleeved on foam core
Shipped flat, insured with delivery confirmation

Tony Hartman with Horse Drawn Plow Photo Copyright © 1980 Clyde Keller

Price: $195.00

The Old Worthington Pioneer Gravestone, Clyde Keller photo

The Old Worthington Pioneer Gravestone
Historic cemetery, Washington County, Oregon

Graveyards figured largely into my pictorial landscapes from the late 1960s throughout the next decade. They were incorporated into various publishing and photography projects with a bias towards their historical relevance and pictorial splendor. The Worthington 1969 image remains a favorite, taken at a family pioneer cemetery very near the end of day. The light is revealing of the granite gravestone and the Queen Anne's Lace making them seem to do a ballet of sorts against the shadowy rural background which includes an older wood frame barn-- all are frozen in time against the backdrop of rapid change. It is a meditation upon the past all too quickly forgotten, brought out from the darkness to be remembered once again.

My archival giclee print offers an exquisite range of tone and brilliancy faithfully capturing this historic Skoggin Valley, Oregon subject. The wide up-close view of the historic Gravestone is rendered in an almost 3D like perspective that is most inviting the eye. The detail is enhanced by the use of an ultra sharp 55mm "Micro" Nikkor lens.

The Old Worthington Pioneer Gravestone Copyright 1969 by Clyde Keller

Price: $250.00

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