Best photo for this location
By Sandy Pokorny
Walker Photos
Below are all walker photos that have been uploaded and entered in the 2010 Photo Walk photo contest.
Jeffrey Yen
Marcus Heinrich
Darrell Davis
Bob Houghton
Rachel Houghton
Tom Reiman
Sonja Donnelly
Nicole Ishida
Colleen Hoyt
Bryan Ray
Mary Wardell
Rachel Noah
Sandy Pokorny
Chuck Pepper Jr.
Marian Croteau
Mark Wardell
shannon hill
michael hill
Get Directions
Meet Time: 05:30am - 08:00am
Photo Walk Description
Note: The Official Worldwide Photo Walk Date is July 24th, 2010
Join Laurie Excell ( www.laurieexcell.com/blog ) & Sharon O’Keefe ( www.pnwcp.com ) as we explore Oaks Park Amusement Park before hours! We will be allowed to enter the park early as they go about starting and testing the rides. There will be all kinds of photo opportunities working with stop action, blur motion, graphics, colors, people (fellow PhotoWalkers) and more. WE will meet at the Main Entrance at 5:30AM for a group portrait and then off we go throughout the park to explore and photograph until 8:00AM when we will meet at a pre-determined location where we can enjoy coffee and donuts while everyone shares their experiences of the morning and gets better acquainted.
Oaks Park Factoids:
The Oaks Amusement Park is the last of the historic trolley parks still in operation in the Northwest, the last to remind us of those by-gone days when the Ferris Wheel was as near flight as we could get, or when the thousands of lights that dotted the midway overwhelmed the senses. The Oaks first opened its gates to eager Portlanders May 30th, 1905 as a way of boosting the Oregon Water and Power Company’s emerging interurban transportation system. Arriving via streetcar or riverboat, visitors to the park were thrilled by an ostrich farm, nightly fireworks display, bathhouse, and classic rides such as The Zip and Shoot the Chute. Fashionable locals wore their Sunday finest as they paid the $.05 cent park admission, which included performances in the Grand auditorium by Sousa’s famed march band and popular musicals or vaudeville acts of the day.
In 1923 the Portland Electric Power Company sold the park to Edward Bollinger who had worked at The Oaks since its opening. He and his son Robert, to whom he passed the park, brought the Oaks into the modern age through the great depression, two World Wars, three floods, and recent recession. With the declaration that he wanted the amusement park to continue as a source of fun for everybody, in 1985 Robert Bollinger turned ownership over to a non-profit corporation which reinvests profits in the park, restoring it to its original beauty and popularity. Oaks Amusement Park is now the longest continually running amusement park in the country.
Today when visitors walk through the gates they are delighted by a mishmash of modern thrills and turn of the century charm with a midway that houses the 1912 Herschel Spillman Menagerie Carousel directly across from The Screaming Eagle, which throws its rotating passenger arm 70 feet in the air. The goal of The Oaks remains the same as it began a century ago; to give Portlanders a thrilling and affordable family outing, and its continuance assures that children of all ages will be able to experience the thrills of today and the timeless fun of yesterday right in their own back yard.
Directions can be found here… http://www.oakspark.com/directions.html
Be sure to join the Worldwide PhotoWalk Portland/Oaks Park flickr group! http://www.flickr.com/groups/photowalk_portland_oakspark/
This is really great to be able to do this! I once before had Privet access to Oaks Park in the winter when no one was there. That was 3 digital cameras ago! I am really looking forward to this opportunity with my equipment I have today! I hope the meet-up place after is close as I will have to leave be 9:15.
I sure hope to be able to enjoy some good donuts and chimping about the day! Many thanks for putting this one. Randy
This is really great to be able to do this! I once before had Privet access to Oaks Park in the winter when no one was there. That was 3 digital cameras ago! I am really looking forward to this opportunity with my equipment I have today! I hope the meet-up place after is close as I will have to leave by 9:15.
I sure hope to be able to enjoy some good donuts and chimping about the day! Many thanks for putting this on. Randy
This is exciting! I’ve never been in Oaks Park so early in the day like this will be. What a great opportunity!
This should be fun! A real behind the scene adventure. With the implications of stories in the immagery. It could even have a sort of surrealism to it.
I am so excited! What a great place to have a photowalk. Thanks Laurie!
Thanks for all your positive feedback! It was Sharon’s idea. And a great one it is. I am also looking forward to shooting at Oaks Park. See you all there bright and early on July 24th!
Hi Laurie,
Can’t wait. Really going to be a special day!
What or where is “Birthday Party Tent.” Is this a tent that will be set up like in the parking lot? Or is it a business near by? I could not find any place with that name via internet search.
Randy
I am looking forward to this trip; I was wondering how where you would go this year (having participated last year) and its a place I am not familiar with.
Can’t wait. Grew up going to Oaks Park every summer. It’s one of my favorite places in Portland to shoot.
Looking forward to this and seeing some of the PDX/Vancouver Meet-Up folks there. Geeeee, what camera should I take?????See ya there Randy!
The Birthday Tent is in Oaks Park. It’s near the skating rink. I’ll get better directions for everyone before the PhotoWalk.
I am looking forward to actual walking the the Photowalk this year!!
I’m glad you’ll be able to actually walk this year!
Ken, glad that you will be able to WALK this year!
I picked this weekend to take some vacation, little did I know that David Hobby (Sunday) and the photo walk are both happening. Yahooo! Sounds like fun.
Dang… I’m really hoping some spots open up… 10 to be exact
as I’m number 10 on the waiting list. Sounds like the most amazing place to do a photowalk…
Hi Fellow PhotoWalkers! The Third Annual PhotoWalk will be here soon and I wanted to touch bases with you all…
-If you are unable to attend (I hope everyone can attend) please, go on the site and un-register. There are several folks on the waiting list who would love to come.
-Don’t forget to post your photos from the photowalk on the flickr site…
http://www.flickr.com/groups/photowalk_portland_oakspark/
-Bring only what you can carry for a couple of hours…I would bring a tripod as we will be getting an early start and you might want to do some blurs of the rides. I’m bringing a body with three lenses…14-24mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm, teleconverter, flash all in a small backpack)
-Bring bottled water as the park won’t be open to sell any. (We will provide coffee and donuts at the end of the walk…donations accepted but not required)
Post and questions, comments here!
Laurie,
Silly question to ask, but can we assume the restrooms will be open during our time there?
Laurie,
Can we bring a model? Just a thought.
Thanks,
Tom
When I signed up for the Photo Walk in Portland ,Oregon it listed me as the 24th to register. Now it seems I am not registered. How do I find out?
Michael
Michael,
There are 5 Portland, OR photowalks. I just logged in, and your name isn’t on the list for *this* photowalk. If you go to the top of the page, click “Photo Walk Login,” after you’ve logged in, it will have a link for “Your Walk.” If you click that link, it will take you to the photowalk you are registered for.
(I know, I’m not Laurie, but I thought I’d help out anyway)
Hi Tom,
I don’t see why not as long as you don’t make a big production out of it and block shooting for the others…..
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for jumping in. I’m sure you’re right about why Michael doesn’t show up on the list. Sorry, Michael, it’s all computerized and I don’t have access to make changes…
BTW, Here is the link to the flickr page where you will all upload your images for the cocntest…
http://www.flickr.com/groups/photowalk_portland_oakspark/
Looking forward to a great walk and seeing the results from everyone!
See post below about the contest….
Note for the contest… View the official blog and scroll down to July 20th, Brad’s post called “Only 4 Day Way” and read about the contest, etc!!! http://worldwidephotowalk.com/
The flickr site I set up is for sharing any and all your images. The contest image must go throught the official PhotoWalk site. More info to come later….
Coffee and donuts will be provided!
Hey all you PhotoWalkers out there!
Go here for contest info…
http://worldwidephotowalk.com/2010/07/uploading-contest-images/
And here to the member flickr site to share photos (this is not the contest) with each other here…
http://www.flickr.com/groups/photowalk_portland_oakspark/
Now, here’s the deal…for those of you who are on the waiting list, you are welcome to come along. I just can’t get you registered for the contest but, the PhotoWalk at Oaks Park is going to be so awesome, I don’t want you to miss it!
See you all at 5:30AM (o’dark thirty) tomorrow!
Tips for tomorrow…
-Wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking a lot so be comfortable
-Dress in layers. It may be cool in the morning and then warm up
-Bring water. Stay hydrated
-Equipment…I’m bringing a D3, 16mm fisheye, 14-24mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm. A macro lens may be fun and you might want to bring a flash for fill.
Any questions…post em here and I’ll check back by 10:00pm and respond!
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for the shout-out regarding those of us on the waiting list. So glad that we can be squeezed in. Thanks again for organizing this walk at such an inventive location.
-Vince
Sharon & Laurie,
Thank you so very much for putting this opportunity together. I never got out of the carousel, but I had a fabulous time. This was such a fun time.
Thank you so much
Randy Keeling
Hi Laurie and Sharon,
We had a fabulous time this morning, thanks for taking us through. The Oaks is a magical place.
I’d love to through at sunset. Hint, hint.
)))
Laurie, thanks for asking me to co-lead the walk.
Tthanks to all who participated in the Oaks Park Photowalk. It was a pleasure meeting each of you and observing your fascination and engagement in the photo ops and challenges this special venue offered. I’m anxious to see your postings on the FLICKR site: http://www.flickr.com/groups/photowalk_portland_oakspark/
Cheers.
Laurie, thanks for asking me to co-lead the walk.
Thanks to all who participated in the Oaks Park Photowalk. It was a pleasure meeting each of you and observing your fascination and engagement in the photo ops and challenges this special venue offered. I’m anxious to see your postings on the FLICKR site: http://www.flickr.com/groups/photowalk_portland_oakspark/
Cheers.
Laurie and Sharon,
Thanks for a great experience. I had a great time, learned a lot and went somewhere I had never been to before. Terri is probably on to something, an evening walk there would have been great too!
-Jeff
Laurie and Sharon,
Great job by both of you. Had a great time! Thanks.
Question…trying to upload photo for contest and not sure if I was successful.
There was no note or sign telling me the upload was successful or failed.
sandy
The walk was a blast and I’ve enjoyed checking out the photos on Flickr. Thank you so much for a great morning! I have one question: Is there any way to get a copy of the group photo you took that morning? It would be a wonderful way to remember the whole group.
Mary
Can’t wait to see who the photowalk winner is for our walk!
Thanks to everyone who entered and who came on the walk. It was a great venue, thanks to Sharon. I had a hard time coming up with the winning photo but, felt that Sandy’s image of the carousel horse coming out of the frame tells a great story of where the Photowalk took place as well as being really creative! Congratulations Sandy!
You all are winners for coming out and sharing such a fun morning. I hope our paths cross again in the near future. Happy shooting.