Steven Mortinson is a photographer and filmmaker based in Portland, Oregon. His work is rooted in nature and in outdoor documentary, with occasional excursions into athletics, wine, and conservancy. In 2022, Steven made a conscious shift to work more in the medium of traditional film photography, where he first began. He believes film has a natural ability to evoke moods, colors, emotions, and intentions, rarely accessed with digital.

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"I shot my first roll of film on my mom's Minolta x370 when I was in 7th grade. It was in the Redwoods of northern California on my grandparent's property. I imagined becoming a botanist, kayaking down the Amazon River, camera in hand, discovering new plant life. Amazingly, I still use that Minolta on occasion."

 

Steven shoots medium format, 35mm, and half frame film cameras. Selecting from a wide variety of cameras and film types contributes to expressing people and the world in unique and insightful ways. Film cameras, specifically, tend to have personalities of their own, which Steven loves to tap into.

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"The act of film photography, itself, changes the way you experience a moment, a place, a person. You are forced to slow down, soak up your surroundings, and pre-visualize. The limited number of shots allows you to be selective and intentional. When collaborating with a subject, they participate in the experience of slowing down, being present, and taking part in the chemical reaction of capturing reflected light rays on silver halide emulsion. For me, the results are consistently superior to any achieved through digital."

 

Steven's process is genuine, immersive, and observational. His work often captures individuals who are deeply dedicated to their craft; examining topics of mental and physical health, nature conservation, and human connection.

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To connect, collaborate, or commission work, don't hesitate reach out.