Cruising USA: Portland, Oregon
It would be fitting to enjoy a cup of coffee as we welcome you to the 20th installment of our Cruising USA series, Portland, Oregon. Through the lens of professional photographer, Kyle Garay, we get a glimpse into all that Portland has to offer.
Learn more about Kyle and check out his amazing photos in his feature.
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About Kyle Garay
Kyle Garay was born and raised in the California Bay Area. He rode fixed gear bikes all throughout high school. Bombing down the steep hills of San Francisco with no brakes, hitting wheelies up and down the Embarcadero, and doing keo spins was all he wanted to do in life. At 18 years old he picked up his first camera. His only intention was to document the time he spends with his friends, and the road trips up and down the California coastline.
At 27 he moved from California to Portland Oregon for a change of life and scenery. He never took photography seriously; it was merely a way to create memories. However, after going on several hikes to waterfalls and mountain tops he began to discover his love for photography and finding creativity in landscapes.
Now at 30, he works full time as a professional photographer. Pursuing his dreams of photography.
“I owe a lot of my photography journey to my dad. He taught me how to use a camera from a young age. All of our old family photos and videos were taken by him. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have the same passion for photography.”
About the Location
Portland, Oregon has a huge bicycle community. They almost outnumber the cars on the road. It’s an incredibly bike-friendly city with tons of bike lanes and cyclist events.
With 12 different bridges in Portland, you can easily get from one end to the other without any issues. Best of all you get to ride past dozens of murals, tons of amazing-smelling food carts, and multiple breweries.
“I find the best way to explore your city and get inspiration for photography is on a bike. You feel more connected with your city than you would if you were sitting in a car. You can hop off your bike anywhere and snap a quick photo. Plus, with more and more traffic it makes getting from location to location much easier.”
