Capturing Moments of Perfection

Do we have the greatest job in the world or what? Getting a chance to interview incredible folks like southern Oregon photographer Debra R. Harder is thrilling. This uber-talented individual came to our attention when she won the 2009 Medford Tribune Wild Bird Photo Contest. She actually won grand prize AND first place (2 different photos) but the rules only allowed her to win one or the other–so grand prize it was! “I was thrilled to receive the grand prize award for my bird photo.” The grand prize shot was of a crane taken on a trip to New Mexico but her first place photo of a golden-crowned sparrow was taken a little closer to home. “I was in my backyard–we’re up at 2,800 feet–and the snow was coming down. I just sat there for hours and studied where the birds were landing, which trees. The early-morning light was just hitting the bird in the breast, so all of the elements were there.”

Deb and her husband, a veterinarian, live in Medford, Oregon and she draws a lot of inspiration off the countryside’s beautiful landscapes. “To capture a photo takes moments of perfection,” says Deb. “The best light, the best composition, and then the knowledge to transform the negative into a provocative print. Living in this beautiful place gives me those things and continues to inspire me–even when I come back from photographing far-away places.”

You can order Deb’s prints by emailing her or calling her at 541-776-7436. But make sure to discover her website for a broader look at her incredible photographic talents. She says landscapes are her strengths but in looking at her portfolio, no one would guess that. Certainly not the Mail Tribune judges who voted her wild bird photos tops in their field….

All photos copyrighted by Debra R. Harder, DRHimages. The first image was taken in Medford, Oregon. The second image was taken in Denman wildlife area located near Eagle Point, Oregon. The third image is of the southern Oregon coast at Bandon.