WHO?
Hello, I’m Michael Raines, a photographer recently relocated to Portland, Oregon from Los Angeles. My photos often focus on candid moments out in the world, and domestic life, in and out of my house, elevating the ordinary day-to-day humdrum aspects of living with vivid-color, surrealism, humor and playfulness.
WHAT?
If I’m lucky enough to stumble on a situation or moment or detail that is right dab in the middle of totally boring and completely strange, I’ve had a good day…even if the picture doesn’t turn out.
WHEN?
Whenever. I usually have one or two cameras around me at all times. If it’s not around my neck, it’s in my car, if I’m at my house, there’s usually one hanging out an arms-length away. I’m working through a project now based on my time spent wandering around Los Angeles between the hours of 10 and 2, typically thought as the worst time to take pictures since the sun is pretty unforgiving and the light can be ugly. It also happened to be the only time I could take pictures out in the world since my daughter was in pre-school during those hours. It was a limitation I first hated and then ultimately grew to appreciate. The project is called “L.A. 10-2”. Hopefully within the next year the dummy I’m working through will morph into a book.
WHERE?
Parking Lots, bus stops, sidewalks, grocery stores, my house, my car, my daughter’s forts and imaginary worlds.
WHY?
I could probably waste a lot of time and space trying to fill this with something deep and introspective but simply put, it brings me joy. I like to use the camera as a tool to appreciate and see things I’d otherwise ignore or miss, and it’s especially exciting after taking the picture when the moment gets translated to image and it’s completely different from what I had expected.
