ERIC W. VALENTINE -- PROFILE

Although Eric had enjoyed photography for many years, he did not become a serious photographer until he joined the Wallowa Valley Photography Club in 1992. He and his wife, Meg, arrived in northeastern Oregon in 1970, after having spent two years in the Peace Corps. They expected a short stay. Instead, impressed with the beauty of the outdoors and the warmth of the people, they stayed and raised two sons in La Grande.

Eric and Meg and the boys have traveled extensively throughout Oregon on foot, raft, skis, and car. Eric recently retired after serving twenty years as a District and Circuit Judge for Union and Wallowa counties. He also served as a Cub Master and Scoutmaster for over twenty years. Many of his photographs are taken on Scout outings. Eric enjoys sharing the majesty and splendor of the Lord's creation through his photographs.

In a statewide competition, the office of the Oregon Secretary of State chose his winter Wallowa Lake scene to feature on the cover of the 1995/96 Oregon Blue Book. He was honored again when the Secretary of State selected an image to appear on the 2001/02 Blue Book cover.

Other photographs have appeared in numerous local and regional publications, as well as in The Nature Conservancy, Oregon Business Magazine, Smart Money Magazine, The Territory Ahead, Oregon Outside, Northwest Travel, Oregon Coast, Western Horseman, Persimmon Hill, The Oregon Travel Guide, American Cowboy, Travel Oregon, various Sprint and Telfax phone book covers, Ruralite, the Wallowa Valley Photo Club calendars, and Boise Cascade publications. The Oregon Film and Video Department and Oregon Tourism Commission have also purchased his slides. One of his photographs hangs at the Portland International Airport.

In 1998, Scouting Magazine, published by the Boy Scouts of America, selected a photograph of his Scouts on a fifty-mile hike in the Three Sisters Wilderness as the grand prize winner of their adult photo contest.

He publishes a pocket calendar of scenes from around the state of Oregon, a large format calendar of eastern Oregon scenes, as well as mouse pads with scenes from a wide range of regions in the United States. In 2003, he published a book entitled, Thank you, God, a Prayer of Gratitude.

Above: Eric photographing one of his favorite subjects: wildflowers - these, in Washington states Goat Rocks Wilderness.

Listed below are a few samples of his published works. Click on the thumbnail to reveal a larger image.