Ron Allured, a photographer based in Puyallup, Wash., recently finished a series of portraits he called the “Pillar of Puyallup Project.” Local residents were asked to nominate subjects in several categories related to their position in the community. Seventeen people were captured on film, and their portraits were displayed at the South Hill Borders bookstore through the month of July. In September, the display moved to the new library.

Pete Moraz of Spokane, Wash., has received the Kodak Gallery Award, which recognizes excellence in photography, from Kodak’s Professional Division. Moraz was honored for “Jewel of the Nile,” an image entered in the Portrait category. The photograph was also named Best Portrait of a Woman at the Professional Photographers of Washington’s 50th Anniversary Convention and Print Competition.

After nearly eight years as the magazine and publishing liaison at Art Wolfe, Seattle’s Ray Pfortner has left to establish a business venture of his own. Currently, he is teaching and consulting on business practices, especially for new talent. The Blue Earth Alliance has offered his services to its members.

Pfortner is also pursuing his own photography, shooting...

Rosanne Olson recently photographed this year’s ad campaign for the New York City Ballet, which is currently running throughout New York City and in publications such as The New York Times and The New Yorker.

Olson also has a gallery exhibit in New York, running from May 1 to June 22 at the Robin Rice Gallery, 325 W. 11th St.

Commercial photographer Doug Walker, of Walker Photography in Olympia, Wash., was recently honored at the Professional Photographers of Washington Pacific Northwest Educational Conference and Print Competition, held in Bellingham, Wash. Walker received his Fellow of Photography Degree, the highest awarded by the Professional Photographers of Washington.

In its sixth year of recognizing PPA members’ marketing expertise, the AN-NE Awards drew...

An image by Janis Miglavs has been chosen for the cover of the first issue of Oregon Tourism’s new magazine, Travel Oregon.

Miglavs has also received sponsorship from the Blue Earth Alliance for his project, “Myth-ing Link: A Visual Look at the Inner World of Endangered African Tribes,” a study of 12 endangered indigenous tribes in Africa. The project will include a series of four books, gallery shows of the mythical photo illustrations, and exhibits with the Blue Earth Alliance and the Ethiopian Embassy.

Greg Schurman, of Schurman’s Photography in Richmond, B.C., has been named BC Photographer of the Year by the Professional Photographers Association of British Columbia. In addition, Schurman received the Fuji Masterpiece Award in Commercial/Industrial, the top Fashion trophy, and the top Illustration trophy. Greg also received the Most Creative Trophy, awarded by a vote of his peers, for the second year in a row.

David M. Ritz, chairman and CEO of Ritz Camera Centers, based in Beltsville, Md., has been named to the Photo Marketing Association International Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of his father, Edward C. Ritz, who earned the association’s highest honor in 1984. Ritz was recognized for achieving personal success and helping advance the photo imaging industry.
PMA credited Ritz with transforming Ritz Camera into the largest specialty photographic chain in...

Kevin McGowan, of Strode-McGowan Photography in Tacoma, Wash., recently received the Best Industrial Commercial photograph award for his print “Last Night” in the 2002 Professional Photographers of Washington State Competition.

Bruce Forster, the owner of Viewfinders, a regional stock photography agency in Portland, Ore., recently returned from France, where he completed a series of images of Chateau de St. Julian l’Ars. Pictures of the chateau, located on 55 acres near the town of Poitiers, will be used for a marketing campaign to develop the property for meetings and events.

Forster also finished some projects closer to home. His image of workers at...