Plates to Pixels was formed in 2007 to promote the creation of photography-based fine art and was established by artists, for artists. The name “Plates to Pixels” suggests the evolution of photography from the archaic wet-plate process to the new digital format of pixels and includes everything in between.

Our mission is to provide exhibition opportunities for emerging and established artists working in the photography arts. This includes, but is not limited to, the alternative photographic processes (Daguerreotype, cyanotype, platinum palladium, ferrotypes, pinhole photography, etc.), as well as traditional print processes (gelatin silver, chromogenic prints, Polaroids, etc.), and all digital photographic processes and other mixed media photo-based art.

Our Mission

  • To provide exhibition opportunities for emerging and established artists working in the photography arts.

  • This includes but is not limited to the alternative (archaic) photographic processes (Daguerreotype, cyanotype, platinum palladium, etc), traditional print processes (gelatin silver, chromogenic prints, etc), all digital photographic processes, and other mixed media photo-based art.

  • To provide educational resources to the public - spanning from the birth of photography to contemporary photography trends (plates to pixels) - through articles, online resources, web-based exhibitions and site specific exhibitions.

  • To initiate collaborative projects with other artists and site specific exhibition spaces.

Guest Contributor:
 
J Swofford
From his earliest days J has been a little different from other people. His parents, compromising on an argument, gave him as his full first name the letter "J". It has been a mixed blessing; wonderful in its uniqueness, cumbersome in its nonconvention.

Although at times in his formative years he tried to deny it, J has always been in love with art. Being the son of art loving parents, art chose him long before he was born.

J picked up his first camera in the summer of 1996 and from there taught himself black and white developing and printing.  http://www.abnormalimage.com
Poison Tape © J Swofford
Plates to Pixels People:

Blue Mitchell received his BFA in photography from the Oregon College of Art & Craft. He has engaged the arts in many facets including teaching, facilitating exhibitions and publishing. In his personal work he implements many photographic techniques including toy cameras, pinhole, other film and digital cameras as well as alternative processes, scanners, aged paper, wax, installation, collage, and hand drawing.  Most recently Mitchell has been specializing in Acrylic Lifts and Burnt Transparencies. His work has been exhibited throughout the U.S. including special invitations by Sitka Center for Art & Ecology, PONCHO art invitational, and the Oregon College of Art & Craft’s Annual ‘Art on the Vine Auction’.

Mitchell is currently the curator for Plates to PIxels as well as the Editor for Diffusion magazine.

Sharon Lavier O'Keefe A native Oregonian, Ms. O'Keefe has been a freelance photographer for almost 20 years and is the founder of the Pacific Northwest Center for Photography. She has taught photography classes independently and through Portland Community College for more than 10 years. She is a gifted teacher and talented photographer. She inspires her students to find new ways to see the world in a positive and encouraging environment. She is committed to educating individuals with an interest in photography. Her goal is to help others find the joy, passion, and personal enrichment that photography has brought to her life.

Visit pnwcp.com for more info about Sharon (Plates to Pixels co-founder).