About Barb Gonzalez

From nature to cityscapes, Barb Gonzalez’s images each tell the story of a destination. She strives to capture the essence of a place or a moment in time that will speak to someone who views her photographs in the way that she was inspired to take them. From sunlight dappling through tall pines, firs and delicate ferns of the Cascade Range or a thick aspen grove in autumn gold, nature’s path beckons. Barb looks for the unusual to tell the story—reflections of New York City, or the county fair ride that seems to fly as high as the airliner behind it. The photos from Barb’s point of view are unique and engaging.

Barb Gonzalez’s Photography Journey

Gonzalez began studying photography and darkroom techniques in high school, then continued at the University of California-Davis with noted photographer Harvey Himelfarb. As she also studied filmmaking and video, she chose to work in film production after graduation. She worked on TV shows and movies for major studios for over a decade, occasionally shooting photos that appeared in the background on the sets. 

Making Photography (and Tech) Simple

When Gonzalez’s husband fell ill in the late 1990s, Barb worked at an electronics store where she discovered that she had a talent for simplifying technology. While she started by selling computers and home theater, she was ultimately drawn back to the camera department. As one of the first experts in digital photography in Los Angeles, her simple explanations of how to use the cameras attracted so many customers (including celebrity photographers, actors and musicians) that they had to make appointments to buy from her, knowing that they would leave with a good understanding of how to get the most from their new digital cameras. 

Nicknamed the Simple Tech Guru, Barb used her talent at simplifying tech to write books, magazine articles and online columns on technology. She is increasingly focusing on camera technology and photography tips, which are posted in her blog. 

After leaving LA and moving to the foothills of Northern California, Gonzalez again was inspired to create fine art nature photos that sold in Sacramento galleries. 

Travel Photography

Upon moving to Bend, Oregon, in 2009, she had the opportunity to become a professional travel photographer. Her photos of the Pacific Northwest and beyond are now frequently found on the cover of the Bend Bulletin Sunday travel section and accompany travel stories in the Eugene Register-Guard. Her photo of Beaver Creek appeared as the centerpiece of the Oregon State Lottery campaign on billboards, posters and lottery displays. Recently her travel photos have appeared in magazines from Alaska Airlines’ Alaska Beyond in-flight magazine to the Cascade Journal.  

In both her landscape and commercial photographs, the artist strives to capture the essence of the place as seen in the details that create beautiful and memorable scenes. As always, though, Gonzalez’ unique point of view at the scene, her perception of the subject, tells a story of its own — from mountain landscapes to closeup views of the delicate ruffled edges of multi-hued tulips and of a determined, blooming foxglove winding its way through a discarded, rusting muffler. This contrast of proximity in the photographer’s scenes further engages the viewer. 

Available for Assignments and Commercial Photography

Barb is available for freelance assignments. She also offers a vast library of stock photography of locations, animals and more. Barb also brings a unique eye to commercial photography from product shots to events, to food for cookbooks.