Claudia J. Howell Photography was the last business I meant to start when I retired from The Oregonian. After 30 years as a photojournalist and picture editor, I intended to move in a totally different direction – catering or something in the environmental field. Sure I’d still make art photographs, but make a living as a photographer? Never.

Then I started shooting polo tournaments and rediscovered my love for photography. As a photojournalist for The Oregon Journal and later the Oregonian, I covered a lot of sports. Low person on the seniority list often got the night shift. But it was terrific to actually be PAID to do what I loved to do – shoot pictures! When the Journal and Oregonian merged, I stopped shooting and became a picture editor with the combined papers.

In the early nineties, I went to art school to expand my vision. Part of my once-a-decade reinvention of myself. For the next reinvention, my polo club tapped me to be a polo instructor. Talk about a new direction. Teaching at the club offered ample opportunity to photograph polo action, sideline activities and polo pony portraits. It was a perfect fit. At last I’ve combined all my passions - photography, polo, horses and art.