LIFESTYLES
Contributed photo by Barbara and Mike Morehead
Contributed photo by Barbara and Mike Morehead
Contributed photo by Barbara and Mike Morehead
WEEKEND, JULY 1-2, 2017
Contributed photo by Barbara and Mike Morehead
The Morehead’s family dog, Lucy, sports Mountain peaks reflected in Anthony A rufous humming bird in the backyard of A herd of elk bed down in the snow near
a pair of Doggles.
Lake outside Baker City.
the Morehead ranch outside Pilot Rock.
McKay Creek outside Pilot Rock.
PRESERVING NATURE
Contributed photo by Barbara and Mike Morehead
A deer and her two fawns stand on a
hillside outside Pilot Rock.
Contributed photo by Barbara and Mike Morehead
A band-tailed pigeon in the backyard of
the Morehead ranch outside Pilot Rock.
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Contributed photo by Barbara and Mike Morehead
Barbara and Mike Morehead of Pilot Rock spend a good portion of their free time together roaming Eastern Oregon, taking Longhorn cattle graze on a ranch in
pictures and then sharing those photos with others.
Prairie City.
Contributed photo by Barbara and Mike Morehead
Contributed photo by Barbara and Mike Morehead
Mike Morehead’s interest in photography A metal elk ornament is silhouetted as
began while he was serving in the river the sun sets over the Morehead ranch on
McKay Creek, east of Pilot Rock.
patrol during the Vietnam War.
Contributed photo by Barbara and Mike Morehead
Contributed photo by Barbara and Mike Morehead
Apricot blossoms near the Morehead’s A butterfly lands on a flower in the
home on McKay Creek, outside Pilot garden of the Morehead ranch outside
Rock.
Pilot Rock.
Moreheads document nature, people in their world
By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN
East Oregonian
B
arbara Morehead knows all too well the
importance of preserving memories.
“I remember when we had moved to
Meridian, Idaho, and we were burning boxes
with the garbage. Somehow, a box of family
pictures accidentally got mixed in with the
boxes, and it got burned. I just remember my
mom sitting on the porch and crying. I think
that was the first time I really realized how
important pictures are.”
So began a lifetime of careful documenta-
tion.
Many in their hometown of Pilot Rock
and surrounding communities know Barbara
and her husband Mike for their wildlife
photography, which includes birds of all kinds,
raccoons in their yard and elk in the wilds of
Umatilla and Union counties.
Both residents of Pilot Rock for more than
50 years, the couple combine their penchant
for photography with a love of the outdoors
and deep personal histories with the areas they
explore. About once a week, the two pack their
camera and some snacks and head out for a long
day trip. They travel to the Baker, Enterprise
and John Day areas periodically, but most often
find themselves in the Blue Mountains, or areas
not too far from where they live.
The Moreheads say they have no photog-
raphy expertise, and use a Canon Power Shot
SX60HS camera.
“We just keep it on one setting and point and
shoot,” she said. “We had disposable cameras
for years and did OK.”
Mike said they have a couple of key princi-
ples for taking good photos: early morning or
late evening light, and keeping a camera handy
at all times.
“You never know when a photo opportunity
will arise,” he said.
Subject matter
prints out the pictures and lays them out, and
Their favorite subjects to shoot are usually everyone that lives there comes and looks at
animals, and they have provided many photos them. That’s the joy, just sharing with people.”
to the Pendleton Bird Club, including several
Exploring
of a rare band-tailed pigeon that they spotted in
Early last Wednesday morning, the More-
their backyard. But they try to document more heads set off for one of their adventures. They
than just the natural world.
drive south on Highway 395, heading east at
They take photos of old homesteads and the small town of Ukiah. They follow Highway
grain elevators, set against vast fields, and of 244 until Barbara spots a herd of elk — almost
the sky: storms, sunrise and sunset.
too far away to see.
They photograph people
As they search for a spot
when they can, especially
to take photos, another driver
“We just like
senior citizens, many of whom
stops to say hello. The man is
Barbara says don’t have any
local who comes out every
sharing with the a evening
other photos of themselves.
to watch the elk.
community. There
When they get the chance,
“I’ve got seven trail
they photograph historic sites
out here,” he said.
are lots of elderly cameras
and events.
“The other night, a baby elk
“We may have those
people who can’t that was left by mom or some-
photos in black and white, but
thing came right up to the
get out. It’s their truck and just looked at us.”
we have them,” she said. “The
history of things that happen link to the world.”
He recognizes the More-
here locally — it’s nice to
heads’ name from seeing their
have that on film.”
— Barbara Morehead, photos.
Occasionally, they take
“You guys better get
of Pilot Rock
photos of food. Some of the
going,” he says, “This is the
restaurants they frequent,
greatest show on earth.”
especially ones in smaller towns like The
They follow the road along Camas Creek,
Thicket in Ukiah, don’t have photos of their which glitters in the morning sun.
food to use for menus or online, so the More-
Crossing into Union County, they hit a
heads started snapping photos when businesses gravel road and start to climb. Today, they’ll
need them.
get as high as Anthony Lake, at 7,100 feet
Though their subject matter varies, they elevation.
have a common theme.
As they drive, the landscape continues to
“We’ve never sold a photo,” Mike said. “It’s change. The dry grass of Ukiah gives way to
awesome.”
lush green growth, and the forest is heavily
“We just like sharing with the community,” populated with pines — first ponderosa and
Barbara said. “There are lots of elderly people then lodgepole — and an occasional tamarack
who can’t get out. It’s their link to the world.”
tree poking the sky.
Barbara remembers a man in a retirement
Usually, the Moreheads set out with a loose
home in Portland who used to be a professor at agenda and stop whenever something catches
Blue Mountain Community College.
See MOREHEADS/4C
“He loves this Ukiah area,” she said. “He