Ann Ploeger’s Portraits

Portland-based photographer Ann Ploeger‘s distinctive photos take the mundane and give it a hyperreal edge. She mainly shoots portraits of regular people in their environments (or in an environment that could well be theirs), but these photos are anything but regular. It’s something in the straightforward, unposed poses — a little awkward or blocky — something in the light that can be a a bit eerie, something in the colors, which are like additional characters in the portraits as in an Almadovar movie. If anything, they feel like they owe a debt to Cindy Sherman, though Ploeger shoots non-Ploeger subjects. But Ploeger is doing her own thing.

You’ve likely seen her work. She’s also done photos for local apparel designers (Midgewear) and covers for local publications like the Mercury.

The national release party for her first book, aptly titled, Portraits, is Thursday, June 7 at No Fish Go Fish Restaurant (3962 SE Hawthorne) from 8-11pm. If you just can’t wait, the book is available for pre-sale (free shipping) at the publisher’s website.