Stories that value authenticity in an increasingly manufactured world.
Technology connects us immediately, yet we spend less time truly interacting with the planet. Screens bind us in isolation, presenting gilded stories, free from pain, thought, and humanity. As a result, we forego seeing each other in hurt, in joy, and openness. Genuine stories are underreported, but they’re the ones most of us feel. Knowing Oregon tells stories as a seed for thought, a way of understanding, and an exploration of connection over curation.
Our aim is to join you to nature—to humanity—by having conversations with those who share a close relationship with it, who’ve inspired others, and who’ve discovered awareness through life’s weathering. By honoring how others live, we see a more present version of life, one lived in accordance with nature and community.
Let’s Connect.
Please reach out with any questions, ideas, or requests. We look forward to talking with you! We are based in Eugene, Oregon on the ancestral land of the Kalapuyan people.
knowingoregon@gmail.com | Instagram @knowingoregon | YouTube @knowingoregon
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Kenji Shimizu (he/him) | Co-founder
I was born in Japan and grew up there until I moved to the United States in 2005 to attend college. Now based in Eugene, Oregon, I enjoy bringing my unique artistic style, influenced by life in both Japan and the U.S., to every photoshoot.
My focus is portrait and commercial photography. I incorporate my love of styling and old portrait paintings in every shoot.
Learn more: Shimizu Photography
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Blake Robertshaw (he/him) | Co-founder
I’m an Oregon-based photographer born in Eastern Oregon, now residing in Eugene, Oregon. I work documenting weddings, elopements, communities, and the changing environment.
Through my Coast Guard, commercial pilot, and aviation weather careers, I began to experience land devastation in a visceral way. This inspired my pursuit of conservation through photography.
Learn more: Blake Robertshaw Photography