GH Nagai Photographics

Personal History



I am a Nisei, a second generation Japanese-American, and have looked through a viewfinder for much of the past 60 years. My early photos taken with my family's trusty Kodak Brownie were family docu-images, mainly those stiff portraits of my family in front of the house, shots of our family dog, and the tractor next to the garage. The world was black and white then.

Early in high school I graduated to a Voitglander folding camera, a precision instrument from Germany with a glass lens, several apeture settings, and variable shutter speeds. This made for improved pictures, but took greater understanding of what goes into a photograph. I took a lot of those stiff portraits of my family in front of the house, shots of our family dog, and the tractor next to the garage.
I enjoy the out-of-doors, work with both the grand scenic and intimate landscapes, and am drawn to the subtlety of light and shadow during early mornings and that magical time called twilight. From 1998 through 2006 I worked with a dear friend in her wedding photography business, capturing the best side of individuals and couples during their special of days. I have a special love for bridges.

I am a retired Social Worker, and now in my ample spare time I pursue the second love of my heart - photography. As a recent transplant from Berkeley to Eugene, I live with my wife, Barbara, my love of 49 years. Our son and daughter both live nearby with their spouses and our grandchildren - Casey born to our son and daughter-in-law is nine, and Teiya is six - Venice born to our daughter & son-in-law is also nine, and Xander is likewise six years old...