Owen Carey

Born in Brooklyn, and growing up in NY and NJ, Owen’s first theatrical experience was A Midsummer Night’s Dream – the audio version – with the record of the month club, a gift from his parents for his 4th birthday. He was immediately enthralled with Puck and foolish Jackasses. His first live theatre experience was in High School when he played Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music and met the real Maria. He worked his way through high school and college playing drums and singing in bands in clubs, colleges and recording studios in NY and around the northeast. In his early 20s, he traded in his drumsticks for cameras, and studied at the New School with Peter Moore, who documented the NY avant-garde art world. Owen also assisted artist/experimental film makers, Michael Snow and Joyce Wieland, shooting production stills for them. Through Snow and Weiland he met other filmmakers and playwright Richard Forman (Owen’s first taste of live experimental theatre). By 1974, rather than stay in NY to photograph the art of others, Owen left for Oregon to make music again, and to make his own photographic art and find his “voice.” In 1978 he married actress Katy Powell and began shooting plays, actor’s headshots and portraits, and a career was born. After shooting for Artists Rep for 28 years, he is proud to wear the title, Resident Photographer. He currently also loves working with his friends at Third Rail Repertory Theatre (since 2006), and Oregon Children’s Theatre (for 25 years), and thoroughly enjoyed his 12 years with Portland Center Stage, bringing them into the digital age. He is so happy to be an integral part of the Portland theatre community, working with fine actors, designers and directors to reflect and support their quality work.