Shepherd Interactive

Portland’s wrought iron fire escapes and trellises have inspired me for sometime. There’s something about the simplicity of form and line, the timeless functionality, and the small design details that attract my graphic eye. Maybe it’s the weight and thickness of the metal? Maybe it’s the ornate flourishes? Maybe it’s the rugged, handmade craft that speaks to me. Or, perhaps it’s the shadows and plays with the light that gets me out for a walk with my archaic digi-cam.

The industrial brick buildings contrasted with the classic iron features is so Portland to me, I felt compelled to capture it in pixels. I’ve posted some select pics here on a Flickr page to share my inspiration. If you’re into gardening and landscape you might think about designing your own garden gate or trellis, Portland has a lot of iron benders still around. This iron gate and fence video, complete with cheesy soundtrack and photo flash sound effect shows a few original creations.

Apparently, I’m not the only one that enjoys Portland’s many iron fire escapes. Check out the live Audubon Raptor Cam and follow a pair of Hawks as they nest on a Portland fire escape for the 4th season.