№5 Synchronicity

On Friday, I received a last-minute call from a client requesting headshots. It was a welcome respite from the current circumstances, and I eagerly seized the opportunity to earn some additional revenue. I promptly responded and delivered the headshots as requested.

I lost my studio space last October, so I had to visit the client’s house for a house call. While I set up my lights and backdrop in a suitable spot, I noticed a framed photograph hanging on the wall. It was a black-and-white photograph of a restaurant called Zorba the Buddah, accompanied by a small post office. Suddenly, I realized that the photograph depicted the old post office in Antelope, Oregon. The photograph had been taken when the Rajneeshees had taken over the small town, along with the nearby Rancho Rajneesh. I wrote about the Rajneeshees in Newsletter №3 Wild Wild Country.

This was one of those moments that can only be described as a moment of synchronicity. What are the chances of having such disparate aspects of my photographic journey converge in such a way? These special moments had accompanied my career in the past, but they had occurred much less frequently, especially since the onset of the pandemic.

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I inquired about the photograph with the client. They had bought it from a local home decor store called Urbanite in Portland, but they didn’t know much about the image. Urbanite sells a wide range of products, including home decor and furniture, from around fifty local merchants. One of these merchants is called Historic Photo Archive by Vintage Roadside. I had to dig deeper to find out more about the photograph.

I reached out to Historic Photo Archive to inquire about obtaining more information and a license to publish a photograph in my newsletter. To my delight, I received a prompt call back from Jeff Kunkle, the co-owner of the archive alongside his business partner Tom. Jeff and Tom specialize in acquiring and preserving historic negatives from photographers and their estates, making them available for public purchase. Their primary clientele consists of commercial designers nationwide, and their work can be seen prominently displayed across the country.

Jeff informs me that the photograph I was admiring was captured by a photographer named Jack Hasbrouck (1927-1997). In early 1997, Tom encountered Jack while he was photographing the ghost town of Shaniko situated just a few miles north of Antelope. Jack approached Tom on the street and mentioned that he was seeking a suitable destination for his negatives. Tom invited Jack to his place and purchased all his film. Jack passed away shortly after, preventing Tom from hearing his stories and experiences. Although Jack’s body of work is relatively small, it contains a few remarkable pieces, such as this one.

I highly recommend browsing the Historic Photo Archive, a treasure trove of strong photographs. You can conveniently purchase prints directly from them at reasonable prices.

If you’re interested in exploring more photography from the Rajneeshee era in Oregon, visit The Oregonian, where you’ll find a gallery of a hundred striking photographs.

Speaking of prints, you can support this project by purchasing a limited-edition print. A print of the Mosier, Oregon Post Office is currently on sale until Sunday, November 17th.

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