Shawn Records considers his approach to photography akin to a child picking a stick up off the ground. We all know it’s a stick. But the context means we can also see the flute, the sword, or the magic wand, as well.

For the past two decades, Records has mostly been in or around Portland, Oregon, teaching photography, or doing photography, with occasional breaks to take a little lie-down, watch news bloopers with his kids, or walk the dog (a few different dogs now). Sometimes he does assignment work, although he’s currently less interested than he used to be. His work’s been exhibited, collected, and published in a variety of places, including the Museum of Contemporary Photography, The Format Festival, Blue Sky Gallery, and the Portland Art Museum, among others. A 2021 Washington Post review of his book Hero, described his work as “seemingly banal” yet “little jewels of daily observation.” That’s the sweet spot he’s going for. He’s pretty happy with that.