The Team

Expedition Leader
Photography Instructor, Craftsman Photographer

 
dwon
©Eric Belluche

Name: Dwon Güvenir
Age: 45
Education: University of Kansas &
••••••••••••
New York Institute of Photography
Majors: Anthropology, Philosophy, Sociology
•••••••••••••••••••••••• & Photography
Favorite Past Job: Archaeologist
Licenses: Cr.Photog., OR Guide, OR EMT
Favorite Vacation:
Türkiye
Favorite Book: ARB Off-Road Auto Catalog
Favorite Movie: Flash Gordon (1980)
Favorite Quote: "If you would just do it, we'd be done by now."
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• --Ashton

Having been an award winning photographer for over 30 years, Expedition Leader Dwon uses his passion and expertise teaching photography in the great outdoors to make your learning experience a memorable and safe one.

Certifications/licenses include Craftsman Photographer (Cr.Photog.), Full Time Professional Photographer, Oregon EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), former Professional Photographers of America (PPA) Continuing Education Systems provider, and BA degrees in Anthropology, Philosophy, and Sociology from the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk Jayhawk, Go KU). Additional training includes Wilderness FIrst Aid WILD (When Isolated by Location or Disaster) and Wilderness Medicine: Search, Reach, Treat workshops.

Dwon was born in Turkey but moved to Kansas when he was 2 years old. While at the University of Kansas, Dwon specialized in Mayan Archaeology specifically deciphering Mayan Hieroglyphs. Dwon spent a couple years as a Mayan Archaeologist and Epigrapher grubbing through the jungles of Central America including Belize, Guatemala, and Southern Mexico with his backpack and a machette. Upon returning to the US, Dwon became a police officer. After a while he realized that wasn't for him. He traveled to Oregon to get his masters degree in education but instead he attended the New York Institute of Photography via correspondence and opened his photography studio in 2001. That lead to professional photography consulting, which lead to community education classes, which lead to weekend workshops, which lead to safaris which brings us to where we are today.

Recognizing his excellence and integrity in the field of photographic education, Professional Photographers of America (PPA) awarded Dwon Guvenir the coveted Photographic Craftsman (Cr.Photog.) degree on January 15th, 2012. The Cr.Photog. degree is the highest honor in the world of photography for orators, authors and educators. The degree is awarded to photographers who have gone above and beyond the creation of images and dedicated themselves to move the industry forward and encourage excellence in education.

Dwon is an International Award Winning full time professional photographer who's work was selected and featured in the PPA Loan Collection. He has been a PPA Super Monday Instructor and has sat on the Board of Directors of the Portland Metropolitan Photographers' Association (PMPA) for many years. His work has been in books, magazines, movie theaters, television, online, on busses, on cars, and trains. He's the real deal and he uses his experience to help you improve your skills, get the right gear, and save you money by steering you away from gear you don't need. Expensive gear doesn't make great images, knowledgeable photographers make great images.

Dwon will shoot any brand camera. He owns Nikon, Canon, Fuji, and Kodak bodies. During his workshops he makes sure every student learns how to use each camera system present at the workshop. That way you can pick up any camera and create beautiful images regardless of brand, because all cameras are essentially the same! Mastering your photography is more than understanding your camera model. Understanding how photography works to create your art puts you on the path to what Dwon calls the "Tao of Photography" where the numbers no longer matter and you just know how to create the image you want. His intuitive teaching method ensures that everyone masters their photography.
Dwon is also the one responsible for building this web site.
He is not sponsored by any corporation. His preferences are based upon his experience as a professional photographer.
Off-Road Trail Leader Training
Dwon is a member of the following organizations:
PPA Professional Photographers of America
NPS Nikon Professional Services

The Portrait Studio

Expedition Coordinator

 
1

Name: Bria
Age: 36
Education: Boise State University
Majors: Business
Past Jobs: Athletic Coordinator, CPR Lifeline Coordinator
Favorite Vacation: Türkiye
Favorite Book: Title Nine Catalog
Favorite Movie: Serenity
Favorite Quote: “Were there monkeys? Some terrifying
••••••••••••••••••••••••space monkeys maybe got loose?”
•••••••••••••••••••••••• --Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly)

She’s the one you talk to when reserving your space in a class or workshop. More importantly she coordinates the workshops and keeps everything flowing smoothly. So when you’ve had a great day traveling and photographing all the beauty and splendor of the great outdoors and you kick back in your luxury hotel room after a wonderful dinner, you have her to thank.

Expedition Tag-Along

 
3

Name: Ashton
Age: 11
Education: School of Hard Knocks
Majors: Causin' Trouble, Makin' Trouble,
•••••••••••••Gettin' out of Trouble.
Past Jobs: Bein' Cute
Favorite Vacation: Every day is a vacation.
Favorite Book: ARB Off-Road Auto Catalog
Favorite Movie: Godzilla-Tokyo SOS
Favorite Quote: “Gimme some sugar baby.”
••••••••••••••--Ash (Army of Darkness)

He just likes to come along for the fun, and we don’t mind.

Expedition Videographer

 
5

Name: Eric
Age: 42
Education: California State U. Dominguez Hills
Majors: Physical Education - Fitness Director
••••••••••••• (Magna Cum Laude)
Past Jobs: Computer Consultant, Holistic Center
••••••••••••••Cofounder, Martial Arts Instructor

Favorite Vacation: Kauai
Favorite Book: "and the train goes..."
••••••• (my daughter loves it when I read to her)
Favorite Movie: Star Wars (who doesn't want to be a Jedi?)
Favorite Quote: “...you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup... you put water into a tea pot, it becomes the tea pot... water can flow, or it can crash... be water my friend”
--Bruce Lee

He’s the guy that makes those awesome videos of the safaris.

Expedition Mechanic

 
2

Name: Brant
Age: 35
Education: University of Oregon
Majors: Fine Art & Business
Past Jobs: You name it...
Favorite Vacation: Alaska
Favorite Book: Torque Magazine (Triumph)
Favorite Movie: Super Troopers
Favorite Quote: “You want to get out of here?
•••• You talk to me." -- Mad Max (Road Warrior)

Brant is there to make sure we’re up and running, to get to and from our destinations safely. Whether we’re traveling off-road or on, he’s there to make sure all goes well.

Lead Vehicle

 
4

Name: LC
Age: 17
Education: University of Toyota Japan
Majors: Luxury Off-Roading
Past Jobs: Chauffeur
Favorite Vacation: Any time I get to drive!
Favorite Movie: Transformers
Favorite Book: Christine
Favorite Quote: “She'll possess you. Then destroy you. She's death on wheels. She's... Christine.”
--Christine tag line

I'd let her posses me! •••••••••VARRROOOM!!!!

LC was meant to do this! He's the best way to transport large numbers of photographers and their gear from site to site, leaving the smallest footprint on the environment possible. He eats up rough terrain like it’s nothing and he does it all in style: leather seats, DVD headrests, & factory navigation system.

That’s just the luxury side of LC. He came from the factory with amazing off-road capabilities as well: all time 4wd, center locking differential at the push of a button, second gear start at the push of a button, high speed 4wd with center differential locked or unlocked, low speed 4wd, and a gear ratio suited for off-road travel. LC even has a button to boost acceleration power when needed (kinda’ like Knight Rider).

Outside, Dwon’s personally equipped LC with everything needed to go anywhere: Metal Tech Rock Rail steps, Safari Snorkel, ARB Bull Bar, ARB Roof Rack, ARB Old Man Emu (OME) Sport Shocks, OME Heavy Load Springs, OME Heavy Load T-Bars, ARB IPF Auxiliary Lights, 33” Falken Rocky Mountain tires, 12,000 lb. Warn winch, and Slee rear bumper.

Finally LC’s stripe. Like a pro athlete wears a jersey with his teams logo, LC proudly wears his teams colors. (He's also an Autobot, but don't let the Decepticons know)

Call or email for more information. We look forward to hearing from you today!
1+503-999-4321

info@oregonphotosafaris.com

This site and all content © 2018 Guvenir Unlimited, Inc. unless otherwise noted.