№1 Toilet inspiration.
№1 Toilet inspiration.
The birth of a photo project.
Hi, and welcome to my newsletter. I’m finally inspired enough to start one. I’m both terrified (my writing skills are pretty rusty) and excited (I actually have something to share).
I'm Tim Trautmann, a professional photographer and native German based in Portland, Oregon. This newsletter is not about my commercial work but rather a way to share my unique personal projects. You can still support me and these projects - it’s very much appreciated but entirely optional. Unlike my commercial work, here I get to decide what you receive for your kind patronage.
I was inspired to start this newsletter just a few days ago when I was scouting the Columbia River Gorge and stopped at the Eastwind Drive-In in Cascade Locks for lunch.
The Eastwind Drive-In is a popular spot for classic burgers and soft-serve custard served in gigantic portions. Pro tip: opt for the small size.
You might have seen this restaurant in “Wild,” which stars Reese Witherspoon on a quest of self-discovery along the Pacific Crest Trail1. A movie poster on the exterior wall of the Eastwind commemorates this momentous event in the diner’s history.
When I was finished with my burger and gigantic medium-sized vanilla cone, I quickly realized that one crucial thing that the diner doesn’t offer is a restroom. When I asked about facilities, the staff directed me to public toilets a few hundred feet down the road next to the Cascade Locks post office.
Walking past the post office, I was struck by the small building’s utilitarian cinder block architecture. As I photographed the building and its surroundings, I wondered how many of these little bastions of civilization must dot the American landscape—quietly serving small communities, providing a vital public service to keep this vast nation and its people connected. What if I started to take pictures of these little outposts and find some stories along the way? A newsletter could help me stay accountable and maybe help project expenses. So here we are, a newsletter about photographs of small post offices. We’ll start in the West.
What you can expect.
By becoming a subscriber, you will receive a semi-regular newsletter delivered to your inbox. I am sure I will establish a cadence in due time; expect no more than one weekly dispatch. I’ll try to stay on the topic of small post offices. However, I’ll take the liberty to sway to related subjects when inspired by what I encounter on the road. I have a feeling that there are some stories out there.
What you can expect from a paid subscription.
First and most importantly, you will receive my eternal gratitude for your kind patronage. Of course, you will also receive all of my semi-regular dispatches. In addition, you will receive an occasional mailing from me, delivered by the post office. What those mailings contain will change as the project progresses. It could contain a few postcards, a print, or maybe even a Zine. I'd like to surprise you, or as my wife likes to say, “chef’s choice.” Let’s aim for once a quarter? Doesn’t that sound like fun, getting something in the mail that you actually look forward to receiving?
I’d love to hear from you.
Feel free to get in touch by writing a note in the comments, including feedback, questions, ideas, tips, etc. Of course, you can send me electronic mail. But… since we are on the topic, why not send a letter in the mail?
Tim Trautmann
PO Box 11212
Portland, OR 97211-0212
Please consider supporting this newsletter by hitting the “like” button or passing it on to a friend. I’d surely appreciate it.
Thank you.
Columbia Gorge News (2013-09-04): Hollywood in Cascade Locks: Filming for ‘Wild’ starts in October
Looking forward to this!