Page 81 - Southern Oregon Magazine Fall 2021

PASSION PROJECTS

locals making careers
out of what they love

by lynn leissler & leslee ryerson
provided

hen we set out on this assignment, we wanted to illuminate
a few Rogue Valley residents who were doing jobs in the arts
and entertainment industries. Only two interviews in, and I
Wcaptured a commonality: all of these people LOVE what they
do, so much so that they are living the adage, “Do what you love and you’ll
never work a day in your life.” I hope you find their enthusiasm contagious. As
Christopher Briscoe says, “You can’t take a class in Passion.”

Let’s take a look into their lives, their stories of passions that became their
careers.

CHRISTOPHER BRISCOE

When 17-year-old Christopher Briscoe stepped into photography class in
Santa Barbara High School, he couldn’t get enough. Fifty years later he’s still as
excited about photography as he was back then.

“The greatest landscape is the human face. Every face tells a story.” Christopher is the
ultimate storyteller.

Briscoe established one of the first photo studios in Ashland. He was soon
hired as Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s lead photographer, while also keeping
his studio packed with clients. Some of those happy clients led to shooting a
number of famous faces across the country. Possibly the most famous was a few
years back, when a friend in Santa Barbara invited him to dinner. “We’re hav-
ing Mikhail Gorbachev over for dinner. Would you like to come?” Christopher
didn't hesitate, remembering to bring his camera. It didn’t hurt that on the
distinguished guest list were also Bo Derek, Olivia Newton John, and Layla
Khashoggi, among others. He was barely in the door when he could “see” the
shot he wanted—in the large foyer, center a single chair; seat the president of
the Soviet Union in the chair, then surround him with the beautiful guests, all
looking up; Chris would climb the staircase to get the shot from above. Sounded
perfect but how to actually get everyone to pose? Christopher, knowing how
Photo by Quincy Briscoe daughter. The rest is history. fall 2021 | www.southernoregonmagazine.com 79
to read a room like he reads a shot, went straight to President Gorbachev’s