Astoria, OR
A windswept tree bends toward the Columbia River while Astoria's iconic Big Red cannery emerges through mist and motion, creating an image that feels suspended between memory and place. The soft blur, atmospheric tones, and dreamlike quality evoke the ever-changing weather of Oregon's North Coast.
Photographed with a circa 1936 Zeiss Ikon 120mm film camera, this image carries an extraordinary story. Unknown to Chris Villiers at the time, the camera's film pressure plate broke during the exposure, creating the distinctive movement seen in the photograph. After developing the film and discovering the image, he found the camera no longer functioned. This became the final photograph ever made with that historic camera, making the piece both an artistic work and a unique moment in photographic history.
Printed as a limited edition fine art photograph, Astoria, OR (Big Red) preserves not only a beloved Astoria landmark but also an unrepeatable convergence of craftsmanship, chance, and time.
Photographer
Chris Villiers
Medium
Archival Pigment Print
Artwork Details
Image: 8.5" 8.5"
Matted: 18" x 18"
Unframed
Ships in protective sleeve
Artwork Information
- Camera: Circa 1936 Zeiss Ikon 120mm Film Camera
- Paper: Epson Hot Press Bright
- Year: 2025
- Category: Fine Art Photography
- Subject: Astoria-Megler Bridge, Columbia River, Astoria, Oregon, Pacific Northwes
















