South County Profile: Ken Otto

Ken Otto

Ken Otto of Cottonwood spent most of his life growing up in LaCrescent, Minn. When he was 11, he found an old camera in the attic at his parents' house. Otto shot one roll of film and was totally hooked on photography.

His first camera was the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye he had found. He enjoys being able to go out and take photos at rodeos, weddings, wildlife and portraits. Otto works on photography jobs approximately 50 hours a week.

After graduating in 1975 from LaCrescent High School in his home town, he attended Rochester Community College where Otto received his associate in arts degree in pre-medicine with an emphasis on chemistry and biology. He then finished out his degree with studies in liberal arts.

Much later in life, Otto followed his childhood dream and attended the Colorado Institute of Art where he studied the finer points of photography.

"Sometimes you find yourself after shooting a job, sitting at the computer until morning working on the photos. You sit down at nine in the evening and all of a sudden it is four or five in the morning and you are still at it," said Otto.

Otto has also spent time over the years doing aerial photography for companies when they are looking at a piece of land. Over all, Otto enjoys rodeo photography the most. His favorite events to shoot are bareback and saddlebronc.

"The strength they use is incredible," Otto said of both rodeo events.

Otto and Diane, his wife of fourteen years, moved to Cottonwood because of the rolling hills and oak trees. As Otto would drive up to jobs in Washington from his Palm Springs residence, he would look at all of the wildlife and nature in southern Shasta County.

"Someday I'm going to live here," he often told himself on those frequent drives.

In 2000, he and his wife finally moved to the Cottonwood area.

Otto's wife is also a big part of the photography business. Diane can be found with her husband working the same jobs and helping to record statistics of images taken at the various events.

For Otto, photography is a huge part of life with a challenge of knowing that each job is different, each picture is different and his greatest joy comes from being able to have a sense of satisfaction of a job well done.

"It is a feeling of 'I did it.'" stated Otto.

Name: Ken Otto

Born where and when: LaCrescent, Minnesota, 1957.

Occupation: Photographer and graphic artist.

Marital Status: Married for 14 years.

Family: My wife, Diane.

Pets: Two cats, Posie and Sophie.

My worst job: Acid washing brick buildings.

My first job: Working construction.

In my spare time I: Hike and rock hound.

My favorite book: George Orwell's "Animal Farm."

My favorite movie: Napoleon Dynamite.

My favorite recording artist: Lynyrd Skynyrd.

My dream car: 1966 Chevrolet Caprice Classic.

My friends like me because: I am honest and goofy.

If stranded on a deserted island I would want: A satellite phone.

The one thing in life I've learned is: There is a price tag on everything.

The best advice my parents gave me: Always wear good shoes.

My most embarrassing moment: Curtis Strange chewing me out on national television.

My most irrational act: Throwing pesos out of the car to Mexican children while in Mexico.

My most valued material possession: My camera.

What I like best about the North State: Modoc County.

My hero is: My wife, Diane.

My pet peeve is: Ignorant wing nuts.

My fantasy is: A medium format digital system.

If I could change one thing about myself, I would: Be less sensitive.

The most enjoyable thing about life: Perpetual, never-ending wonders of the world.