Stephen Johnson Photography News
May 2022
Moon and Clouds. Pacifica, CA. 2022.
After being robbed of my new camera one afternoon, something in me was determined not to let that kill photography for me, even temporarily. That same evening, the almost full moon rising through the sky prompted me to grab my Canon R5, RF800mm and EF100-400mm lenses. I played with the eerie light, moving clouds and spectacular moon. It felt good and proper. It also gifted me with some light emerging from darkness.
Upcoming Workshops:
Golden Gate Park
May 16-17, 2022
Mono Lake in Autumn
October 13-15, 2022
Welcome to the May 2022 Edition of the Stephen Johnson Photography Newsletter.
I was robbed of my new Fuji camera at gunpoint mid-April. It’s hard not to have everything seen through the emotion of such an incident, but somehow I can’t. Life is too rich, light is too beautiful to let the darkness in the human soul get the best of me. Going back into the world has had its challenges. I am so lucky to have walked away from such a thing. The emotion will take time to deal with. Much worse things happen all of the time. The threat and theft I experienced is nothing compared to Putin’s murderous war in Ukraine. Perspective is important.
Some organizations helping the people of Ukraine can be found here. I will be donating 100% of the Featured Print purchases during May to these organizations helping Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis.
— Steve
This month's View From Here column explores recent photographs from a few outings in April and into early May. My Virtual Classes are continuing with Color: Emotion, Management, Editing and Printing on June 4, 2022. I’m looking forward to my next field workshop, Golden Gate Park on May 16-17, 2022 and am planning a return to Mono Lake in October for the Mono Lake in Autumn Workshop October 13-16, 2022. As I mentioned in the last few Newsletters, a few big framed original finished prints have become available.
My most recent print set is Many Views: Twenty Photographs, emerging from 18 months of work during very challenging pandemic times is available for order.
I hope you find the column interesting and will consider sending me some comments. As these Newsletters can cover many subjects, let me know of topics you would like to see addressed.
Workshops are currently balanced between virtual classes and field workshops. All workshops currently scheduled are subject to necessary corona virus spread prevention logistics.
FEATURED PRINT May 2022
Bald Eagle in Flight. 2022
Eagles, Hawks and Falcons continue to fascinate me. They are often a challenge to photograph and I am always so grateful when I manage to get an image that hints at the grandeur I feel watching them. Most of our morning was spent watching a shaded Eagle head barely visible in its nest. The comings and goings provided those brief moments of opportunity to photograph the breathtaking flight.
Visit my blog: https://sjohnsonphoto.wordpress.com
I’m offering an 11x14 inch print of this photograph for $195, matted to 16x20 inch board. This print at this price is offered through May 31. I'll be taking orders until then, and shipping them out by June 15.
I will be donating 100% of the proceeds from an unmatted version of this May 2022 Featured Print to these organizations helping Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis.
NEW PHOTOGRAPH May 2022
Forest. Pedro Point Headlands. Pacifica CA. 2022
The California landscape now is largely covered in a mix of native, exotic and migrated flora. The forest here is mostly Australian Eucalyptus brought in during the 19th Century. These trees likely sprang up on their own through natural forces spreading seeds. Pedro Point Headlands is the prominent landform jutting out to sea at the south end of our community here in Pacifica. It is owned by the California Coastal Conservancy and the City of Pacifica and being managed by the Pacifica Land Trust until it can be transferred to an appropriate public entity. I’ve served on the board of the Pacifica Land Trust since 2002.
Pedro Point Headlands is a great place for hiking. With Fiona McDonnell, I created an online interpretive project on the headlands, Virtual Pedro Point.
LATEST NEWS:
I’ve been spending more and more time at the studio and less working from my home office. People are visiting more and more, still masked of course. Please set up a time to come by and walk through the galleries together.
Gallery Appointments
The gallery can now be opened for masked/distanced appointments. Please come visit us!. Write to inquire or call 650 355-7507 about a virus cautious appointment.
Blog Restarted and Growing: Subscribe
As I have mentioned in my last few Newsletters, I have renewed more frequent postings on my Blog derived from my Newsletters and Facebooks posts. I am gradually moving other blog forums no longer supported to this one central place. You can view or subscribe at: https://sjohnsonphoto.wordpress.com
Virtual Classes
During the virus, I naturally shifted most of my education programs to online experiences. This was frustrating and rewarding. The new virtual experiences certainly stretched out my geographical reach. I have been very pleased by our Virtual Classes Program.
My 2022 Workshop Schedule continues to evolve to accommodate the virus precautions and very limited ability to gather indoors. Now that the vaccine is so available it is a prerequisite for any in-person class.
I remain committed to offering great courses whether in person or virtually. See what satisfying experiences students have had on my Workshops by exploring Workshop Testimonials.
Stephen Johnson Photography Blog.
Workshop Recap
The 2022 Workshop Schedule continues to evolve. My next Virtual Class is Color: Emotion, Management, Editing and Printing on June 4, 2022. I’m looking forward to my next field workshop, Golden Gate Park, on May 16-17, 2022. I am returning to Mono Lake to teach my long standing workshop there in October for the Mono Lake in Autumn Workshop October 13-16, 2022.
See what a great experience students have had on Steve's Workshops by exploring Workshop Testimonials.
Current Exhibitions
Other Worldly is the name I’ve given to the two current exhibitions, 50 Years of Space Photography Exhibit and Life Form. Hopefully you can visit soon by appointment, socially distanced, masked and limited to two people. I hope to be able to open the galleries to general visitation in the not too distant future so you can see what is on display at Stephen Johnson Photography.
Upcoming Events & Workshops
Cloud Veil over Setting Sun. 2022.
THE VIEW FROM HERE
by Stephen Johnson
Theft and Fear
I was robbed at gunpoint in mid-April of my new Fuji GFX 100s and a 45-100mm lens. Please be on the watch out for offers to sell such items. I have the serial numbers.
I thought I was physically unharmed, but shaken. It turns out there were some pulled muscles from the struggle which became an ongoing and painful reminder. My friend Holly and I were both shaken.
Please be very careful, it happened very fast. I was walking two cars down from parking next to the Visitor's Center at Lands End near the Cliff House in San Francisco. A car pulled up, a man jumped out of the car, started pulling on the camera strap, I resisted, and kept yelling "No!" drawing attention from other people in the parking lot. He was unable to wrestle the camera from me. His co-thief jumped out of their car and ran toward me. I then saw the first assailant’s gun pointing at me, and I gave him the camera. Seeing the gun meant the struggle was over. Even the resistance I did put up may have been dangerous as I could have been physically attacked.
People gathered round to console us, shared pictures and video they had made, showing us the good caring side of humanity, the opposite of what I had just gone through. The National Park Police, SFPD and a Park Ranger were all very good to us.
I had thought the camera was safer around my neck than locked in the car. I was wrong.
Aftermath
After my Facebook post on the theft, people sent hundreds of expressions of good will and concern, Fuji reached out to help get me replacement gear. My insurance claim seems to be proceeding ok.
I am trying to work, looking over my shoulder a lot, double checking locks, watching for anyone possibly following me, being even more aware of my surroundings.
On the longer-term darker side of things, the purpose of all of this, the gear, the money involved, the risks, are now occupying more of my thoughts. Why do I photograph to begin with? Is it now just simply what I do?
My photographs generally tell a story of hope, of beauty seen and shared, of an Earth precious and rare. It is less a duty to photograph it than a pleasure, but it is an obligation as well. The Earth’s wonder needs to be told, again and again.
So much of modern photography is about darkness. In this world of so much suffering, it is critical to tell the stories of evil and despair. But that is not my role. It is not how I knew I had to live my life.
Holly and I continue to be deeply effected by this terrible violation and violence. It has been a real comfort to have her to understand and to empathize with each other.
Some Thoughts on Theft Preparedness, Prevention and Recovery
Register your equipment with manufactuer
Insure your equipment. This automatically forces your to record all serial numbers.
Go out groups.
Be aware of your surroundings. In my case, these guys were sitting in a car watching the parking area.
Carry camera in beat-up non-camera bag, not visible around your neck.
If being robbed, don't fight as no one’s life is worth a piece of equipment and your assailant is a wild card of potential additional violence.
Call the Police. Make sure a report is generated.
Report theft to Lenstag.
Get Trauma conseling.
Buy used equipment with original shipping boxes.
please send any suggestions you might have.
Theft Warning Sign from Golden Gate Bridge Overlook. San Francisco, CA. 2022.
Recovery Outing. Peregrine Falcon Preening in the Morning Sun. Pacifica, CA. 2022.
Saying a Final Goodbye to a Friend and Collaborator
As it turns out, the day after I was held up, there was a memorial for my friend Gerald Haslam, author of our Great Central Valley book. It was a one year pandemic delay gathering. I was determined still to go, despite the sadness I was already feeling.
Here is a pdf of Gerry’s Memorial program.
It was good to go. It was good to be in a place honoring a friend, to be among his friends, family and professional relations. It was good to see all of the good surrounding Gerry’s memory. It was good to spend some time with Gerry’s wife Jan, and my old friends Robert Dawson and Ellen Manchester.
It was healing.
Gerry with Niko and Jasper. Penngrove, CA 2019.
It was good to go. It was good to be in a place of honoring a friend, to be among his friends, family and professional relations. It was good to see all of the good surrounding Gerry’s memory. It was good to spend some time with Gerry’s wife Jan, and my old friends Robert Dawson and Ellen Manchester.
Falcons on the Cliffs
Hillside Landing. Peregrine Falcon. Pacifica, CA. 2022.
Our local pair of nesting Peregrine Falcons is back this spring, with 4 chicks this year. I’ve been out twice to have a look, and each time came back with photographs I was pleased with.
As I said last year, these birds are just a little too far away for any optics I own. But I do keep trying to see what I can do photographically.
Focus continues to be challenging and most every image is cropped to simplify and hone in on what I want to show.
Peregrine Falcon Chicks. Pacifica, CA. 2022..
Peregrine Falcon about to Dive. Pacifica, CA. 2022.
Velveted Buck. Bodega Head, CA. 2022.
Recent Photographs
The road always pulls me. Adventure awaits. New things to see, new horizons. The California coast north of San Francisco was a recent pull and sure enough, I made photographs I did not imagine.
It is such a complex and rich world. There is always more to see and discoveries to be made.
Grassy Dunes. Bodega Bay, CA. 2022.
Great Blue Heron. Bodega Bay, CA 2022.
Recently at Stephen Johnson Photography
Hovering Hawk. Pacifica, CA. 2022.
Fading Wildflowers and Coastline. Mori Point. Pacifica, CA. 2022.
Post Theft Outings
I made a point of of getting out to photograph, both immediately after the theft with the full moon and clouds that very evening (at the top of this Newsletter), and then particularly when some loaner equipment came in. Local photographs, local inspiration, yet a more nuanced view of my community at large. All of these things contribute to recovery.
Bay Tree and Forest. San Pedro Valley Park. Pacifica, CA. 2022.
Forest. Pedro Point Headlands. Pacifica, CA. 2022.
Sun Sinking into Clouds Pacifica, CA. 2022.
Collector Framed Prints Available
Trees, Fitzgerald Reserve. 1994.
Trees, Fitzgerald Reserve. 1994. 40x50 inch pigment inkjet print in 53x62 inch maple frame. Original price $5900. Make offer.
Framed Prints Available
Steve with 50 inch Fitzgerald Reserve print in his Gallery. 2018.
A collector is downsizing and is trading in a few very large framed prints for smaller versions. This means I suddenly have an inventory of a few very custom prints available for sale. The prints are all framed in beautiful solid maple with a sturdy back brace constructed by San Francisco Art Framing Services.
Alluvial Sweep. Haleakala National Park.. 1996
Alluvial Sweep. Haleakala National Park. 1996. From With a New Eye: The Digital National Parks Project. 27x34 inch pigment inkjet print in 39x47 inch frame. Original price $4200. Make offer.
Drying Staghorn Fern. 2013. From the Life Form Project.
Drying Staghorn Fern. 2013. From the Life Form Project. 27x34 inch pigment inkjet print in 39x47 inch frame. Original price $4200. Make offer.
I am proud to offer for sale a boxed set of original pigment prints from 2020 through May of 2021. A view of my photographic endeavors and fascinations just before and during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Twenty 14 inch prints in boxed set. Signed and sleeved. $4500.
Virtual Educational Experiences
Steve in his Life Form Gallery. April 2021.
Virtual Classes and Lectures have now become a regular part of my workshop program. Critiques are now virtual. In fact, as you might imagine, most all teaching is virtual at the moment. To flush that out, here is a list of the virtual educational opportunities we are offering.
Virtual Classes and Lectures. A series of new online live classes on various topics with limited space and Q&A sessions.
Raw Processing Strategies and Opportunities March 30, 2022. 6pm-8pm PST.
Raw Processing and Photoshop Editing April 9, 2022.. 9am-12pm PST.
Photo Chats
I’ve been doing weekly virtual Photo Chats with groups of photo friends to keep everyone encouraged to keep working, creates a forum to share and problem solve. I’ve now built a webpage on the chats. Let me know if you would like to join us.
Come Visit the Exhibitions (masked visits by appointment)
Check out my 50 years of Space Photography Exhibition joining with my Life Form Exhibition as Other Worldly for a mind-blowing journey from the living world close-up to the depths of space.
Although the gallery is not open to regular visits with the corona virus regulations, limited visitation can be arranged by appointment.
Come see the shows when you can. Space and awesome life! A dive into cosmic extremes.
The 50 Years of Space Photography Gallery with the five extra Apollo 11 prints.
In front of the Apollo 14 Panoramic, 3rd. Graders from Ocean Shore School in Pacifica visiting the Space Exhibit. 2019. Photo by Sheila Gamble.
Class Visits
Post-virus, when school is back in classroom, we will again welcome teachers bringing their classes by, kids and college students. The kid’s reactions have been inspiring to me, both for the space exhibition and Life Form.
Links to custom reproductions Steve has created because of his love of the work, with the skills to make beautiful copies, and to let more people enjoy these beautiful photographs and maps.
Life Form Exhibition
Life Form opened in the Main Gallery at Stephen Johnson Photography in July 2018. The show has been extended into 2021. We have had many visitors come by the gallery since the opening. Many have then joined workshops and certainly helped build community. Please come see the show, by appointment (masked), or after the virus. Pass the word.
Seeking Good Venues for Life Form
We are seeking good venues to show the Life Form Series. The series is now available for museum and gallery exhibition.
Life Form Announcement. 2018
Don't forget to Check out our next workshops
Next Field Workshop
Next Virtual Seminar
The Studio, Scholarships, Mentoring and Tutorials
As part of our ongoing commitment to photographic education, there is one student scholarship spot in many of our classes. Please pass the word along.
For discounted time studying with Steve, keep in mind our Mentoring Program.
With all of our busy schedules and limited budgets, destination workshops or classes become a challenge, but many of you still have questions you need answered, or feedback on some new work. We want to remind you of our Virtual Online Consulting Program. This service allows all of you out there around the globe to consult online live with Steve on technical, aesthetic and workflow issues using Skype and your webcam.
Our Essays and Tutorials from the past couple of years can now be found on our Newsletter Archive and some on my neglected Blog.
We hope you can come by the gallery after the virus and see the original prints in the new Life Form Gallery and its new Life Form Portfolio, the Exquisite Earth exhibition with its accompanying very special Exquisite Earth Portfolio 1. We invite you to join us on a workshop, rent lab space, or just say hello and let us know what you are up to photographically and what you might like to see us offer. We value your input.
Print Mentor Program
Many of my mentoring students have wanted help with their printing, often to make sure they can produce a specific print. Consequently, I am starting a Print Mentoring Program that sets up a 2 hour time slot and the production of a finished print, all with the tutorial video of how we did it together. Prints can be up to 16x20 and on either Hahnemühle Museum Etching or Photo Rag Pearl paper. Fee is $500. Email for more information and to set up times.
Free and For Sale
Free Stuff (a few items still left)
I have been printing out nice copies of the Constitution and Bill of Rights on rich cotton paper. You are welcome to a copy when you can come by the gallery.
Additionally, I rescued a few Beseler Enlargers, a 23c and 4x5, hoping to find good homes for them. Free to anyone who will use them.
Equipment for Sale
Previously owned, but pristine, visually unused.
Canon Lenses
Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM lens $475
Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM Lens $425
Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM Lens $625
Gift Certificates Available for Prints and Workshops!
New Space Photography Products
Apollo 11 Collectors Portfolio examples.
Apollo 11 Collectors Portfolio
A suite of photographs from Apollo 11 including twelve pigment inkjet prints on letter-sized paper selected, edited and printed by photographer Stephen Johnson, in a portfolio box. The set includes a Mission Summary book, original US Postal Stamp commemorating the Mission, the Mission patch and a schematic of the Lunar Module. $250
50 Years of Space Photography Exhibition Catalog
The Exhibtion catalog featuring photograhs from Planetary probes, the Hublle Space Telescope, Lunar explorations, the Apollo program and Space Shuttle/Space Station images. Includes an exploration of the imaging technologies emplyed by the spacecraft.
68 pages, 8.5x11 inches
Other Worldly Exhibition Catalog.
Apollo 11 Photography Book
A 96 page 8.5x11 inch collection of Apollo 11 photographs from launch to recovery including contact sheets for every surface Hasselblad photograph.
It’s the collection I wish I could have bought, so I made it.
-96 pages
-7 sections, Lunar Photo Equipment, Preparation, On the Way, Lunar Orbit, Tranquility Base, Heading Home, Relics
-Film Magazine proofs
Life Form Folio
The Life Form Folio
When we premiered the Life Form Exhibition, I wanted to have a collectible item and record of the show prior to the full book I plan. So, now available is the 36 page 11x17 wire bound book, 5 years of work from 2013 to 2018 exploring these magnificent lives.
Photographs from 2013-2018
36 pages
11x17 wire-bound book
$40
Exquisite Earth Exhibition Catalog
page 13
Page 41
The Exquisite Earth Exhibition Catalog
As I've been on a roll on fixing bodies of work into POD books, I decided before the Exquisite Earth show could come down for new upcoming show, I wanted to create a printed record. So, now available is the 56 page 11x17 wire bound book, 5 years of work from 2005 to 2010 traveling this wondrous planet.
Photographs from 2005-2010
56 pages
11x17 wire-bound book
$40
Pacifica Book
Page 7
Page 27
A collection of photographs in and around Pacifica California. Include a trail map.
74 pages
11x17 wire-bound book for full lay-flat opening and enjoyment
Pacifica Trail Map
32 years in Pacifica
10 years of calendars
$50
Pacifica Trail Map by Pease Maps special to the Pacifica Land Trust.
11" x 17" folded
$10 (free shipping) proceeds go the Pacifica Land Trust a non-profit 501c3.
Gift Certificates for Prints and Workshops!
Emailed or shipped with beautiful gift note card.
Life Form Note cards
5x7 inches (sold-out, on backorder)
$25
12 image Note card set with envelopes featuring photographs from Steve's new Life Form work.
Printed by Steve in his studio in very limited numbers on a color laser digital press
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After a few years of working intensely on my Urban Eden Golden Gate Park project, I am excited to offer a two-day photographic workshop in this complex and beautiful landscape. Now 150 years old, this park symbolizes parkland engineering and the earth itself taking its own course of life and fecundity. The park will be explored over two days with a blend of photographic opportunity, assistance, and my growing knowledge of its own back woods. This springtime weekday workshop will avoid some of the weekend crowds.