Stephen Johnson Photography News
August 2024
Mother and Calf? Humpback Lunge at Sunset. Pacifica, CA. 2024
Welcome to the August 2024 Edition of the Stephen Johnson Photography Newsletter
Hello to my guests and subscribers. Thanks for visiting my August 2024 newsletter.
This month's View From Here column explores recent whale visits, a drive to the Mendocino coast, guest exhibitions, and a visit to an old friend and fine photographer Marion Patterson.
Also this month, my first Guest Photographer Exhibition remains up in my gallery, Larry Shapiro’s California Train Stations series on view through August 15. Our next exhibition is David Gardner’s Into the Anthropocene August 17 through September 31.
The Gallery will be open every Saturday in August from 11am to 4pm!
My next class is the Mendocino and the North Coast class August 17–19, 2024, the Point Lobos, Big and Carmel class on September 21-23 follows, and the Masterful Fine Art Printing class coming up September 28-October 1.
— Steve
As these newsletters can cover many subjects, let me know of topics you would like to see addressed.
Upcoming Events & Workshops
Scholarships
As part of my ongoing commitment to photographic education, there is one student scholarship spot in many of my classes. Please pass the word along.
For discounted time studying with me, keep in mind my Mentoring Program.
FEATURED PRINT August 2024
California Brown Pelican. Pacifica, CA. 2024.
Watching the whales leap takes particular concentration as I just don’t where they are going to pop up next. Meanwhile there is often a parade of wonder right before my eyes, as is the case with Pelicans flying over in formation. Sometimes I just can’t resist ignoring the the potential whale lunge for a moment and swing the camera up to catch Pelicans heading toward me. I’m always pleased, but a little surprised, when these quick tries turn out sharp, but these two did. This photograph is two rapid exposures joined together for the pieces of this one’s body missed and caught. Of course AI filled in all of the missed pieces amazingly well, but I choose to confine those to experimentation, and just crop my joined real images into what was actually there.
I’m offering a 14-inch-wide print of this photograph for $195. Larger prints can be ordered. This print at this price is offered through August 31, 2024. I'll be taking orders until then, and shipping them out by September 15, 2024. The image reverts to its normal price after that, $800 for an 11x14, $1500 for a 16x20.
NEW PHOTOGRAPH August 2024
Whale and Tanker. Gulf of the Farallones. 2024.
Whale and Tanker. Gulf of the Farallones. 2024.
It is not rare that while watching whales, big ships can be seen on the distant horizon. It is those very ships that lead to whale impacts and their deaths. Seeing both wonder and threat in the same frame is always irresistible, the wonder and the danger in the same frame.
Humpback Lunge. Pacifica, CA. 2024
Sometimes I just like both the color and the back and white.
THE VIEW FROM HERE
by Stephen Johnson
Animals, Travel, Exhibitions and a Gifted Friend
This month’s column explores recent whale visits, a drive to the Mendocino coast, guest exhibitions, and a visit to an old friend and fine photographer Marion Patterson.
_____________________
The Whales Are Back
Animals have been very present in my photography of late.
Whales returned to the Pacifica coastline in late July. Twenty to thirty humpback whales seem to have come to our shores and hung out for more a week. Joyful gatherings form on the cliffs to watch the whales, the people gasp, applaud the lunges, tail slapping, blows and occasional breach. Communities of fellow whale watchers form along the cliffs and beaches.
Photographing whales can be hard. They are often not close, they appear in unexpected places, often only reveal themselves as a blow or fin-capped glistening back, and are gone in a moment. The need for a long lens, quick location within the lens’ field of view, and very fast auto-focus all make for some unique challenges.
This time around I started with my Canon 800mm, soon remembered my Olympus viewing attachment, and started trying to remember how I managed some good photographs of them in past visits. I switched to my sharper/faster 500mm as I really wanted sharp images. I then added the 1.4 extender. Focus tracking, servo focus for constant on was needed, and then the dedication to stay, wait, track, and anticipate, all of these things served me well and caused delight.
Whalespotters on the Cliffs at Mussel Rock. Steve far left. photo by Robin A Brun. 2024.
Humpback Flipper. Pacifica, CA. 2024
After a few days of making these new whale photographs and benefiting from new technologies for noise reduction and sharpening, I decided to do a search for some of the past good ones. I then reprocessed one from 2022 into a new version and was a quite pleased at what was now possible with these older, too noisy and too soft what;e portraits. I was pleased.
Breaching Humpback Whale. Pacifica, CA. 2022.
File processed 2022.
click to zoom.
File re-processed 2024.
Larry Shapiro’s California Train Stations Exhibition
Guest Photographer Exhibition Series Continues
In line with the adage “do maximum good,” my gallery space is expanding its roster of exhibiting artists. I am inaugurating a Guest Photographer Exhibition Series in July for six-week runs of photographers whose work I admire and want the public to see.
The gallery is currently featuring Larry Shapiro’s California Train Stations series. I’ve been watching and encouraging Larry’s new train station work over the last few years, and I’m proud to present it in my Gallery 2. The exhibition is up from July 6 to August 15, 2024, with an opening reception held on Sunday, July 21, 2024 from 1–4 pm.
Coming up:
Into the Anthropocene by David Gardner
New work from photographer David Gardner will follow in the guest artists series. Into the Anthropocene will run August 17 through September 28, 2024. Opening Reception: Saturday, August 24, 2024 1 -4pm.
After Dave, My old friend Ted Orland has agreed to mount a show in the gallery for October into November.
Continuing Work
Goats. Half Moon Bay, CA. 2024
Poppy, a Buff Orpington Chicken. Half Moon Bay, CA. 2024
This year I have been on the look out for opportunities to photograph our fellow creatures of this earth we share. I have been paying special attention to animals we often don’t react to, but are deeply entrenched in our lives even as we don’t know them.
This is a project that will take time, but I am dedicated to seeing where it can go.
Yerba Buena Island
East Span. San Francisco Bay Bridge. 2024.
San Francisco from Yerba Buena Island. 2024.
Since going back to the west base of the Bay Bridge last month, I had been wanting to get back out to Yerba Buena Island to further explore. I knew a new viewing and parking area had been built on top and wanted to check it out.
I’ve always found the man-made Treasure Island to the north a fascinating place and wanted to explore its evolution as well. So one destination turned into two.
Moving Concrete and Dirt Debris. Treasure Island, CA. 2024.
Tower Sculpture and Sun. Yerba Buena Island, CA. 2024
Mendocino Region
Coastal and Horsetail Ferns. Van Damme State Park, CA. 2024.
Fog on the hamlet of Mendocino, CA. 2024
A recent wander took me up to Mendocino and surrounding areas early in July. I was revisiting some of the areas I want to bring my August workshop to, but also was needing to roam and look a bit. It is, what this photographer needs to do, and regularly, just look around. From Ft. Bragg to the many state parks and cliffs along the way, I had a good time and was pleased with what I saw. The short 4 days were a good mood shift and I was able to see some friends along the way that made this trip very rewarding.
My next Mendocino and the North Coast class runs August 17–19, 2024
Fort Bragg Cafe outdoor seating on a gray day. 2024
Russian Gulch State Park from the Headlands Trail. 2024.
Trail. Van Damme State Park. 2024.
Lace Lichen. Mendocino Headlands, CA.. 2024.
One such friend is photographer Marion Patterson.
Visiting my friend Marion Patterson
from Marion’s Website.
On a wander up to Mendocino I planned a few visits along the way, among them my old friend, photographer Marion Patterson.
Marion Patterson and Cat. 2024.
I will not even try to sum up my friend Marion Patterson’s career. She has been a friend for decades, so long we don’t even remember how we met, She is a fine and sensitive photographer with a long history with many photographers I admire, among them Ansel Adams, Minor White, and Dorothea Lange. At 91 she is still very much an artist and deeply thoughtful.
It had been way too many years since I had seen Marion, it was a pleasure to spend some time with her, see her place in the woods again and share some spirit. Check out her website to get a glimpse of my dear friend, her photography, a documentary film and some interviews.
It’s always interesting, when you’ve known someone for so long, that there remains so much you don’t know. This short visit produced some of that deeper knowledge, but her loan to me her “memoir in progress” expanded my knowledge, but even more so, my curiosity. I want to know much more about this interesting beautiful soul.
At Stephen Johnson Photography
News from the Studio and Galleries is the Opening Reception for Larry Shapiro’s California Train Stations. The party was catered and well attended with a talk by Larry on his work. This show is part of my Guest Photographers Exhibition Series.
My next exhibitor is David Gardner with his Into the Anthropocene series August 16-September 30.
With the new Hale Telescope print. 2024.
A new print is up in the gallery from my June visit to the 200 inch Hale Telescope at the Palomar Observatory.
I am continuing to experiment with the print hanging mechanism with just a silver bar at the top and bottom, with the print hanging between, leaving the viewer to see the real print unencumbered by glazing. This one is using the posterhangers.com design. Larry Shapiro used it for the Train Station Series as well. I am getting very positively accustomed to seeing my prints without acrylic in front of the beauty of the print.
Our local city of Pacifica held a grand opening for it's remodeled Cviic Center complex, so I did a little commercial work last month documenting the event. Bring sunlight, often deep shadows, and many scenes needing to be panoramic all made for challenges, but I was happy with the set off images I mangled to record. It was nice to see all of the good will and many old acquaintances.
Opening for Pacifica’s new Civic Center. 2024
A foggy Sun. Our Star into the Sea series. 2024.
Saturday Hours for August!
The gallery will be open every Saturday in August from 11am to 4pm.
Current Exhibitions
California Train Stations, east wall Gallery 2 Stephen Johnson Photography. On view through August 15, 2024.
Recent Prints in the Gallery
There are always new prints available to see in the gallery, from the Aurora, to the Golden Gate Park Project, to the evolving Animal Series and new selections in the discounted print bins. Selections from With a New Eye remain up from the From the Archives 2024 exhibition.
Current Exhibitions
The current exhibitions in the gallery include my new Guest Exhibitors Gallery premiering with Larry Shapiro’s California Train Stations series and the continuing Life Form exhibition in the Main Gallery.
Visiting the Gallery
The Gallery is open every Saturday in July 2024, 11am to 4pm. My galleries and studio are generally open by appointment, but I am often there 10am–5pm on weekdays. Write to inquire or call 650 355-7507 to schedule an appointment.
I hope you can come by the gallery and see the original prints in the new Life Form Gallery and its new Life Form Portfolio. I invite you to join me on a workshop, rent lab space, or just say hello and let me know what you are up to photographically and what you might like to see me offer. I value your input.
Virtual Educational Experiences
Virtual Classes and Lectures, online live classes on various topics with limited space and Q&A sessions, are now a regular part of my workshop program. Critiques are now virtual.
Virtual Classes
My virtual classes program, launched in 2020, has allowed me to reach students around the world. 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.
Virtual Mentoring
Set up time for me to help with your photographic work, remote or in-person. Mentoring Program.
Virtual Consulting
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. I want to remind you of my Virtual Online Consulting Program. This service allows all of you out there around the globe to consult online, live, on technical, aesthetic and workflow issues.
My Essays and Tutorials from the past couple of years can now be found on my Newsletter Archive.
Photo Chats
I’ve been doing weekly virtual Photo Chats with groups of photo friends to keep everyone encouraged to keep working, creating 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.
Most every Tuesday morning since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, I have been doing weekly virtual Photo Chats on Zoom with groups of photo friends. They are casual, virtual get-togethers, and have created a little community with regular sharing, guest presentations, demos, and photo feedback. Let me know if you would like to join us.
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, my Print Mentoring Program sets up a 2-hour time slot and the production of a finished print, all with the tutorial video of how we produced the print 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.
2023 Print On Demand Book Projects
Click on the book covers above to learn more and purchase.
I finished three new books in 2023. Water: A Photographic Portrait launched last winter, and the new Cliffside Peregrines and Fauna books were finished at the end of the year.
I sold out of the first run of the Fauna book and have reordered all three of the new books for the studio stock.
The links here go to my printer Magcloud, where you can order them directly.
Life Form Folio
The Life Form Folio
When I premiered the Life Form Exhibition, I wanted to have a collectible item and record of the show prior to the full book I plan to make. So, now available is the 36-page, 11x17-inch, wire-bound book, featuring five years of work from 2013 to 2018 exploring these magnificent lives.
Photographs from 2013–2018
36 pages
11x17-inch wire-bound book
$40
Pacifica: A Photographic Portrait of Land and Sea
Page 7
Page 27
A collection of photographs in and around Pacifica, California. Includes a trail map.
74 pages
11x17-inch, wire-bound book for full lay-flat opening and enjoyment
Pacifica Trail Map
32 years in Pacifica
drawn from 10 years of calendars
$50
Gift Certificates for Prints and Workshops!
Emailed or shipped with beautiful gift note card.
NEWSLETTER ADMINISTRATION
We've sent you this newsletter because, at some point, you told us you were interested in hearing from us.
If you'd like to unsubscribe, change your email address, or give us comments about the newsletter, please send a note to lists@sjphoto.com.
From rocky shorelines to eroded cliffs, long beaches, redwood forests, and small towns, the coastline south of San Francisco in San Mateo County is complex and dramatic. We'll roam the coastal and mountain roads, stopping at state and county parks, and checking out the lunch options along the way. The workshop will be a dynamic combination of a traditional landscape photography workshop while diving deep into the digital age.