Stephen Johnson Photography News
October 2024
Point San Pedro in Fog. Pacifica, CA. 2024.
Welcome to the October 2024 Edition of the Stephen Johnson Photography Newsletter
Hello to my guests and subscribers. Thanks for visiting my October 2024 newsletter.
This month's View From Here column wanders through a few landscapes, some back country roads, an animal sanctuary, and my new guest artist exhibition.
My third Guest Photographer Exhibition is now up in my gallery featuring Ted Orland’s Old Favorites & New Discoveries October 1 through November 15, 2024 exhibition. Opening Reception October 6 from 1-4pm
The Gallery will be open every Saturday through October from 11am to 4pm and this Sunday 1-4pm for Ted’s Opening!
My next class is the Advanced Fine Art Printing class coming up November 30-December 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 October 2024
Clouds, Sun and Sea. Pedro Point. Pacifica, CA. 2024.
A needed walk up to our local headland of Pedro Point proved a very good move. As I neared the top of the ridge I could see the fog line, then reaching the cliff’s edge, rock towers reaching through the fog. It was quite a view.
I’m offering a 11-inch-wide print of this photograph for $195. Larger prints can be ordered. This print at this price is offered through October 31, 2024. I'll be taking orders until then, and shipping them out by November 15, 2024. The image reverts to its normal price after that, $800 for an 11x14, $1500 for a 16x20.
NEW PHOTOGRAPH October 2024
Sun Portrait. Pacifica, CA 2024.
Sun Portrait. Pacifica, CA 2024.
Despite my general aversion to sunset pictures, as they always seem less than these experience. My regular visits to our cliffside to watch our star sinking into sea, I’ve clearly started a series of Solar Portraits that attempt to fold sun, clouds, sea and horizon all together into the devolving sun transforming and warping through the atmosphere. This mostly changes the sunset equation for me, making it even more about moment, light, wonder and magic. I remain concerned about the repetitiveness of “sunsets” but find my fascination and the occasional absolute wonder of it all seems to override those concerns.
Bay and San Pedro Rock with Offshore Clouds. Pedro Point. Pacifica, CA. 2024. iPhone panoramic.
THE VIEW FROM HERE
by Stephen Johnson
New Exhibition, Adventures and Serendipity
My friend Ted Orland’s guest artist exhibit is now open for its October 1 through November 15. This exhibition features a variety of Ted’s work over the years alone with new work.
This month’s news is featuring a few adventures here and there, some wanderings connected to a few family weddings, with stops and walks along the way. It has been a rather busy past 30 days.
New Event: Print Showing Days
From the perspective of loving to see the beauty of original prints, I am starting a print showing/sharing event 3-5pm on Saturday October 26.
Email to RSVP and reserve a spot to share or merely enjoy viewing. Space is limited. This is an opportunity to bring prints to share your recent work and show your prints. It is not a review or critique unless you want that, it is a chance to show and see the special quality of original prints. I am starting this with no charge connected to it.
New Lecture
Urban Eden: San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park
A Lecture on the project at 2024 Photographer’s Rendezvous.
St. Francis Retreat Center. San Juan Bautista, CA.
November 2, 2024 7:30pm
And the work continues in Golden Gate Park…
Falls. Strawberry Hill. Golden Gate Park. San Francisco, CA. 2024
On my spring Golden Gate Park workshop we spent the morning at Blue Heron Lake (formally Stow Lake) and walked up Strawberry Hill before lunch. A real hill but man-made falls is a little strange and wonderful at the same time. It’s hard not to admire such illusion as a falls fed by pumps seeming so “in place.”
Guest Photographer Exhibition Series Continues
In line with the adage “do maximum good,” my gallery space is expanding its roster of exhibiting artists. I have inaugurated a Guest Photographer Exhibition Series for six-week runs of photographers whose work I admire and want the public to see.
It is my deep pleasure to next feature my old friend Ted Orland as this next month’s Guest Photographer.
UFO Crash Site, Ossabaw Island GA, 2024. Ted Orland.
I first met Ted taking his The Zone System class in 1975 at UC Santa Cruz Extension. Over the years we became good friends. Ted always has stories, mostly embedded in his photographs, sometimes when pressed, a bit about his time as the Assistant to Ansel Adams, over time our conversations about books, beauty and our careers have wandered over our lives. His sense of humor is very well known and to this day his Compendium of Photographic Truths poster tells timeless truths.
Old Favorites & New Discoveries: Ted Orland
October 1 through November 15, 2024.. Opening Reception October 6 from 1-4pm
TED ORLAND is an independent photographer, teacher & writer. He served as Ansel Adams’ Assistant in the 1970’s and taught at Adams’ Annual Yosemite Workshop for fifteen years. He later created and taught the first digital photography courses for several colleges and workshop programs. He is also author of the book “Man & Yosemite” and co-author (with David Bayles) of the classic artist’s survival guide, “Art & Fear”. Ted’s photography is represented by The Ansel Adams Gallery.
Ted Orland’s Old Favorites & New Discoveries at Stephen Johnson Photography
When you come right down to it I’m really just an old-fashioned landscape photographer, and this exhibit offers a small cross-section of both old favorites and new discoveries I’ve made during my wanderings. In almost every case they display scenes that I came upon unexpectedly, but which captured my interest because, conceptually speaking, they somehow seemed a bit off the center of the Bell curve. Spanning a half-century, these photos also document -- however unintentionally -- changes to the landscape wrought by global warming, and changes to photography itself occasioned by the rise of digital technology.
Tree in Snowstorm, Yosemite Valley. Ted Orland.
Art and Fear. Ted Orland David Bayles.
Compendium of Photographic Truths poster.
Ted's Intro to the Exhibition.
A walk along the exhibition wall.
One-and-a-Half Domes, Yosemite National Park, 1976. Ted Orland.
After Ted, my old friend Marion Patterson will be featured in the gallery from mid-November through December.
Back to Yerba Buena and the Bridge, Again
The walkway on the east span of the Bay Bridge has been calling me. I answered in September.
Sign Panel and Light Towers. East Span, San Francisco Bay Bridge. 2024.
Cables and Tower. East Span, San Francisco Bay Bridge. 2024.
Video thanks to Erick Leskinen.
East Span, San Francisco Bay Bridge. 2024.
Photo Stories
Great Horned Owl. Pacifica, CA 2024
Finishing up a walk one recent evening, we saw movement at my rooftop, with two owls playfully flying off from my front pine. They seemed to head for my back tree. Walking carefully up the driveway in the growing darkness, I saw this one tree-sitting in clear view. With my Canon R5 and the RF800 I managed a few high ISO exposures steadying myself against my van. As I reached to set up my tripod, this beautiful creature flew away.
I was so grateful for the 4 minutes we spent, owl and human, checking each other out.
Great Horned Owl. Pacifica, CA. 2024.
More Animals
I’m on a bit of an Animal Sanctuary explore and An Animal Place in Grass Valley California was on my list. It just so happens a family wedding was nearby, so this month was the time to go. I enjoyed the walking around and want to visit again. I wss very encouraged by the life being offered to the rescued fauna, and very disturbed by the effective interpretive center explaining typical animal agriculture practices.
Resting Cattle. An Animal Place in Grass Valley California. 2024.
The "So-Cal Five" Herd (Calvin, Keegan, Florence, Phoenix, and Ethan way in the back), Holsteins
Keegan, Ethan, Florence, Phoenix, and Calvin are five survivors from a "rescue" that bought 12 calves from a veal farm and did not provide them with veterinary care for a week. All five have a disease called Mycoplasma that means they cannot be with other cows. They were very sick when they arrive, and Calvin in particular spent many weeks at UC Davis fighting for his life. Today, they live happily together at AP.
An Animal Place in Grass Valley California. 2024.
Vincent Van Goat, Spanish goat
Vincent was mauled by dogs or coyotes and found in the middle of McCourtney Road by a couple of good Samaritans. He made his way to Animal Place where his recovery took months (he is now missing one ear that needed to be amputated). Today he lives a very happy life in the goat herd, and Prudence is one of his best friends.
An Animal Place in Grass Valley California. 2024.
Nequissimus, Sulcata tortoise
Animal Place was contacted by an elderly woman who was having trouble caring for her husband's pot belly pig while he was in hospital. Unfortunately, they learned he would not be coming home from the hospital, and his pig (Lulu) was very aggressive to the woman and very overweight, kept in a small room at all times. Animal Place agreed to take Lulu in, and when we arrived to pick her up, we discovered there were many other animals in various stages of neglect, including a bearded dragon, skinny pig, several snakes, and three tortoises. AP found homes for all of the animals and kept the three tortoises, including Nequissimus.
Oaks and Hills. Henry Coe State Park near Gilroy, CA. 2024.
It’s puzzling to me that I can see place names on signs for decades, and although curiosity is raised, I never took the turn to explore. Such has been the case with Henry Coe State Park on Highway 152 west of the San Luis Reservoir. I finally did take the turn, on a very, very, dry, hot day, but enjoyed the look around. I will go back in the spring.
The Sacramento Valley
This valley is part of my homeland, part of my childhood and central to my big project exploring that homeland. After going to a family wedding, I planned a trip to an animal rescue farm I still had time to wander around this big northern valley.
Boat Ramp. Sacramento River. Colusa, CA. 2024.
Matthews Rice Storage, Marysville, CA. 2024
Shintaffer Farms Rice Drier. Marysville, CA. 2024
Roadside Curiosities
You never know what you’ll run into. I can find no reference to this place, why the animal figures, andno signage to help. Clearly a lot of effort, time and money was put into this wildlife statue menagerie.
Animal Statues. Brown’s Valley, CA. 2024.
Animal Statues. Brown’s Valley, CA. 2024.
At Stephen Johnson Photography
News from the Studio and Galleries is the Opening of Ted Orland’s Old Favorites & New Discoveries: show. The Opening Reception is Sunday October 6 from 1 to 4pm. This showing is part of my Guest Photographers Exhibition Series.
Old Favorites & New Discoveries Oct. 1- Nov. 15, 2024.
Tree in Snowstorm, Yosemite Valley. Ted Orland.
Saturday Hours for October!
The gallery will be open every Saturday in October from 11am to 4pm.
Current Exhibitions
Life Form and With a New Eye selections are currently on view. Stephen Johnson Photography.
Recent Prints in the Gallery
There are always new prints available to see in the gallery, from the Hale Telescope, 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.
Current Exhibitions
The current exhibitions in the gallery include my new Guest Exhibitors Gallery with Ted Orland’s Old Favorites & New Discoveries: exhibition with the continuing Life Form and With a New Eye selections currently on view.
Visiting the Gallery
The Gallery is open every Saturday through September 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.
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