Stephen Johnson Photography News

September 2025

Hello to my subscribers and guests. Thanks for visiting this September 2025 newsletter.

This month's View From Here column explores our visiting whales, some photographs from Ireland, the prep I need to move out of my studio, and my August On Stage exhibition with videos now online and the show’s new catalog.

My September Guest Photographer Exhibit is Ed Stone: Five Decades Chasing Light and Shadow. 22 black and white prints by my friend of 50 years, Monterey Bay Area photographer Ed Stone. It is my pleasure to present this selection of Ed’s photographs.

With my studio/gallery closing, the Framed Life Form Exhibition now available for touring to Galleries and Museums. Twenty-Two 51x39 framed 40x28 inch prints,

The preview of my Urban Eden Golden Gate Park work remains up with show catalogs in stock.

The Gallery is open most Saturday’s 2-5pm, also when I am here working, and by appointment. Call or email to set up a time to visit 650 355-7507.

My Masterful Fine Art Digital Photography Printing Class Sept. 27-30, 2025 is now full with a session added November 8-11, 2025. These are the last scheduled studio workshops before the studio closes.

— Steve

As these newsletters can cover many subjects, let me know of topics you would like to see addressed.

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.

Paul McCartney 1976.

In honor of last month’s On Stage exhibition and the new show catalog, I decided to feature this photograph of Paul as this month’s Featured Print.

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 September 30. I'll be taking orders until then, and shipping them out by October 15, 2024. The image reverts to its normal price after that, $800 for an 11x14, $1500 for a 16x20 print.

Lunging Humpback Whale. Pacifica, CA. 2025

Whales have been visiting our shores in July and August. I’ve just managed a few lunging photographs, but cannot resist continuing to try.

THE VIEW FROM HERE
by Stephen Johnson

Concerts, Whales, Ireland, Black and White, Light and Shadow

I’m proud this month to feature my friend Ed Stone as September’s guest photographer. We had a nice opening on September 6 and Ed’s prints are being very well received. Many are certainly beautiful examples of what black and white can be.

I have been watching the whales come visit in July through September and have witnessed many lunges, some tail slapping and near breaches.

I continue to invest time in our local Pro-Democracy/Pro-Parks protests, showing up, making signs and helping with logistics.

Concert Archives

August went by fast with archive scanning and adding on to my new On Stage concert performance exhibition/archive. The show ran through August 31 and produced the catalog now available. A few days after the "On Stage" videos were up, I went ahead and digitized all 70 mounted slides from the George Harrison concerts at the Cow Palace in November 1974. Although not needed for the show, I came to think this was the time to see what was there. Some new favorites have emerged.

Now Three New Books

Catalogs from the recent exhibitions are now available in my gallery and online.

Guest Photographer September 2025

Ed Stone: Five Decades Chasing Light and Shadow

Artist Statement

I began my photographic journey in 1970 at Merced College when I enrolled in a black and white photography class. Hoping to master the art of shooting and processing black and white film as well as printing my own images. I developed a deep appreciation for the craft’s timeless qualities. I continued to take classes and workshops for the next several years. During this time I met Stephen Johnson who became a dear friend and mentor. A pivotal moment in my early years was spending a day with legendary photographer Ansel Adams, whose influence further shaped my artistic vision. Today, I continue to celebrate the classic look and feel of black and white photography, blending traditional style with a digital work flow.

My black and white photography serves as a medium through which to investigate the dynamic relationship between nature and human intervention. The monochrome palette allows me to distill the landscape to its essential forms and contrasts, revealing the drama and subtlety inherent in each scene.

My work is inspired by the enduring beauty of the natural world and the complex, often dramatic, effects of human presence upon it. Through my lens, I seek moments where joy and tension coexist: a field reshaped by cultivation, a coastline marked by footprints, a tree standing resilient amid altered terrain. These images capture the interplay of light and shadow, permanence and change, evoking both celebration and contemplation.

I strive to create photographs that invite viewers to reflect on their own relationship with the land. By emphasizing both the resilience of nature and the indelible marks left by humanity, my work aims to foster a deeper appreciation for the environments we inhabit and the impact of our actions upon them. Through the evocative language of black and white imagery, I hope to inspire a renewed sense of wonder and responsibility toward the landscapes that shape our lives.

There Be Whales in Town

We often see Humpback Whales move through our area and this summer is no different. In fact it is probably the most we’ve seen in years. Although I have’t managed any great photographs, I thought I would share a few of the nice ones from these 2025 visits so far.

Urban Eden: San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. A Preview

Through Summer 2025

Urban Eden: San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park

As I build the exhibition from my Golden Gate Park Project, I am mounting a temporary preview on my Guest Wall to move the selection process forward. Join us for this peek into the larger project to come.

Urban Eden explores San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park combining Stephen Johnson’s new original photographs with his work made over the past 30 years.

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is 1017 acres of human transformed sand dunes and rocky hills made into an expansive urban park, offering refuge to one of the great cities of the world. Urban Eden is a photographic exploration of the beauty, diversity, and sheer power of will in planning and creating spaces. Set up a time to come by and see the preview.

Ireland 2016

glimpses of a trip remembered fondly

I had occasion to go through work from 2016 and came across my Irish trip nine years ago I remembered so many photographs I was pleased with. This trip was a revisit for me but a celebration of my then partner Fiona McDonnell’s birthday. We celebrated her Scottish/Irish heritage and being together for a good adventure.

I thought I would share a few here.

An Irish Catalog

News from the Studio and Galleries

As the Studio Closes there is more stuff there than will fit into the space I have at home. Among the items looking for new homes. Ideas are welcome.

Studio Assets that Cannot Come Home

• 27 foot long Panoramic print of Stonehenge

• Iris Realist Printer vintage 1997

• Vintage Agfa Horizon Film/print scanner

• HP Color Designjet 3100Z 44 inch printer

Shows Available for loan or Tour

• Life Form

• Exquisite Earth

• With a New Eye: the Digital National Parks Project

• 50 Years of Space 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.

Current Exhibitions

The current exhibitions in the gallery include Five Decades Chasing Light and Shadow exhibition, and the Golden Gate Park project preview. Continuing in the main gallery is my Life Form exhibition.

Visiting the Gallery

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 Life Form Gallery and its 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.

Virtual Mentoring/Consulting

Existing Online Tutorials

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.

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. 

Recent 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 the 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.