Wave Crest and Surfing Seals. San Pedro Point. Pacifica. 2013. Click to order a print. Next Workshop :Death Valley in Winter January 11-14, 2014
Welcome to the January 2014 Edition of the Stephen Johnson Photography Newsletter.
This month's View From Here column discusses a new coastal trail and a virtual natural history project. We hope you find the column interesting and will consider sending us some comments. Our Tutorial Section reminds readers of our Tutorials online. LATEST NEWS:
Sentinel Dome. Yosemite. 1997. Yosemite in Winter Workshop February 22-24, 2014.
Frozen Leaf and Ice Fracture, Merced River. Yosemite. 2013. Scholarships and Mentoring 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 Google Blogger. We hope you can come by the gallery and see the new Panoramic Prints we've added to the National Parks Gallery, and 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.
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FEATURED PRINT January 2014
Foggy Dusk on Cliffs. Devil's Slide. 2013 9x14 Pigment Inkjet Print on Cotton paper Out on the cliffs enjoying the soft light and we suddenly found ourselves covered in fog that rolled over us in moments. The fog moved faster than my photographic preparation, but as it started to clear back, the eerie light and reemerging surf was beautiful. A cold but wonderful moment. |
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The complex upturned geology of San Pedro Rock continues to impress me. The sheer drama of its upheaval is classic revelation of this earth forming and reforming. The late afternoon light and salty mist in the air didn't hurt one bit. But it is hard not to stay at the rock too long, tempting a return in the dark. The rock pulls you in, and doesn't easily let go. |
THE VIEW FROM HERE On the Edge I write a lot about wandering around where I live. Of course, if you want to be making new work on a regular basis, a deep exploration of what is nearby is natural. Settling near the sea and San Francisco so long ago, now more than 35 years, was a choice to be in this landscape. The cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area has not always made that an easy choice. But part of the commitment to being here is working hard to engage in the place, and continue to appreciate this land. It's one of the reasons I have been on the board of the Pacifica Land Trust for more than 10 years. I joined the board after helping with our successful acquisition of Mori Point for Golden Gate National Park. It's part of a deep and broad commitment to the land and the the preservation of natural environments. Two very closely related places and events have concentrated that exploration on the south end of Pacifica, the Pedro Point Headlands and the Devil's Slide region immediately to its south. New Trail and Grant The new Tom Lantos Tunnel opened up on Highway One this year, bypassing Devil's Slide, a section of road of ongoing collapse into the ocean. The tunnel itself was the result of citizen action fighting back a freeway type cut over the Montara Mountain ridge line. The old Devil's Slide section of the highway is being transformed into a walking and bike trail. Many of us have been driving through Devil's Slide for decades, marveling at the vistas out over the Pacifica, longing to stop and explore with very few options to do so on the narrow highway and parking restrictions. The new trail will be a gift to those of us in love with the view and become one of the more remarkable trails around. I had a chance to walk it last weekend and was amazed at all of the views I could now take in, that at best I only had glimpses of in the past. View Larger Map
In 2013 the Pacifica Land Trust won a grant to create a virtual interpretive program in 2014 on the Pedro Point Headlands which my late friend Michael Black and I dreamed up a few years ago. I will be the Land Trust board member looking after the project. If any of you have experience in mobile device web programming and want to help with the project, let me know. So I find myself living within a few miles of a wonderful opportunity to build an online visual interpretive resource on a magnificent headland, connected to a brand new wondrous section of California's Highway One transforming into a trail.  Devil's Slide Tunnel Bridges. Pedro Point. 2014 . The photographic possibilities abound. I will share some of that exploration in this column over the next few months as you have seen some of it already start to show up in last fall's Newsletter.
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The motions of the sea have intrigued humans as long a we've had means of recording our observations, and likely long before that. The wonder of the rhythm, push and push back, the drag of the under-sand, the curl, the reflections continue to amaze me. The cliffs I live near provide some wonderful vistas to watch this earth dance from many different angles. Even after living here for decades, I continue to be drawn in, getting lost in the complexity, symmetry and sensuality of the patterns, sound and smell.
It is a little strange that after all of these years of passing by this place, I walk along now and see cliffs, rocks and vistas that I had no clear idea of what they looked like. It is truly a visual pleasure. When open to the public, this old highway turned new trail will be a great stroll for many.
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Tidbits |
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First Showing of "Life Form" Work
Steve at his gallery with the first exhibited preview prints from his "Life Form" project. See the new 2014 Calendar below. |
Consulting Programs and Speaking Events Virtual Education: Our Virtual Consulting and Mentoring Program is working well. Readers of this Newsletter can still get a discount by mentioning this reference when you enroll. Our One on One Program links you up with Steve at his bay area studio, or when he is on the road near you. Keep an eye on when Steve will be near your town. Catch Steve Live: Steve will be speaking here and there over the next few months, such as his up coming talks in Long Island, NY and Rockport, Maine.
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A Repeat Reminder from the December Newsletter of the Tutorials We Have Online |
The Stephen Johnson Photography Gift Shop Featured Product 12 page wall Calendar featuring photographs from in and around Pacifica California which is home for Stephen Johnson Photography. Printed by Steve in his studio in very limited numbers on a color laser digital press. |
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2014 Life Form Calendar 12 page wall Calendar featuring photographs from Steve's new flora work. Printed by Steve in his studio in very limited numbers on a color laser digital press.
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National Park Notecards
National Park Color Notecard Set From "With a New Eye" Beautiful 300 line screen offset reproductions with envelopes in clear box. A great gift. |
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PLEASE VISIT US!  Please come visit us at our gallery and see our original prints in person. The subtle detail of the prints and the beautiful texture of the fine art paper have to be seen to be understood. And while you're here, browse through our books, cards, posters, and specially priced prints. We're happy to mail you a copy of our product catalog, just send a note to info@sjphoto.com or call us. We're located at: Stephen Johnson Photography at the Pacifica Center for the Arts 1220-C Linda Mar Boulevard, Creekside Suites, 5-7 Pacifica, CA 94044 (650) 355-7507 http://www.sjphoto.com |
We're open by appointment. To find us, use our map online at: |
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Stephen Johnson Photography at the Pacifica Center for the Arts Gallery Hours are by Appointment. |
