Stephen Johnson Photography

Stephen Johnson Photography Stephen Johnson is a fine art photographer. His galleries and studios are in Pacifica, California. He has been photographing since 1973.

Stephen Johnson is a landscape photographer, author, designer and educator. His work has been featured in Communication Arts, Life Magazine, American Photo, Outdoor Photographer, PBS Newshour and ABC Discovery News, among many others. His books include At Mono Lake, the award winning and critically acclaimed The Great Central Valley: California’s Heartland, Making a Digital Book and the new Stephe

n Johnson on Digital Photography. Internationally recognized as a digital photography pioneer, Johnson's photographs have been exhibited, published and collected in the United States, Europe, Mexico and Japan. His work has concentrated on large environmentally sensitive photograph projects, including the NEA funded and Congressionally honored At Mono Lake, and the award winning Great Central Valley Project. In 1994 he embarked on With A New Eye, the ground breaking all digital photographic look at American national parks. Steve was recognized by Apple Computer in 1997 with a ColorSync Profiling Excellence Award. In 1999, Folio Magazine declared the publication of Johnson's digital photographs in Life Magazine to be one of the Top 15 Critical Events in magazine publishing in the twentieth century. In 2003 he was inducted into the Photoshop Hall of Fame. Canon named Steve as one of their Explorers of Light in 2006 and sponsors speaking engagements with him around the country. In 2007 X-Rite named Stephen as a founding member of their exclusive Coloratti group of photographers and educators honored for their skills in color management. Stephen is well known for his passionate lectures and deep love for the traditions of fine photography. His photography Studios, Galleries and Education Center are located in Pacifica, California. HYPERLINK "http://www.sjphoto.com" www.sjphoto.com
High Tech AdditionFor more than 20 years, Stephen Johnson has played an influential role in the development of the photographic tools used today. In the late 1980s, he consulted with various high tech firms on the development of digital scanners and printers. By the early 1990s he was working with Adobe, Leaf and Betterlight on the development of software and digital camera hardware. The mid-1990s further expanded his high tech consultation to include Apple's Advanced Technology Group, QuickTime VR and color management with Gretag MacBeth. The late 1990s brought deep work with Epson on the development of their pigment based printers and with Foveon on the development of their full-resolution X3 color sensor. Work in the last decade has included the design of the Museum Etching paper for Hahnemühle, and working with Hewlett Packard in Barcelona on the conceptualization, design and performance of the self-profiling Z Series Digital Fine Art printers. His 20 year relationship with Adobe has continued to influence product development on Photoshop with his recommendations continuing to find their way into products including Photoshop CS6's Camera RAW 7/Lightroom 4. This record puts Steve in the singular position of photographing with a camera he had deep influence on, editing with software he played real roles in expanding and customizing, printing on printers he helped design, on paper he did design. His has been a truly remarkable career journey, pioneering a level of involvement in the development of the tools of his trade that may be unprecedented.

Elvira, my amazing Mother in 1976 at 47. Remembering her strength, compassion and kindness on Mother’s Day 2026. I am po...
05/10/2026

Elvira, my amazing Mother in 1976 at 47.
Remembering her strength, compassion and kindness on Mother’s Day 2026. I am posting this again as this portrait of her will now be seen more widely. This email came on Friday: "Congratulations. We are pleased to inform you that your photograph has been selected as a finalist in the Portrait Awards 2026 by Dodho Magazine. Your work will be featured in our annual Portrait Book, which brings together the most outstanding images selected from this year’s competition. Only the top 100 photographs are included in this publication."

Dodho is an independent editorial platform dedicated to contemporary photography based in Barecelona, Catalonia, Spain.
https://www.dodho.com/product-category/Magazines/

This photograph was featured in my Portraits exhibition last fall of 2025.

https://stephen-johnson-gtt1.squarespace.com/portraitshow

The exhibition catalog is available at:
https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/3178563

May Featured PrintMussel Rock Panoramic Sunset. 2024 I frequently stand at the edge of the Mussel Rock cliffs in north P...
05/07/2026

May Featured Print

Mussel Rock Panoramic Sunset. 2024

I frequently stand at the edge of the Mussel Rock cliffs in north Pacifica/Daly City. The wide ocean horizon stretches around me. The iPhone pano feature renders this curved field flat and makes for some spectacular sweeps of space.

This print at this price is offered through May 31. I'll be taking orders until then, and shipping them out by June 15, 2026. The image reverts to its normal price after that, $800 for an 11x14, $1500 for a 16x20 print.

https://bit.ly/4duHFXH

My May 2026 Newsletter is now live on my website. This month's View From Here column explores photographs from simple wa...
05/01/2026

My May 2026 Newsletter is now live on my website.

This month's View From Here column explores photographs from simple walks near my home to my inclusion in a Santa Fe show and a recent lecture. I’ve also included downloadable printer profiles I’ve made over the years that might be useful to some of you.

Here at the Pacifica Center for the Arts we are participating in the Silicon Valley Open studios in this weekend, 11am to 5pm.

I have added a session of the Masterful Fine Art Digital Photography Printing Class May 16-19, 2026.

Read the newsletter:
https://bit.ly/4w9m1jm

Photo: Torch Lilly. Golden Gate Park. 2022.

“Botanicals” Santa Fe show opening May 1A photograph of mine is featured in the Botanicals exhibition at the Dusk Galler...
04/30/2026

“Botanicals” Santa Fe show opening May 1

A photograph of mine is featured in the Botanicals exhibition at the Dusk Gallery in Santa Fe, NM during May 2026.

https://duskphotogallery.com

Opening Reception May 1st. 5PM-7PM

Dusk Gallery
29 W San Francisco, Suite F
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Hours: Fridays 11am-4pm.

The end of the month are the last few days for my April Featured Print. Each month I select a photograph to offer at a v...
04/28/2026

The end of the month are the last few days for my April Featured Print. Each month I select a photograph to offer at a very low price to make them available to more people.

Fungus. Yosemite Valley. 1978.

https://stephen-johnson-gtt1.squarespace.com/featured-print-april-2026

I’m offering an un-matted 11-inch-wide print of this photograph for $195. Larger prints can be ordered. This print at this price is offered through April 30. I'll be taking orders until then, and shipping them out by May 15, 2025. The image reverts to its normal price after that, $800 for an 11x14, $1500 for a 16x20 print.

We are again participating in Silicon Valley Open Studios (SVOS)  next weekend May 2nd & 3rd. 2026 11-5pmCome join us fo...
04/27/2026

We are again participating in Silicon Valley Open Studios (SVOS) next weekend May 2nd & 3rd. 2026 11-5pm

Come join us for this Art Center-wide celebration of creative expression. Many of the Studio artists will be present.

Pacifica Center for the Arts
1220c Linda Mar Blvd. Pacifica, CA
https://svos.org/artist/stephen-johnson/
https://svos.org

I just finished the revised lecture on my Golden Gate Park Project “Urban Eden.” It needed updating after the exhibition...
04/16/2026

I just finished the revised lecture on my Golden Gate Park Project “Urban Eden.” It needed updating after the exhibitions I mounted last year and the 50 Photographs catalog I published last fall.

Join me if you can at the Odd Fellows Hall in Half Moon Bay Thursday evening April 16 at 6pm one night exhibition reception and for the lecture at 7pm.

Odd Fellows Club in Half Moon Bay this Thursday April 16, 2026. 526 Main Street, Half Moon Bay.

https://www.hmb-odd.org/events/speaker-series-photographer-stephen-johnson

I will be giving a talk on my Urban Eden Golden Gate Park photographs at the Odd Fellows Club in Half Moon Bay this Thur...
04/13/2026

I will be giving a talk on my Urban Eden Golden Gate Park photographs at the Odd Fellows Club in Half Moon Bay this Thursday April 16, 2026 at 7pm with a small exhibit reception at 6pm.

My work continues on my new project "Animals Among Us."Duncan, a very large and gentle Holstein cow at An Animal Place S...
04/11/2026

My work continues on my new project "Animals Among Us."

Duncan, a very large and gentle Holstein cow at An Animal Place Sanctuary in Grass Valley, CA. Please let me know where you think I should visit as I build this work.

My April 2026 Newsletter is now live on my website. This month's View From Here column explores some of the studio movin...
04/06/2026

My April 2026 Newsletter is now live on my website.

This month's View From Here column explores some of the studio moving process, how I am thinking about these past 26 years of galleries, the loss of my dear friend Marsh Pitman and imagining paths forward.

I have added a session of the Masterful Fine Art Digital Photography Printing Class May 16-19, 2026.

Read the newsletter:
https://bit.ly/3QmWp1K
Photo: Fog on Pedro Point. Pacifica, CA 2026.

I just sent out this update to my Newsletter subscribers. Check it out:http://sjphoto.com/March-2026-News-Update.pdf
03/20/2026

I just sent out this update to my Newsletter subscribers. Check it out:

http://sjphoto.com/March-2026-News-Update.pdf

Address

1220 Linda Mar Boulevard Studio 15
Pacifica, CA
94044

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+16503557507

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