Stephen Johnson Photography

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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 Stephen 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.

My October 2026 Newsletter is now live on my website. This month's View From Here column features some photographs from ...
10/15/2026

My October 2026 Newsletter is now live on my website. This month's View From Here column features some photographs from my east coast trip to Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York. From amazing botanical gardens, a Lavender Farm, and the photo archives of an old friend, it has been a busy month.

The last printing class this year is my Fine Art Digital Printing class November 7-10, 2026 and has two spots left in it.

Read the newsletter:
bit.ly/4zzbWgm
Photo: Water Fountain Show, Longwood Gardens. Pennsylvania.. 2026.

What is joy? A walk in the near rain and the leaf a grandson found beautiful.
09/27/2026

What is joy? A walk in the near rain and the leaf a grandson found beautiful.

A gesture of a fallen tree at Purisima Creek Redwoods from a special day a few weeks ago..
09/24/2026

A gesture of a fallen tree at Purisima Creek Redwoods from a special day a few weeks ago..

My Studio is Open today together with the free public showing of the 50/50 show at the  Sanchez Art Center 1 to 5pm Sund...
09/13/2026

My Studio is Open today together with the free public showing of the 50/50 show at the Sanchez Art Center 1 to 5pm Sunday Sept. 13, 2026.

On this sad 25th Anniversary of the mass murders of 9/11, I am reposting my NY Skyline Panoramic I made in 1998. In my m...
09/11/2026

On this sad 25th Anniversary of the mass murders of 9/11, I am reposting my NY Skyline Panoramic I made in 1998. In my mind I can still see the Twin Towers rising proudly from lower Manhattan.

I have donated prints and proceeds from the image since shortly after the attack.

NY Skyline Photo Story
https://bit.ly/4ipGyMa

Photo Stories
https://bit.ly/4iZFs9XP

9/11 Govt. Victim Compensation Fund
https://www.vcf.gov/

September Featured PrintPortrait, Humpback Whale. Pacifica. CA. 2026. After posting this photograph shortly after I made...
09/07/2026

September Featured Print
Portrait, Humpback Whale. Pacifica. CA. 2026.

After posting this photograph shortly after I made it, it garnered such a great reaction that I decided to make if my Featured Print for September.

I’m offering an un-matted 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, 2025. The image reverts to its normal price after that, $800 for an 11x14, $1500 for a 16x20 print.

https://bit.ly/3UFP7Zf

After some requests to visit my studio this afternoon, I have decided to open from 11:30 to 5pm today Monday September 7...
09/07/2026

After some requests to visit my studio this afternoon, I have decided to open from 11:30 to 5pm today Monday September 7. Drop by and see new work, this month's Featured Print and many of my favorite photographs.

Stephen Johnson Photography
Pacifica Center for the Arts, Studio 15
Pacifica, CA

My September 2026 Newsletter is now live on my website. This month's View From Here column features some 1988 Alaska Jou...
09/02/2026

My September 2026 Newsletter is now live on my website. This month's View From Here column features some 1988 Alaska Journal excerpts with a favorite photograph, a local Dorothea Lange photograph from 1938, discusses print fading, and pays tribute to my friend and patron Tim Smith.

After a summer break, I am restarting my Photo Chats, our weekly two hour forum for photo discussion, critique and photo problem solving. Let me know if you would like to get an invitation.

My next Fine Art Digital Printing class is September 17-20, 2026 and has one spot left in it. The August 8-11 session went very well. See new testimonial below and linked here. Another session has been added for November 7-10. I am reducing the class size to three and If you want to join me, register soon.

Read the newsletter:
https://bit.ly/464OP0s

Photo: Sunset over Pacifica, McCarthy Point. Pacifica, CA. 2026.

Last two days for August's Featured Print!Blue Horizon, Last Light. Mussel Rock. Pacifica. CA. 2023. My frequent evening...
08/31/2026

Last two days for August's Featured Print!

Blue Horizon, Last Light. Mussel Rock. Pacifica. CA. 2023.
My frequent evening walks on the north cliffs of Pacifica often yields dramatic light and color.

I’m offering an un-matted 14-inch-wide print of this photograph for $195. Larger prints can be ordered. This print at this price is offered through August 31. I'll be taking orders until then, and shipping them out by September 15, 2026. The image reverts to its normal price after that, $800 for an 11x14, $1500 for a 16x20 print.

https://bit.ly/4hqNI25

Portrait, Humpback Whale. Pacifica. CA. 2026. I call from a friend alerting me to whales just offshore led to my first g...
08/28/2026

Portrait, Humpback Whale. Pacifica. CA. 2026.

I call from a friend alerting me to whales just offshore led to my first good whale photographs this season. This particular photo interested me with its eye and baleen so clearly visible.

Address

1220 Linda Mar Boulevard Studio 15
Pacifica, CA
94044

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