John Stevenson | Fine Art Landscape & Nature Photography Prints

ABOUT JOHN STEVENSON | FINE ART LANDSCAPE & NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER

I’m John Stevenson, a fine art landscape and nature photographer based in Springfield, Oregon. My journey with photography began in the 1990s when I lived in California’s Bay Area, but my fascination with cameras and photographs started much earlier, thanks to my late grandfather, Ernest.

I was born in England and grew up during the 1960s with my sister, my mum, and my dad. My grandfather had his own wet black-and-white darkroom—a makeshift setup in his bathroom where he developed and printed his photographs. He was a passionate photographer, and his enthusiasm left a lasting impression on me. In the 1940s, he traveled to Paris, France, where he photographed historic landmarks including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, the Moulin Rouge, and Place de Vendôme. Having those photographs today, more than 80 years later, gives me a remarkable connection to both my grandfather and the history he captured through his camera.

My grandfather was the person who really got me interested in photography. Eventually, I began using a 35mm Canon film camera, which I still have and use today. When I lived near Yuba City, California, I would head into the Sierra Nevada foothills with my camera, photographing the landscapes and scenery around me. I quickly discovered that photography could become an expensive hobby when I was shooting roll after roll of film and paying to have everything processed.

Rather than sending all my film away, I decided to learn how to develop and print it myself. I enrolled in a black-and-white developing and printing course at Yuba City College. That class opened the door to the entire photographic process. I learned how to load and process film, mix and use the appropriate chemicals, develop negatives, and operate a 35mm black-and-white enlarger. I also learned the differences between resin-coated and fiber-based photographic papers, how to make test prints, and how fixer makes the finished prints light-safe.

I enjoyed the course so much that I knew I wanted my own darkroom. I asked my instructor where I could purchase darkroom equipment, and he recommended B&H Photo & Video and Adorama in New York City. Both became valuable sources for photographic equipment, and I eventually purchased my own enlarger and the equipment I needed to continue developing and printing at home.

One of my favorite memories from those early years was a day trip along the Yuba River, high in the Sierra Nevada foothills. I photographed the wild river as it wound through the landscape toward Downieville, a historic California Gold Rush town. I came home with a collection of photographs that captured the rugged scenery and character of the area.

I also photographed two very different subjects close to home—my cats, Monty and Graham. Monty had a habit of attacking my feet, while Graham preferred finding a comfortable place to lie across my paperwork. I entered photographs of the Yuba River and my two cats in the Yuba City Fair, and to my great surprise and excitement, I won first place. That experience gave me a tremendous boost of confidence and remains one of the highlights of my early photography journey.

Today, I live in Springfield, Oregon, with my wonderful wife and our family of pets, including our cat and two dogs—a boy German Shepherd and a sweet mixed-breed girl. We enjoy traveling together, particularly along the beautiful Oregon Coast, where we often stay at dog-friendly hotels and explore new places with our cameras.

One of our favorite destinations is Bandon Beach. For a landscape photographer, it is an extraordinary place to explore, with its dramatic sea stacks rising from the Pacific, including Face Rock, Wizard’s Hat, Elephant Rock, Table Rock, and Cat and Kitten Rock. The coastline offers endless opportunities for photography, from changing ocean light and crashing waves to driftwood, beaches, dunes, and rugged coastal scenery. Bandon and the surrounding area also offer wonderful hotels, motels, gift shops, galleries, restaurants, and places to stop for an ice cream after a day of exploring.

My photography has continued to evolve, but I still have a deep affection for film. I continue to use my original 35mm Canon camera from the 1990s, along with several large-format field cameras, including a camera that allows me to work with 4×5 film. I also use Canon digital SLR cameras when the situation calls for digital photography.

Today, I have a wet darkroom at our home, where I can once again develop film and make my own fine art prints. I enjoy working with both resin-coated and fiber-based papers and being involved in the entire process, from making the photograph in the field to developing the negative and creating the finished print under the enlarger.

For me, photography has always been about more than simply taking pictures. It is about exploring places, remembering people, experiencing the landscape, and preserving a moment in time. From my grandfather’s little bathroom darkroom in England and his photographs of 1940s Paris, to my early adventures with a 35mm Canon in California, and now my continued exploration of Oregon’s landscapes, photography has become a lifelong journey.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my photographic journey and to visit my work. I hope my fine art landscape and nature photographs give you the same sense of wonder, connection, and enjoyment that I experience when I am behind the camera.

Cheers

John