WELCOME

Welcome to the on-line home of Stephen Bruno Photography. I value your visiting. Please return anytime. I frequently enhance this website to improve your experience and I add new and diverse images frequently. Click on "Galleries" in the menu at the top of the page to start your virtual journey.

MY Photography Philosophy

I believe that artists, writers, and photographers are vigilant observers by inclination, background, and training. My life, which includes each of these professions, serves me well in developing and enhancing intuition, observational skills, focus, natural instinct, dedication, curiosity, compassion, and patience. People tell me that I photograph with an artist's eye. I believe that it comes from my naturalist's heart.

My Photography Services

I offer professional traditional, modern, documentary, and eccentric style photography. Additionally I provide photography for corporate and special events, architecture and realty, portraits and headshots, pets, military, and more.

My Photography Background

I was born in Reno, Nevada, living my first two years in Carson City. Shortly afterwards, my family frequently moved to many cities from the east coast to the west coast. I was a seasoned traveler by the time we moved to East Los Angeles, California when I was five years old. It is a definite benefit for my photography in exploring new locations. When we lived in rural areas I spent many hours exploring the wilderness and following the small mammals, insects and birds. Thus began my naturalist inclinations.

At age seven, I encountered my first bears in the wild in Yosemite National Park, California. I hiked away from my family’s canvas tent cabin at the Curry Village campground and down toward one of the many rivers in the valley. Four adult Black Bears and three cubs approached me when I wandered off the path. They were friendly, and remained comfortable in my presence. It never occurred to me to be concerned about my safety, or theirs.

I talked quietly to each of the bears, watching their curious expressions, and followed them the entire day. When they ate berries, I ate berries. When they rested, I rested. When they looked for other areas to graze, I walked along with them. This was a time when the Yosemite rangers still encouraged contact with the bears, including feeding them. This began a lifelong affinity with large wild animals and nature in general.

While a high school senior, my grandmother purchased my first camera—a Minolta 35mm. When she did, I immediately took to black and white and color photography. A local newspaper hired me to take action photographs of area high school sporting events and write the captions. This was my first paying job and the first professional publication of my photography. I then became Editor-In-Chief of my high school paper, spending a lot of time in the dark room and combining a love of photography and writing. In college, I became the Editor-In-Chief of the campus newspaper where I continued my love of photography and writing.

Drafted and eventually receiving orders to Vietnam, my Minolta traveled with me on my 14-month Army tour of duty where I photographed many powerful images that remain clear to me even today. While in Vietnam, I raised many large Mantises to keep the Mosquitoes away and photographed the process. I continue to enjoy macro photography.

On my return to the States, I took portraits to support the United Way’s annual fundraising campaign. I worked in the Public Relations department of a college in California where I was responsible for many PR photographs and all of the darkroom activities. I also worked as a Marketing Manager for an international corporation utilizing my photography, writing and graphic skills.

I produced and edited a monthly art, literature and photography magazine. Contributing my own writing and photography, I also provided many photographers, artists and writers with their first opportunity for publication. Some went on to prominent creative careers.

While jogging in the mountains once observed three large deer jump across a path right in front of me. Each one in turn staring at me as the jumped at head level. It was an awesome site.

One summer during a houseboat trip at Lake Powel in Arizona , I anchored the boat near a sandy beach. We observed one very large pair of Cougar paw prints and two sets of cub prints in the sand. In the late afternoon, I was jogging at the top of a cliff and as I rounded a curve I saw a large 100lb female Cougar. Her torso was a cinnamon buff-colored contrasted by a white belly. She had two kittens with brownish-black irregular spots on the body and dark rings on the short tail. They were lying down on a hill about sixty feet above me. I slowed to a fast walk and decided to pass in front rather than turning around, I maintained eye contact. I had not yet read that this was not a wise plan.

Then, one eager kitten began bounding down the hill toward me as the other kitten cautiously moved near the mom. Without losing eye contact with me, the momma lion crouched and gave a single loud, blood-curdling hair-raising cry that sounded like a woman screaming in pain. The kitten continued toward me with an over the shoulder look at mom after the cry. She then reluctantly turned around and ran back up the hill.

Never losing eye contact with me this magnificent mother Cougar cried a soft whistle and gently lay down as I moved safely out of sight.

This is the most exciting experience I had with wildlife as an adult. I wish I had my camera with me. During my long jogs, deep in the Arizona Mountains, I occasionally observed Cougars watching me.

I currently live in the San Francisco Bay area with my wife, Laura, a published author. Her website is http://internationalrenaissancecoaching.com/

My Favorite Photographers

Annie Leibovitz, Paul Strand, Margaret Bourke-White, Eve Arnold, Edward Weston, Dorothea Lange, Alfred Stieglitz, and Manuel Alvarez Bravo.

Visit My Poetry Postings

If you are a poet or interested in poetry, read some of my poetry at http://allpoetry.com/wordsmith.

Using This Website

If you are new to this website experience, let me tell you how it works.

You can see the Flash slideshow again anytime by clicking on http://www.stephenbrunophotography.com/ and it will start automatically.

You may click on any gallery of photographs to view all photos within that gallery. Click the slideshow button in a gallery and you'll discover a gorgeous Flash slideshow with silky transitions.

Each galley has multiple pages within it that you can access by clicking on the page numbers located just above the thumbnail photographs on the left of the screen.

As you browse, you may find a photograph or multiple photographs that you would like to purchase. All you need to do to add the photograph(s) to your shopping cart is to it click on "Buy This Photo" or "Multiple Photos."

After you select all photographs that you want, from any of the galleries, simply continue the "Check-Out" process of finalizing your order.

You may select photographs from 5x7 to 24x36 in lustre, gloss or matte, and you have the option to "crop" photographs to your liking.

In addition to the prints, you have the option to purchase merchandise including T-shirts, sweatshirts, mouse pad, mugs, coasters, and aprons with your favorite photographs.

To see these options click the this link. http://www.smugmug.com/prints/catalog2.mg

(Note: Watermarks, copyright or proof marks that may appear on the photographs online WILL NOT appear on prints you purchase.)

Once the order is complete and you have submitted your order, your prints will arrive at your door via the delivery method you select. It is that easy!

In addition, your prints and merchandise ship with a 100% guarantee. Read this to see payment method when purchasing online. http://www.smugmug.com/help/payment.mg

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed your visit. New images and information are added all the time, so be sure to visit again. If you are the subject of one of the images and remember the details better than I do, please leave a comment with the photograph so I can update the details section.

If you have any comments or questions about this site, the photographs, the process of purchasing photographs and merchandise or even the photographer Email Me

Copyright Statement

I will be glad to assist you with any image or articles on this site, please ask first.

The images presented here are © 2004-2008 Stephen Bruno and may not be reproduced, copied or altered in any way, by use of computer or other electronic means, without specific permission and payment of fee. All photographs are protected under United States and international copyright law. Any unauthorized use is a violation of copyright law.

Warning: I vigorously protect my copyright interests. In the event that an infringement is discovered, you will be notified and invoiced the industry-standard TRIPLE-FEE for unauthorized usage and/or prosecuted for Copyright Infringement in U S Federal Court where you will be subject to a fine of US$100,000 statutory damages as well as my court costs and attorneys' fees.

Please contact me if you need more information at 415 314-5191 or Email me

Member of Professional Photographers of California

Member of Photographic Society of America