Steve Garrett
The Photographer

Photography Experience

  • My first experience as a photographer occurred at the age of twelve, when I completed the requirements for Photography Merit Badge as a member of the Boy Scouts.
  • I leveraged my Photography Merit Badge into a position on my high school newspaper and annual.
  • A family friend, Larry Bartlett, offered me a position as an unpaid intern in their photography business. They contracted with the Post Advocate daily newspaper in Alhambra, California.  Local high school sports combined with some news stories and an occasional wedding occupied most of my free time for several years.
  • I joined the Air Force with the hope of spending time as a photographer, but the wise folks in the military decided I should be redirected into the medical services.
  • I pursued several photography classes in college and indulged a hobby which included building my own darkroom in my home.
  • While taking pictures of grandchildren I was challenged to obtain a press pass to shoot pictures from the places set aside for the favored few. My Rotarian friend, Bruce Wood, who published the Chino Champion indulged me with the coveted Press Pass.
  • The creation of my first Photo website in email to interested friends began in February of 2013. That effort became stevegarrett.photography with the offering of the .photography designation. 

Cameras and Equipment

I have often been asked what camera equipment I have used and my favorites.

  •  Early experience was with a Garflex Graphic and Yashica Twin Lens 120 mm cameras.
  • I purchased a Yashica 35mm camera while in the US Air Force.
  • I adopted Canon as my camera of choice in the late 1970s. I have owned a Canon AV-1, AE-1, EOS D-50, EOS D 70 and now use a Canon EOS D-90.
  • I have owned and used a Hasselblad 501 Medium Format Camera. Eventually I sold it as a high quality and inconvenient piece of equipment.
  • My favorite camera today is my Samsung phone.