About Ken Rockwell & KenRockwell.com (original) (raw)
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I've been avidly photographing since I was 5 years old.
My work has been published across the United States and held in library collections since the 1970s when I was still a little kid. I've been winning major awards, been held in private collections, displayed in museums and published worldwide since the 1990s.
I started this website for fun in 1999 and run it to showcase my work and help everyone learn How to Take Great Pictures, supported by you and your actions.
My two most recent clients are Merck Pharmaceuticals and McDonald's.
Me inside a Hasselblad in Yosemite, October 2015. bigger.
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I love traveling California and the world creating beautiful images. I love all the arts and the outdoors. I run, bike, hit the gym or play in the ocean almost every day. I've been doing 50 - 125 mile bike rides since I was in high school, and I'm always there when there's an art opening, symphony concert or play going on. I do more things outdoors than will fit here.
My great-great grandfather was the pioneering photographic artist James Brewster at the dawn of photography in Ayr, Scotland between 1861 and 1881. The poet Robert Burns is also from Ayr and wrote the modern version of "Auld Lang Syne."
I come from a very musical family. My parents met in a chorus, and their parents earned their livings in the music industry.
My dad was an electronic engineer who innovated much of the LORAN worldwide navigation system, the precursor to GPS. Dad played violin, piano and built organs.
My mom sings and plays piano. She's also been a pilot since 1952. We spent most of our weekends as little kids buzzing around in her Cessna 172. I've been shooting out the window all along, and my aerial photographs had been published widely and held in public collections even as a kid. If there was a news event like a fire, mom and I hit the skies and covered it.
I may be related to painter Norman Rockwell. Norman lived in an area of New York state from which my family comes, but it hasn't been high enough on my travel list to warrant a trip to research it.
In college I was a photographer and photo editor at one of Eastern Long Island's largest newspapers. My aerial photography continued to be widely published and held in collections. Coincidentally I had two different girlfriends appear in the pages of National Geographic.
Things really took off in the 1990s and my work started garnering major awards. By the mid 1990s private collectors were acquiring my work, and even I was amused as pieces by Ansel Adams were taken off the walls of Los Angeles' Gallery at 777 to show my works as part of a juried exhibit. Hey, I like my pictures, but I don't know that I'd take down Ansel to hang my work. I won two first place awards at that one.
I started this website as a goof in 1999. Back then it took forever to download an emailed scan of a photo, and longer than forever if there were a few photos. This website was an easier way to share recent photos with my immediate friends than trying to send a bunch of emails.
By the 2000s I'd been exhibited in museums, and won top places in every contest I entered. Here's one example.
I've earned my living full-time in digital imaging since the 1980s. I have an electronic engineering degree and hold a three US patents, with more pending.
I continue to do this site all by myself for fun — probably the last remaining 1990's for-fun website that hasn't sold out to other interests. To use words of Ansel Adams on page 193 of his autobiography, this site is my "aggressive personal opinion," and not a "logical presentation of fact." This website is a work of fiction, entirely the product of my own imagination and personal opinion.
I am this site's only author. I have no one to proofread, spell check or fact check for me, so there will always be errors and omissions. Apparently the world finds my opinions very useful, but remember, they are the opinions of one man. I have a big sense of humor, and do this site to entertain you (and myself), as well as to inform and to educate. I occasionally weave fiction and satire into my stories to keep them interesting. I love a good hoax. Read The Museum of Hoaxes, or see their site. A hoax, like some of the things I do on this website, is done as a goof simply for the heck of it by overactive minds as a practical joke. Even Ansel Adams kidded around when he was just a pup in the 1920s by selling his photos as "Parmelian Prints." I have the energy and sense of humor of a three-year old, so remember, this is a personal website, and never presented as fact. I enjoy making things up for fun, as does The Onion, and I publish them here.
I've been adding to this site since 1999. This means that many of these pages, including this one, are over twenty years old. I can't possibly go back and update everything magically as the world turns. Read, enjoy, have fun, and take everything in the spirit in which it's shared.
I earn my living through this website, and have always formally and regularly registered copyright with the Library of Congress. I share this all free for the reading, and it's always appreciated when you link back to this site, but it is never permitted to copy anything.
Thank you! Enjoy!
Ken.
Ken Rockwell, Self-Portrait, age 12. 3k scan.
Self Portrait, age 12.
Media Highlights top
Interviewed by KCBS Radio, San Francisco, January 2018 for my analysis of Bitcoin and Kodak.
I was interviewed in India's largest photo magazine, Better Photography, who dubbed me "The Opinion Maker" in January 2010.
Interviewed by NBC 7 San Diego circa 2006 two times about consumer photography.
Radio Interview and Podcast 16 May 2006.
Interviewed on KCBS TV, Los Angeles, 06 February 2005.
**Recent Trips top
(links show photos from those trips)
2025 top
Come join us in February!!!: California's Route 66. Come join us!
2024 top
Come join us in October!!!: Autumn Light in California's Eastern Sierra. Come join us!
May: California's Central Coast in Springtime (photos coming).
January & February: California's Route 66.
2023 top
October: Autumn Light in California's Eastern Sierra.
April: California's Central Coast in Springtime.
2022 top
October: Autumn Light in Yosemite & California's Eastern Sierra.
April: California's Central Coast in Springtime.
2021 top
October: Autumn Light in Yosemite & California's Eastern Sierra.
June: California's Central Coast in Springtime.
2020 top
Numerous trips to the Palm Desert, California area.
2019 top
October: Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra. Best trip EVER!!!
May: Yosemite in Springtime.
2018 top
October: Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra.
May: Yosemite in Springtime.
2017 top
October: Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra.
May: Yosemite.
2016 top
October: Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra, shot with the Canon 5DS/R, Hasselblad 500 C/M and iPhone 7 Plus (to be completed).
August: The Bahamas, shot with the Nikon D3300 (to be completed).
June: Oahu and Maui, shot with the Sony RX10 Mk III, Olympus TG-870, and iPhone 6s Plus.
May: Yosemite.
February: Hawaii, shot with the Fuji X100T, Ricoh Theta S and Nikon Coolpix AW130 (to be completed)
February: Route 66.
2015 top
October: California's Eastern Sierra and Yosemite.
August: Hawaii. (to be completed; shot on RX100 Mk IV)
July: Nassau, Bahamas.
May: Yosemite. (to be completed)
February: Route 66 (complete) and Hawaii (to be completed).
2014 top
November: Palm Desert. (to be completed)
October: Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra.
June: Lake Tahoe. (to be completed)
May: Yosemite.
February: Route 66.
January: California's Central Coast Road Trip.
2013 top
October: Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra.
April: California's Central Coast.
February: Route 66.
February: Santa Barbara 50th Anniversary Celebration.
February: Death Valley with Ryan.
2012 top
August: Orange County, California (to be completed)
April: California's Central Coast.
March: Olde California.
February: Route 66.
2011 top
November: Yosemite.
November: Route 66 in New Mexico and Arizona (to be completed).
October: Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra.
August: Central California (to be completed)
June: San Diego Safari.
May: The Yosemite in Springtime.
April: California's Central Coast.
February: The Yosemite in Winter.
February: Route 66.
2010 top
October: The Eastern Sierra.
August: Point Reyes.
July: Maui.
June: California's Central Coast.
May and June: New York and Long Island.
May: Maui.
April: California's Gold Country.
February: Route 66 in Arizona and California.
January: New York, and then Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra.
2009 top
November: Indian Country, USA.
October: Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra
September: Point Reyes, California.
August: Yellowstone National Park and New York City.
July: Walnut Creek, California.
June: Monterey, California.
April: Volcano Country.
February: Route 66.
January: Death Valley.
2008 top
November: Arizona and New Mexico as photographed on film and as snapped digitally.
October: Eastern Sierra and Yosemite.
September: San Luis Obispo. (to be completed)
April: Barrio Logan.
March: Montaña de Oro. (to be completed)
January: Route 66, Barstow. (to be completed)
2007 top
October: Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra, California
September: Moonset over Aviara.
February: Death Valley, California
January: Route 66, California
2006 top
December: New baby in La Jolla, California
November: New York and Long Island, New York
October: Las Vegas, Nevada: Mercedes Starfest and Yosemite, California.
September: PhotoShop World, Las Vegas, Nevada (not my shots)
August: Orange County, California
July: Lake Arrowhead and Santa Barbara, California
June: Alamo, California
May: Kauai, Hawaii
April: Las Vegas, Nevada; Palm Desert, California
March: San Francisco Bay Area and Palm Desert, California (infra-red examples)
February: San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara, Barstow and Route 66 Workshop (shots here and some more shots at the bottom here), California; PMA, Orlando, Florida
January: Death Valley, California (some shots at the bottom here)
2005 top
December: Maui, Hawaii
November: Montecito, Santa Barbara and Palm Desert, California
October: Phoenix and Sedona, Arizona
September: California's Palm Desert, Eastern Sierra and Mono Lake.
August: Long Island, The Hamptons and New York, New York; Palm Desert, California.
July : No travel. Married.
June: No travel. Married.
May: Kauai. Got married.
April: Kauai.
March: Death Valley and Santa Barbara, California
February: Santa Barbara, California; PMA, Orlando, Florida
January: New York, New York; Las Vegas, Nevada
2004 top
December: Las Vegas, Nevada; New York, New York
November: Baja California, México looking at migrating monarch butterflies
October: California's Sierra Nevada, Miramar Airshow (photos here)
September: Big Sur, San Luis Obispo, Cambria, San Simeon and Monterey, California
August: On vacation for the first time this year. I didn't go anywhere, thank goodness!
July: San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, California
June: Grand Cayman Island, British West Indies (photos); San Francisco and the Muir Woods, California
May: Miami, Florida; Palm Desert, California, Las Vegas, Nevada
April: Las Vegas, Nevada; Santa Barbara, California
March: New York City and Long Island, New York
February: Cambria, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Palm Desert, California; PMA, Las Vegas, Nevada; Rosarito Beach and Ensenada, Baja California, México
January: Death Valley, Santa Barbara California, California; Long Island, New York
2003 top
December: New York City, New York
November: Julian, California firestorms. (photos here) and California's Eastern Sierra (photos here)
October: Torino, Italy; Paris, France (photos here) and California's Eastern Sierra
September: New York, NY. Tom and Stacy's wedding (photos here)
August: Santa Barbara, Lompoc, CA; New York, NY
July: Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Big Sur, San Francisco, Bristlecone Pines, CA
June: Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, CA; Portland, Oregon
May: Sedona, AZ; Santa Barbara, Mammoth Lakes, CA; Portland, Oregon
April: Santa Barbara, CA; National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show, Las Vegas, Nevada
March: PMA show, Las Vegas, Nevada
January: Death Valley, California; Dallas, TX and New York, NY
2002 top
December: New York City and Long Island
November: Hawaii
October: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico; Arizona, Utah and Colorado (Photos here). Also Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
September: Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo California
August: Salk Institute party, La Jolla
July: Yosemite National Park, Mono Lake and Mammoth Mountain, California see the snapshots here
June: Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Oregon
May: Lone Pine, Bishop and the Eastern Sierra, California. Parrot Adoption and Education Center (photos here)
April: Las Vegas, Nevada
March: Vermillion Cliffs, Utah; Page, Arizona. Paul and Sandy's wedding, Laguna Beach, California (photos here)
February: Grammy Awards (Los Angeles), Santa Barbara, San Simeon, Cambria, Piedras Blancas California; Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico photos here
January: New York City
2001 top
December: Death Valley, California photos here; New York City
November: New Mexico. Photos here
October: Zion National Park, Utah. Photos here
August: Mono Lake. photos here
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January: San Clemente, California.
1998, August: New York and Long Island, New York for Mike and Jen's wedding (photos here)
1997, June and July: France (photos here)
1993, May: Chuck and Joy's wedding on San Diego Bay (photos here)
Nice places I'll visit at the drop of a hat:
Santa Barbara, California (weekend trips anytime)
San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach, California (weekend trips anytime)
Cambria, California (and the elephant seals and the whole PCH, Big Sur, and Ventana area) (weekend trips anytime)
California's Eastern Sierra
Italy
France
Germany
Romania
Mesa, Arizona
Cook Islands
Spokane, Washington
France et Tahiti (Oui, je parle Français)
Hawaii
California's wine country; Napa and Sonoma counties (any weekend)
San Francisco (weekends)
Durango, Colorado (a mountain biking and outdoor Mecca)
Santa Fe and all of New Mexico
Other places I've visited:
Austria (November 1992)
Canada (Summer 1978)
Czechoslovakia (November 1992)
England (June 1993)
France (June and July 1997, photos here)
Germany (November 1992)
Guatemala (1991, 1992, 1998, 1999)
Hawaii (Maui March 1999, Kauai February 2000, Oahu November 2002. Marriage May 2005)
Mexico City (August 2000)
Peru (August 1999)
Russia (1995, 1996)
Scotland (June 1993)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases top
I'm supported mostly by you using these links to my favorite stores that I've been using myself for decades to get what you need. Thanks!
**About the Ads top
Without ads this website would just be a collection of my work.
Ads allowed me to quit my last real job in 2004 and work on this site for you full time, adding tons of the technical info you've requested. Contributions help, but don't provide anywhere near enough on their own to allow me to do what I do today.
I personally buy from these stores, from whom I've been buying my own equipment for decades, long before the Internet became popular.
Any other ads are placed automatically by third party ad wholesalers. I can't vouch for them since I don't see or approve them before the third party sends them straight to your browser. These same ads appear on other websites who use the same wholesalers like Google's AdWords. I simply rent out the space to advertising wholesalers, NOT camera companies. I certainly don't have the time to be out selling ads. Since I have no idea what goes up there I certainly have no fear being honest with my opinions on cameras, either, which of course supports the whole idea of my site: no commercial bias.
**Privacy Policy top
This website and I collect nothing about anyone. I don't even know how to do that; I'm an independent artist, not a programmer.
Other websites, which are third-party advertising companies that place some of the advertisements seen on this site, may collect and use information about your visits to this and other websites. They do this to provide ads you might actually find interesting rather than junk ads for toe fungus or car insurance. They don't collect anything about your name, address, email address or phone number; they just collect information about your visits so that the few ads you might see can be as helpful and as interesting to you as possible.
If you'd like to learn more, or don't want this information used by these companies, see www.networkadvertising.org.
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