Steve Parham, Photographer
Learn more about my journey and the passion that guides each limited edition print.
Through it all, I have been a photographer.
I may be the world’s oldest undeclared major, with a couple of degrees in History, a career in Psychology, a few years on US Navy destroyers and river boats, and time spent as a college professor. Through it all, I have been a photographer.
I am a natural-born wanderer, seeking moments here and there, fleeting and elusive stories that spark memory, feeling, or curiosity. Maybe it is autumnal colors emerging through fog and mist at first light, or the weathered scowl of a soldier close to his own fade. Maybe it is old tools, banged up, chipped, and scarred, the working man’s tools that built and fixed and passed through three generations of hands.
That is what photography is to me: stories, places, people, and life caught in the moment, fixed in time. Each print I create is an invitation to pause, notice, and live with these moments a little longer.
While I use digital cameras and post-processing software, my end product is always a physical photograph worthy of wall display. Using archival inks and fine art papers, I craft each print individually to produce limited edition collectible images that reveal the finest of details while achieving the deepest blacks and most brilliant colors. These heirloom-quality photographs are designed to give pleasure for generations.
Why Photography Matters to Me
My grandmother lived the last decades of her life without sight, so in my family, sight was cherished and not to be taken for granted. When I was a boy, I would sit with her on her front porch and be her eyes. I described the details of the trees in the yard, the birds, the cars moving down the street, and the neighbors passing by. Sometimes she smiled in delight, and she giggled. We were two innocents, discovering moments with awe. Over time, my descriptions became more nuanced—shapes and tones, the way light slanted through the leaves, the shadows. Those times taught me to notice details and patterns that made life vibrant.
I learned to see on a deeper level. Light, shadows, texture, tone, and shadings combine in photos to tell stories, evoke emotion, and capture mystery. It is a curiosity with life that never ceases to excite me.
So, there we were, the old blind lady and the boy, sitting on the porch, sharing vision and stories. Her lack of sight heightened my sensitivity to sight. For me, that was a gift. Sometimes I wonder if I would have been a seeker of images if my grandmother had not lost her vision.
A Life of Learning and Recognition
I have pursued photography with curiosity and care throughout my life, learning from diverse experiences and being recognized along the way.
Professional Membership
I am a proud member of the Professional Photographers of America, an organization that keeps me connected to a community of photographers and the evolving standards of the craft.
Workshops & Learning
I regularly attend destination workshops with other photographers, seeking new perspectives, techniques, and inspiration to continually grow and challenge my creative vision.
Education
I hold degrees in History and Psychology, which inform the way I see, interpret, and capture the stories of people, places, and moments through my photography.
Life Experience
My experiences as a US Navy veteran and lifelong traveler have taught me to observe the world closely, appreciate fleeting moments, and find beauty in unexpected places.
Past Awards
During in my photography career, I received many awards for my photography. These honors remain a meaningful part of my journey and a reminder of the importance of curiosity, craft, and careful observation.
“We have had the pleasure of framing many of Steve’s photographs and always look forward to those projects. His way of looking at the wide world of life on this planet, from scenery to people and animals, to fine art or rusty car graveyards, is unique and intimate. It’s not only his mastery of the medium that impresses me, but his gift of making it Art.”
Vicky Lampros, Artist in Residence
Lampros Gallery, The Woodlands, Texas
