Occupaion: Photographer Interests: not set Biography: Stephen was born and raised in the California coastal city of San Diego. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and volunteered for service in Vietnam. He returned home, shortly after the Tet Offensive of 1968, as a decorated Vietnam combat veteran.
His professional career included almost 30 years as a commercial banker and Vice President with various major United States financial institutions. After becoming increasing unhappy with his career choice he elected early retirement, at the age of 64, and has since embarked upon a 15 to 20 year world tour to travel to, photograph, write about and live in as many countries as possible.
Stephen began his photography career at age 7 with a simple Kodak box camera. By the age of 12 he had upgraded to a Kodak Brownie camera, and won his first national photography prize at the relatively young age of 13. In his youth Stephen was a trained artist trying to express himself in oils, tempera, watercolors, pen & ink, pencil sketches and pastels. Again, at age 12, Stephen was selected to attend a prestigious art program in San Diego, and had his work featured at the renowned San Diego Museum of Art.
Dissatisfied with his attempt to translate his personal vision to canvas, he refocused on his photography. He has been a photographer for over 58 years, but only recently switched to digital imagery, and turned professional in 2009. Since turning professional he has sold many images as an international Travel, Landscape, Wildlife and People photographer. He spent a short period of time as the Staff Photographer for The Yucatan Times, and now displays his work through SoHo Galleries in Ciudad de Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
Stephen is also a self-admitted, reluctant author, writing the critically acclaimed travel blog: Expat Journal, Postcards from the Edge. And he recently published his first book, through Colonial Press, with the same title: Expat Journal, Postcards from the Edge. Expat Journal is available from Amazon, Kindle eBooks, Barnes and Noble and most major bookstores and libraries around the world.
Stephen’s future plans include his worldwide travels and photography, and maybe using Ciudad de Merida as his home base for the next few years. The life of an Expat seems to suit him, and his sense of freedom and adventure remain intact. Website: www.IndochinePhotography.com