Wildlife Photographer Stephanie Brand Featured in June 2023

Stephanie Brand

We have all seen the movie where a person is being stalked by a large mammal predator. But, in the case of a true wildlife photographer, Stephanie Brand often reverses the role and stalks the large predator—for that once in a lifetime photo shot. Brand will be on hand to explain her process, and discuss her photography during a reception on Friday, June 2nd from 5-8 PM at the Village Gallery of Local Artists.

Brand states, “For as long as I can remember, I have been taking photographs. Since retiring from a busy law practice, I’ve had the opportunity to travel extensively, and I have focused on creating images that are true to the spirit of the places I’ve visited. My goal is to capture the very essence of my experiences in whatever place I visit.”

“I took my first photos as a child with a Brownie camera and later played with various point-and-shoot cameras. I didn’t get a camera that allowed me to make manual adjustments until 2001.” Primarily self-taught, Brand deepened her photographic knowledge with courses at the International Center of Photography in New York and in workshops with some of today’s most respected photographers. “I love wildlife—particularly mammals. But choosing the one I love best to photograph? Impossible! I fall in love with whatever animals are native to the particular area I’m in at the time. Of the places I’ve been fortunate enough to visit, the Chobe River in Botswana will always be worth another visit. And I have a bucket list of animals I still hope to photograph.”

Brand’s love of wildlife is a central force in her photography. To prepare, she learns as much as possible about the behavior and habitats of animals of a region to know what to watch for, anticipate and expect. “It’s harder for a wildlife photographer to “work a scene” than it is for a portrait or landscape or wedding photographer.” She can’t pose the animals and wait for the lighting to change or come back another day for a different pose. She tries to get the best shot possible at the time, take a number of images of the same subject and hope that one or two gives her the image she visualized in her mind’s eye. Brand always tries to get the sharpest focus on the animal’s eye. It draws the most attention in a photograph.

“The animals I am attracted to are both unique and iconic. I hope they bring you, the viewer, to a special place that evokes warmth, realism and a touch of mystery. I am successful when you have a sense of having shared my experience, but also hoping to know more about the subject of the photograph. You may feel, just for a moment, that you, too, were with me when I took the photograph,” Brand reminisces.

Brand had a lengthy career as a lawyer in New York City and retired to the Sedona area in 2010. Since moving to Arizona, her work has won local awards, has been published in Arizona Highways magazine, and has been shown at the Phippen Museum in Prescott. It is in private collections in numerous states in the USA, Europe and Africa.

Brand brings a new special set of skills and talent to the community of artists at the Village Gallery of Local Artists. The public is invited to help celebrate Brand with refreshments and conversation. Brand loves telling people who enjoy her photographs how they were taken—some captured with being in the right place at the right time—others by careful planning.

The gallery is located at 6512 State Route 179 in the Village of Oak Creek and is accepting applications for new membership. For more information go to www.sedonalocalartists.com or phone (928) 284-1416.

“I took my first photos as a child with a Brownie camera and later played with various point and shoot cameras. I didn’t get a camera that allowed me to make manual adjustments until 2001.” Primarily self-taught, Brand deepened her photographic knowledge with courses at the International Center of Photography in New York and in workshops with some of today’s most respected photographers. “I love wildlife—particularly mammals. But choosing the one I love best to photograph? Impossible! I fall in love with whatever animals are native to the particular area I’m in at the time. Of the places I’ve been fortunate enough to visit, the Chobe River in Botswana will always be worth another visit. And I have a bucket list of animals I still hope to photograph.”