Steve

Rubin

Born and raised in the suburbs of Washington D.C., Steve Rubin has grown into a distinguished wildlife photographer with an exceptional eye for encapsulating nature in its truest form. The journey of this accomplished artist stems back to his early teenage years when a family friend sparked his interest in photography by gifting him a single-lens reflex camera. After moving to New York due to his father's job, Rubin delved deeper into photography, serving as the photo editor of his high school yearbook- an experience that cemented his affection for documenting the world through a lens. Rubin, a self-taught artist, constantly sought knowledge online, in the pursuit to enhance his skills and understanding, particularly in the realm of wedding photography. He developed an knack for utilising creative lighting techniques that beautifully illuminated his subjects. However, his true passion lay in capturing people and animals in their natural environment, gradually leading him into the realm of wildlife photography. Being in the midst of nature and natural habitats invigorates Rubin. This propelled him to move towards wildlife photography where, just as he did during his stint as a wedding photographer, he preferred to be unobtrusive, catching the creatures undisturbed in their regular pursuits - a strategy he compares to filming a reality TV show. His love for outdoors made this transition seamless, as hiking and the pursuit of wildlife photography harmoniously intertwined to offer Rubin the opportunity to capture distinctly candid moments of the wildlife that he, along with his wife, deeply love. In his pursuit to document wildlife, Rubin couples his in-field practices with digital media expertise, which stems from his 38-year tenure in the Information Technology industry. He applies various products such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, besides other plugins like Topaz, to enhance the tones, color separation and to add various effects to his images. His meticulous approach to his art has been notably influenced by Blake Rudis, a photographer and painter who has significantly elevated Rubin’s photographic skills to encapsulate fine art. Rubin's latest project, a camping trip to the base of the Aleutian Islands to capture brown bears as they feasted on salmon, was particularly rewarding. The experience required him to use his photography skills in the midst of rain while tent camping- a challenge he felt satisfied conquering at the age of 66. His images from the trip were made more memorable by the camaraderie between him and the other photographers that were part of his journey. Rubin’s unique vision and technique have brought him commendations from local photographers besides him winning various competitions and being named the Wildlife Artist of the Month in 2024 for his image, “Coastal Awakening.” He is also an active member of various professional organizations including the Nature Photographers Association, the Carolina Nature Photographers Association, The Wildlife Artists of the Carolinas, and the Capital City Camera Club. Rubin holds aspirations to make lasting impacts in the field of wildlife and nature photography, motivated by a belief that art should inspire joy and solace in the lives of its observers. His commitment to capturing the awe-inspiring moments of life and nature can be seen in his increasing body of work, signaling a bright and transformative future in his career.

I can’t paint. Drawing? That’s just painting with a pencil. Sculpting? I’d be lucky if the clay didn’t end up all over the floor. Fortunately, destiny dropped a broken “real” camera in my lap one day, and I discovered something surprising—I could capture life’s special moments like nobody else I knew. This all happened while I was in high school, back in the days of film, darkrooms, chemicals, and all things wonderfully photographic. My parents, however, had other ideas. Art was nice, but computers paid the bills, so a career in technology became my path to surviving in the real world. And the stress of that highly technical career? I handle it better than anyone I know…NOT. Photography became my calming friend, my therapist, and occasionally the only thing standing between me and total insanity. Then something magical happened. Cameras quietly turned into computers with lenses. Suddenly my vocation and my avocation spoke the same language. My inner tech geek and my inner artist finally shook hands.So I fired my therapist and jumped back in headfirst. Today I spend my time capturing wildlife in their natural world—moments that reveal how surprisingly similar their primitive behaviors are to our own. Sometimes it’s beautiful. Sometimes it’s hilarious. Either way, nature has a way of holding up a mirror… and occasionally giving us a good laugh.

Photography

www.steverubinphotography.com

Steve Rubin Photography

@steverubinphoto