Over the last 42 years, Bob Western has worked at almost every level of the photographic arts and sciences - from research photography, industrial advertising and special effects, to motion picture and television production.

     He has been the personal photographer for such notable personalities as former Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, and internationally known artists Randy Puckett, Bill Hunt, Kirk McGuire, and the late Christopher Bell. His still photography has won numerous advertising awards and earned him clients such as Radionics, Chevron, The North Face, Memorex, and Gatorade. His computer graphic skills have been used by Brooks/Cole Publishing, Sony, the USDA Forest Service, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and numerous small businesses and non-profit organizations along the central California coast. Western’s artwork has been on display at the city of Seaside’s seasonal gallery, the Monterey Museum of Art, the Monterey Peninsula Dialysis center in Monterey, and private collections around the country. His nature and advertising photography has appeared in many national and international publications, such as Der Speigel Magazine, Time-Life Books, National Geographic Books, Southwest Art, Native Peoples Magazine, Wildlife Art, Natural History Magazine, Runners World Magazine, Offroad Magazine, River World Magazine, Ranger Rick’s Nature Magazine, Scientific American, and Defenders of Wildlife Magazine. His images have also been used by The Nature Conservancy, University of Hawaii, and the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Western was represented for many years by the Tony Stone Agency in New York, pre-Corbis – however his stock photo images are now sold exclusively from his studio. Bob lives in Monterey, CA, with his wife, sculptor and upcoming novelist, Sharyn Lewis, and a precocious Bengal cat, named Missy.

 

Timeline:

 

1971 - One of the first two members of the University of Hawaii's, Marine Options Program.

 

         - Worked as a dolphin trainer under a dual contract, between the Navy and U of H,

           at the Naval Undersea Research and Development Center on Oahu.

 

1972 - Hired as an illustrator and photographer by the Diving Physiology Division of the

           University of Hawaii's Biomedical Department.

 

1974 - Graduated from the University of Hawaii with a B.A. in Invertebrate Zoology.

 

1975 - Continued his education with graduate level studies in Zoology at U of H.

 

         - Photo documented native Hawaiian plants and animals on Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii.

 

1976 - Established Freelance West an industrial advertising photography firm in Monterey, CA, specializing in pre-digital special effects.

 

1980's - Director of photography and cinematographer for advertisements and PSA's.

 

           - Co-producer and second unit director of two television specials called Lost Treasure.

 

           - Worked with a number of directors and producers on movies and documentaries.

 

           - Co-authored a book called "The Missions of Baja California."

 

1995 - Hired by Brooks/Cole Publishing as a photo researcher and graphic artist.

 

2000 - Hired by international company Thomson Publishing as Photo Acquisitions Manager.

 

         - Member of the Thomson Global Rights Group developing a Digital Rights Management system.

 

2005 - Returned to natural history photography and digital illustration.

 

 

photo by and courtesy of Sharyn Lewis