Hi, I’m Charles Steele! I’m a Native American photographer born and raised in Northern California, specifically in a small city called Santa Rosa. Growing up surrounded by the vineyards, redwoods, and the rugged coastal line of this beautiful region has shaped the way I see the world and how I approach photography. These landscapes have given me endless inspiration, whether it’s the quiet of the towering redwoods or the sprawling vineyards that seem to stretch forever. Now, I live just a bit up the road in Windsor, and I still find fresh perspectives in the natural beauty around me.

My journey into photography started in high school when I took a photography class, thinking it would be an easy elective and nothing more. Little did I know, I’d quickly fall in love with the art. I was fascinated by how a camera can take our three-dimensional world and capture it on a two-dimensional plane, filled with emotion, meaning, and detail.

Today, I focus on portrait and landscape photography, with a style that’s deeply influenced by my surroundings. For portraits, I love using hard light and vivid colors to create a dramatic, scenic feel—something that really captures the essence of a person. My goal is always to create a photo that reflects who you are, beyond just the surface. For landscapes, I like to evoke a sense of quietness or isolation, inviting you to slow down and notice the details you might otherwise pass by, just like I do with the redwoods, vineyards, and coastal lines I grew up around.

Though I’m currently studying at the Academy of Art University (AAU), I’m always working on new ideas and looking forward to the creative opportunities ahead of me. For me, photography is all about connection—whether it’s capturing someone’s true personality in a portrait or showing the stillness of a landscape.