Today we’d like to introduce you to Dune Stewart
Hi Dune, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my photography journey at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, earning an Associate degree before completing my BFA online at Arizona State University. To gain experience, I took on real estate photography in Portland, which led me to explore other genres like product, wedding, and concert photography. I quickly realized concert photography was my favorite—it combined the thrill of capturing candid moments with the perk of experiencing live music.
After Portland, I returned to Temecula and continued real estate photography in Riverside and San Diego counties, but I eventually sought something more fulfilling. That led me to the goal of becoming a professor, where I could embrace full creative freedom and help others develop their own unique visions—something I found lacking in commercial photography.
While working toward grad school, I sell photography prints and am currently writing my third poetry book, *The Graveyard Bartender*, an MA-rated spiritual successor for those who grew up with *Where the Sidewalk Ends*. My creative journey has been about constantly evolving, and I’m always seeking new ways to push my artistic expression forward.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been financial stability—trying to make a living solely from photography. In the beginning, I could only scrape by for about six months out of the year, and for the rest, I needed supplemental income just to stay afloat. My stubbornness about only working within the industry led to frustration and burnout. Eventually, I had to return to the service industry for financial stability, which, surprisingly, became more of a positive decision than a setback. It relieved a lot of stress and allowed me to continue pursuing photography without the constant pressure of making it my sole income.
Another challenge has been finding my niche. Every genre speaks to me, and I struggle with the idea of confining myself to just one. But that also means I spread myself thin, making it difficult to build a consistent audience. Balancing creative freedom with the need for a recognizable artistic identity has been an ongoing challenge, but I see it as part of the journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in self-portraiture, landscapes, game captures, and narrative fine art photography. A core part of my work revolves around mental health advocacy—having been diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder, I use self-portraiture to create raw, vulnerable images that resonate with viewers. My goal is to foster a deeper connection between the audience and the work, making the emotions in each piece feel more personal and relatable.
My landscape photography is all about immersion. I strive to capture scenes that transport viewers into the environment, where they can almost hear the sounds and feel the atmosphere. Whether it’s a well-known landmark or an overlooked, hidden gem, I want my images to evoke a sense of presence and discovery.
As a passionate gamer, I’ve merged photography with gaming by capturing in-game screenshots and utilizing photo modes to create promotional content. It’s a unique way to express creativity while engaging with the artistic vision of game developers, turning virtual worlds into photographic storytelling.
Narrative fine art photography is especially meaningful to me. It blends storytelling, color theory, and emotion in a way that makes each image stand out. Through this genre, I can craft highly conceptual work that speaks to the themes I’m most passionate about.
What I’m most proud of is my ability to work across multiple genres while still creating images that feel meaningful and impactful. What sets me apart is my relentless pursuit of the best possible shot—whether for myself, my clients, or my collectors. No matter the genre or challenge, I am committed to capturing images that truly deserve to be seen.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is seeing aspiring photographers discover what excites them—watching them explore photography on a deeper level and develop their own unique voice. There’s something incredible about the early stages of learning photography, where creativity is unfiltered, and experimentation leads to some of the most powerful images. One of my favorite examples was a student who, for a high-key photography project, submerged himself in a barrel of cornstarch, emerging covered in reflective liquid. To this day, it’s the most unique high-key image I’ve ever seen, and it was created in a collegial setting, purely for the sake of artistic exploration.
This brings me joy because, as I’ve grown as a photographer, I’ve come to understand the realities of making it a profession—the pressures of survival and the daily grind that can sometimes drain the passion that made it so exciting in the first place. That realization was disheartening, but it also reinforced my belief that reconnecting with the creative freedom of my early days is where I truly belong—among those who create for the love of it, where inspiration and discovery thrive.
Pricing:
- Portrait Sessions – $150/hr
- Prints – Starting at $10
- Poetry Books – $15
- Photo Books – $76-82 (from website)
- Photo Book PDFs – $10
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dunestewart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dunestewart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dunestewart/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dunestewart/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@R2DUNE2
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/fushis-corner
Image Credits
Dune Stewart
