Les Stukenberg Photography | home
Resume & History
I began my photographic career in the mountains of Colorado at the Winter Park Ski area at the tender age of 18 in 1979. There I found a willing mentor in ski area photographer Bruce Benedict. Bruce was a fantastic teacher always wanting me to look outside the box and encouraged me to be unique. Although he probably still doesn't know it he was instrumental in my step with these famous words, "Les you have a natural eye, that is something no one can teach, but you need to learn the mechanics of photography." So me being the inquisitive type, I asked "what do you suggest?" He said "you can either spend $20,000. a year and go to school, or join one of the military services and let them teach you." Off I went and joined the United States Navy going to Photo A School in Pensacola, FL. My seven year Navy training and experience took me almost around the world, and to several specialized schools. My images were used in numerous naval publications, and one made it as a book cover for Super Carrier by George Wilson.
After leaving the Navy in 1987 I spent the next 12 years working in the hospitality industry working my way up to National Sales Manager for a golf destination resort in Scottsdale, AZ and then as the Director of Sales for a Four Star Resort in San Carlos, Mexico. I always kept in touch with my love of photography, making images wherever I went and the sights I saw. In early 1999 I had the opportunity to begin working for a small daily newspaper in Bullhead City, AZ as the staff photographer. Since arriving there and being able to make images on a daily basis has been a 20 year dream fulfilled.
I am currently on the staff at The Daily Courier in Prescott, AZ. The town reminds me of a Colorado mountain town with the rolling hills, frost on my window each winter morning, and pine trees close by. I am shooting with the Nikon D1 digital camera almost exclusively now, I have tried to embrace the constant changes in digital imagery, though if you get right down to it, the basics are all the same. I really like being part of a photo team, it gives one time to work on getting just the right image for feature art, and you have people to back you up across the county.
Every day continues to be a new experience with new sights and images to be seen and made. I look forward to new challenges and learning experience as I continue to try and look outside the box. My images have won awards from Brehm Communications, Western Newspapers, Associated Press Managing Editors, and the Arizona Newspaper Association. I have been published in numerous newspapers and magazines around the nation and the world, including the LA Times, USA Today and Sports Illustrated For Kids.