Inspired by visual wonders in cinematography and still photography, the 1968 LACMA Exhibition “Dada and Surrealism”, and especially the instruction of Jerry McMillan, Steve migrated from philosophy and film studies at U.C.L.A, to still photography. Photographing at every opportunity and later teaching it became his life’s work.

An ardent student of ancient and contemporary human endeavors, as well as the natural world, he photographs most often throughout the American Southwest and Central America.

He instructed field workshops for the University of California, Santa Cruz Extension from 1977 through 2007. In 1981, while serving as an assistant to Polaroid Corporation and Ansel Adams on the first major field expedition of their 20 x 24 instant camera in Yosemite National Park, he became involved with The Ansel Adams Gallery. From 1984 to 1990, he was an active staff member and a past director of their annual workshop, and in 2002 served as a co-coordinator for the Ansel Adams Centennial Symposium in Yosemite, “Edges and Intersections: The Evolution of Change”.

Devoted to facilitating art and education in Central California for the last forty-five years, he has served as curator, juror, and consultant for many exhibitions, competitions, and media events, in addition to teaching photography full-time at Fresno City College. In 1979, he expanded the idea of a local gallery by gathering together charter members to create Spectrum Art Gallery, a non-profit, cooperative still providing valuable services to the community.

Through a multitude of one-person and group shows, Steve Dzerigian’s works have been exhibited throughout the United States in venues such as the Chautauqua Art Association Gallery, N.Y.; Central Washington University; Light Impressions Gallery, Rochester, N.Y.; The University of Oregon Museum of Art, Eugene, Ore.; Fresno Metropolitan Museum; Spectrum Art Gallery, Fresno, Ca.; The Ansel Adams Gallery, Yosemite, Monterrey, & Mumm Napa Valley; the U.C., Center, and the Nikon House, New York City. The Ansel Adams Gallery at the Highlands Inn, Carmel; the de Saisset Gallery of Santa Clara University; and three Solo shows at the Fresno Art Museum. His work has been seen in “LensWork Quarterly”, “Black & White” Magazine, “Color” Magazine, “Photography” by London, Stone, & Upton, “Exploring Color Photography” by Robert Hirsch, and in his recently released book, Trail of Stones: My Path in Photography, published by The Press at California State University, Fresno.