Austin W Brewin is a Berkeley artist who grew up in the Boston area, drawing everything he saw. When he discovered the camera to be a better tool than the pencil at capturing special moments, the path forward became clear. By his mid-teens he had access to some gifted photographers, professional equipment (Speed Graphlex), a Press Pass and the hard- nosed assessments of press and year book editors to refine the skills, toughen the hide and curb the ego. The Boston Globe’s sports photography legend Paul McGuire’ personal interest, and the vivid images in Life Magazine and Sports Illustrated (Ylla’s animal photos in particular) inspired and set goals to strive for.

Photography took a back burner during Austin’s professional and family rearing years – but it would have been a rare day when no photographic image was captured for his visual diary.

Several years ago he gave up the wet darkroom and moved into digital photography. Once again images moved beyond the family – friend circles and began to appear in local newspapers, local competitions, on office walls, and in private collections. A columnist and contributing photographer to Rugby Today (ne Rugby Magazine) since 1972, his sports work appears regularly there, in The Goff Report, and The Ultimate Sports Guide. Other images have been published in trade and specialty magazines and in technical publications. Images have been displayed and awarded recognition at Photo Central’s Spring Shows, the Advanced Portfolio Exhibit, Mill Valley’s Click Off, the Alameda and Marin County Fair Fine Arts exhibits, the Lodi Spring Arts Show, the California Fine Art Exhibit and with the Berkeley Camera Club’s exhibits held at various local venues.

An exhibit held at the Healdsburg Library titled “Smoke Signals” has been acquired for the permanent collection of the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society.

Two images – Bridal Veil Falls and Fog, and December Sunset, El Capitan have been acquired by the Directors for for the Alameda County’s permanent collection.

An image called ” Yosemite Tunnel View: Tourists and Blue Umbrella” was awarded Best In Show at the 53rd Lodi Arts Festival, the largest juried multi-media art show in Northern California.

These successes are a result of working with the people at Photo Central in Hayward, CA. They introduced this “hero shot” seeking photo journalist to the world of fine art photography, including re-discovering Light, and how it reveals our universe. The camera is a wonderful tool which enables us to share our perception of the world with others.

Special thanks to Kate and Geir Jordahl, Joe Decker, Oliver Klink and Marco Zecchin for their patience and guidance, and for the artists in the Berkeley Camera Club for their expert advise, council and patience.