Howard Steinberg was born and raised in New York City, received his schooling there and worked for twenty years as an engineer in the electronics industry. Returning to school, he earned a Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1969 from The Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences.
In 1969, using a medium format camera, he made his first black and white images. The subject was cityscapes. These explorations had a profound effect on him. From that time until the present, he has been making images.
In pursuit of a teaching position, he found his way to San Luis Obispo on California’s Central Coast. He taught mathematics at the local university. On a part-time basis he continued to make photographs.
The Central Coast of California is a region of remarkable landscapes. Furthermore, much of the expansive southwest as well as the lush northwestern landscapes are no further away than a one or two day drive. Steinberg was stimulated by this dramatic change in his environment. He began working with large format cameras. He found images in the landscapes, the seascapes, the architecture, the dry dock areas, the local boating docks and piers, and the junkyards.
