Rachelle Steele
www.steelecapture.com
steelecapture@gmail.com
Education
2021 Academy of Art University - MA in Photography, San Francisco, CA (magna cum laude)
2020 Eddie Adams Workshop XXXIII
2019 Academy of Art University – BFA in Photography, San Francisco, CA (summa cum laude)
2005 Phi Theta Kappa International , Scholastic Order of the Two Year College, MGCCC
1998 US Navy, Advanced Electronics Technical Core, Great Lakes, IL
Solo Exhibitions
2025 “Scent of Morocco”, Dar Cherifa, Marrakech, Morocco
2025 “From Her Hands Comes Mother’s Milk”, Norphei Gallery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2024 “The Sailor’s Wife”, The Medium Art Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2024 “Dark Tones”, NYC Times Square, New York, NY
2023 “Master Works”, Manny’s, San Francisco, CA
2023 “Early Morning Incense”, M Cube Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
2022 “Scent of Morocco”, Green Olive Arts Gallery, Tetouan, Morocco
2019 “AAU Best of Show Portfolio” 625 Sutter AAU Photography Building, San Francisco, CA
2019 “Captured”, 625 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2019“Black and White”, Space 07, Sacramento, CA
2018 “Vintage Notions”, 625 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Group Exhibitions
2026 Glasgow Gallery of Photography, “Women in Photography”, Glasgow, Scotland
2025 Trieste Photo Days, “Mythography V: Portrait of Mariah and Ian in Early Morning Light”
2024 Norphei Art Gallery ‘Bent but Not Broken’, “Shark Skin Boots” Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
2024 International Photography Hall of Fame Juried Contest, “The Mage”, St. Louis, MO
2023 The Medium Art Gallery, “The Quick Memories Show”, Sacramento, CA
2023 International Photography Hall of Fame Juried Contest,“Portrait of Two Husbands”,
St. Louis, MO
2023 Artspace Innovations, “Portrait of Two Husbands in Love”, NYC Times Square, NY
2022 Nat Geographic Espana, “Intl Portrait Photographer of the Year Awards” 2022 International
Photography Hall of Fame Juried Contest, “Portrait of a Horsewoman”
2022 Council on Aging Southern California, Bowers Museum, Santa Anna, CA
2021 SF Fleetweek Photographers Exhibition, 625 Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2021 Academy of Art University Spring Show, San Francisco, CA
2020 Council on Aging So. CA, John Wayne Airport, Bowers Museum, Santa Anna, CA
2020 Ghiradelli Christmas Tree Fest, “Decades of Love” Ghiradelli Square, San Francisco, CA
2020 The Performer International Exhibition, “Night Moves”, Millepiani Gallery, Rome, Italy
2020 12th Annual NUDE Group Exhibition,”Sea Legs” Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2020 Academy of Art Spring Show, San Francisco, CA: “Captured” and “Lonesome Sailor”
Residencies and Expeditions
2026 Photography Expedition: United States: “Drifting Snow”
2024 Photography Expedition: Mongolia: “From Her Hands Comes Mother’s Milk”
2024 Photography Expedition: Egypt: “Winds of the Nile”
2024 Photography Expedition: Nepal: “Early Morning Incense”
2024 Photography Expedition: Peru: “Children of the Inca”
2023 Artist Residency, Space A KIAR, Kathmandu, Nepal: “Early Morning Incense”
2022 Artist Residency, Green Olive Arts, Tetouan, Morocco: “Scent of Morocco”
Awards and Accomplishments
2025 Music and Lense Photography Contest, Winner, “A Quiet Night In with Crowd Control”
2025 Umenica International Art Awards, Men’s Portraits, Platinum Winner, “50 Years at Karnak”
2025 Worlds Top 10 Black and White Photographers Award, One Eyeland, “50 Years at Karnak”
2025 Hall of Fame Inductee: Academy of Art University Photography Department
2024 Maghreb Photography Awards, Grand Winner, “Atlas Mountains Daredevil”
2024 Best of the Best Photographers 2024 One Eyeland Book Vol. 12: “50 Years at Karnak”
2023 Adjunct Professor of Photography, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
2023 Adjunct Professor of Photography, Los Rios Community College District, Sacramento, CA
2023 International Portrait Photographer of the Year Top 101: “Atlas Mountains Daredevil”
2023 Best of the Best Photographers 2022 One Eyeland Book Vol. 11: “Atlas Mountains
Daredevil"
2023 AI-AP American Photography AP39 Chosen Winner: “Atlas Mountains Daredevil” and
“Portrait of Falconer Shawqi with Diablo and Paco”
2022 APA SF, Something Personal Contest, 1st Place Winner: “Atlas Mountains Daredevil”
2022 APA SF, Something Personal Contest, Top 100 Winner: “Marrakech Snake Charmer”
2022 International Portrait Photographer of the Year Top 101: “Portrait of Two Husbands in
Love” and “Portrait of a Warfighter, Army Veteran Adrian Flores”
2022 Photographic Expedition, The Kingdom of Morocco
2022 Lucie Foundation CARTE BLANCHE, Portrait Category: “Portrait of Falconer Shawqi
with Diablo and Paco”
2021 Annual Photography Awards 2021, Portrait Award: “Salton Sea Wind Gale”
2021 International Portrait Photographer of the Year Top 101: “Portrait of a Horsewoman”
2021 Lucie Foundation Scholarship, Photo Made, Shortlist: “Framed in California”
2021 Hahnemuehle Student Competition Winner: “Shelter in Place, A Moment in Time”
2021 Best of Show Portfolio Award, AAU Spring Show, Masters Portfolio:“Blindside”
2020 Eddie Adams Workshop XXXIII, Major Herman V. Wall Award: “Drifter”
2019 Best of Show Portfolio Award, AAU Spring Show, Portfolio Category: “Captured”
Publications
2026 Docu Magazine, Special Edition: Rachelle Steele
2025 Still Humans Editions, NKD Book Volume I, “Portrait of Two Gothic Lovers”
2023 Art U News, “Hard as Steele: Rachelle Steele’s Transformative Photography, article by J.
Elliot Mendez
2023 F Stop Magazine 20th Year Anniversary “Community”, Framed in California Project
2023 Gotham Art News,”Capturing the Human Spirit with Rachelle Steele”, by Essie Soma
2023 Best of Documentary and Street Photography, Docu Book Vol 30, “Early Morning Incense”
2022 National Geographic Espana, “International Portrait Photographer of the Year Awards: 101
retratos, 101 historias”
2022 Vogue Italia, “Atlas Mountains Daredevil” “Iliana at the Mausoleum” “Alexandria”
2020 Daily Mail UK, “Shelter in Place, A Moment in Time”, article by Dusica Sue Malesevic