Brad Perks got his first "brownie" camera in 1963 at the age of 8. He immediately began capturing a unique perspective. Brad showed a talent with candid moments and abstractions of his innocent reality. He invested in quality equipment at 16. He learned to keep his camera close at hand and ready to roll.
 
  Brad Perks had a eager willingness to try.  He helped on a rock video with Huey Lewis and interned for a local TV show called California North. Brad showed his rockin portfolio to Jessica McClintock and she hired him to shoot a wedding at Francis Ford Coppola's old mansion. Brad Perks developed his professional career taking pictures of weddings, social events, and celebrations. His notable clients in San Francisco included Levis, the Gap, Toshiba, the Art Deco Society, Neiman Marcus, Women's Wear Daily, Chronicle, Examiner, Nob Hill Gazette, and the San Francisco Ballet. Perks skill with a camera opened many new doors and took him many new places. He has also been hired to photograph some notable people such as Vice President Dan Quayle, Vice President Al Gore, Esther Williams, Patrick Swayze, Isabella Rossellini, Pablo Cruz Band, George Lucas, and Joe Dimaggio.  
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Lightscapes Photo Galley and PC Image Network arrived on the internet in 1997. Lightscapes offers signed limited edition prints, fine art wall murals and scenic picture books. PC Image Network is an online stock photo agency licensing Perks pictures for commercial reproduction. Brad Perks envisioned a new future before him. He studied online to become his own web master. He has now expanded the web site to nearly 3000 pages. His "online gallery" has been featured at FlipBooks, Profotos, and Nature Photographers. More than 1000 web sites now link to PC Image Network and Lightscapes Photo Gallery. The Internet provides Perks with worldwide exhibitions on a daily basis. More than two million people saw his web site in 2007. This high tech exposure, a lifetime of dedication and God given talent have helped make Perks a world famous photographer.

Brad Perks was selected as the official Bay Area photographer for the Millennium Photo  Project in 1999 . 2000 photographers from around the world had 24 hours to document the turn of the millennium. Perks picture, Fireworks over San Francisco , won an International Award. The book has another picture taken at Yahoo during their "Bunker Down Party ". He showed the computer techs ready to wage war on any potential Y2K bugs in Silicon Valley. Perks helped encourage Yahoo to sponsor an exhibit of this historic project at the Chicago airport.
 
Well known clients for Brad Perks scenic images have included National Geographic, Sierra Club, Gallo Foods, San Francisco Magazine, Cisco Systems, Hewlett Packard, Grey Advertising, Net TV, Compass Maps, Landmark Calendars, Bay Nature Magazine, Redwood National Park, TIme Life and Kodak.
 
Profotos Staff Evaluation by Larry Davis http://www.profotos.com  
Professional stock photography does not get any better than the images in the portfolio of photographer, Brad Perks. Brad's well diversified work includes images of everything from landscapes, aircraft and cityscapes, to weddings, fashion models, and children.   
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The astonishing aspect of Brad's work lies in his ability to create incredible images throughout the photographic medium. While many professional photographers create images in one realm of photography (i.e. portraiture, fashion, etc.), Brad has been able to dominate the medium through all of these and many more. To our staff, this translates as a true master of the medium!  
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  Brad Perks favorite quote is by Ansel Adams: "Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready  to have somebody click the shutter". Brad knows pictures require great timing, proper exposure and some God luck. His favorite pictures are the ones he is going to take today. Perks has discovered you have to get out in the rain to find your rainbows.

" Over the Rainbow" has been seen the world over. It was captured during Easter weekend of 2002 when the planets lined up . It was a magical and electric time. Brad just knew he had head out in the pouring rain. This rainbow has been seen by members of the United Nations and politicians like Al Gore. Countless preachers have used this picture for their Sunday sermons. This rainbow was truly a gift. It has had a life of its own in the publishing and magazine industry. The end of the rainbow marked another new beginning for Perks. The feature article on chasing rainbows is in the April 2008 issue of Shutterbug magazine.

Forward progress continues to happen at a fast pace. A scenic picture book called San Francisco: A Photographic Portrait is currently available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Brad Perks new book called Harvest  is about the California Vineyards and is also available at Barnes and Noble and Borders.   Look for his articles in Shutterbug Photo Magazine like the Yosemite Firefall , the Photo Mobile andFastTrack at the Reno Air Races .

Brad has entered the next phase of his career in 2011. He now devotes his days to being the artist he dreamed about as a teenager. Religions of Life is a series of abstract images Perks began at the age of 21 .  The CON Temporary was his  next series completed in the early 80's. Brad's latest painting is called Resurrection. It will be unveiled during Easter of 2011. Look for Perks drawings and painting in upcoming shows and exhibits.  Stay tuned. The future is full of new possibilities and new pictures  from this amazing artist who's work has expressed itself in such a variety of ways.

2012 brings a new horizon as Perks explores being the artist he dreamed of as a teenager. The right doors are opening before him in the art world. He donated his book Harvest to the students in the art department at Los Madanos. Their assignment was to paint 7 pictures inspired by Brad's book on the vineyards. He was invited to attend the critique at the end of the semester. He was rewarded when the students become his teachers. Brad witnessed the confidence the students used in their fresh color palette and bold brush strokes. The experience filled Brad with a renewed sense of strength as he prepared to lay his brush to canvass again after 35 years. Brad was reminded of old Beattles song lyrics about getting what you give. Seeing the Picasso exhibits in San Francisco helped Brad feel an artist's perspective. His work was extraordinary and not always well received or appreciated in its day. Both artist's work was a personal journey that takes a lifetime to realize. A feature article is being written for 110 degrees magazine that will be on newsstands in June of 2012 . It will take a closer look at what  ingredients give Perks his passion as an artist and photographer.  The road less traveled with a share of bumps and bruises along the way which helped his spirit evolve..

Brad Perks (the artist) 2012

2013 is indeed a rare year. I feel whole and healthy as I express this artist inside me. I am thankful for each day I have been granted beyond the years I was scheduled by 1960's doctors. I  have more story to tell. I feel the connection to the source some call God. I see immortal me having a human experience in a robe of flesh. Disconnected from the daily news since 911. I find peace walking along the creek that flows free behind my house at Markum Nature Parks. What a hidden gem.

Time will yet  discover the images that will flow through the muse many artists connect to. Resurrection and Madonna are my new beginning. I feel young again as I have been able to grow older. I live expecting good things to happen.

Photos by:
Don Lyttle -- Mariposa Grove 1995
Roger L. Johnson - Bishop Creek 2002
Janis Marie Babcock - Livermore Valley  2005
Self Portrait 2009 - Concord
portrait 2010 - Kelly Walker Tagalin
portrait 2011 - Ken Perkes
portrait 2012 - Lori Rittinger + Perks
2013 - Self Portrait