Bruce Detlefsen, born in 1933 in Brooklyn, N.Y., was a wire service
reporter, speech writer and author of a history book before becoming
hooked on photography rather late in life.  His two most memorable jobs
were in New York State long ago.  The first was covering politics as an
Associated Press newsman in the 1960s when the irrepressible Nelson
Rockefeller was governor.  The second, in the 1970s, was writing
speeches for New York State Commissioner of Education Ewald Nyquist.
Nyquist was fired by the Board of Regents for advocating the integration
of public schools too fervently to suit most board members.  Shortly
before this happened, Detlefsen had authored a "popular history" of the
regents, the governing body of all levels of education in the state.
The book brought out the little-known fact that Alexander Hamilton
played a key role in establishing the board in the late 18th century and
was an original board member.

  Detlefsen went through quite a few lean years after the commissioner's
ouster and ended up driving a taxi in New Mexico to make ends meet.  The
stark beauty of "The Land of Enchantment" prompted him to try his hand
at photography for the first time ever.  He subsequently lived in Santa
Barbara, Calif., for a year.  While there, he squeezed in numerous quick
trips to Big Sur and San Francisco to shoot pictures.  He is now a
retiree residing in Virginia's Rockbridge County but continues to
traipse the streets of San Francisco and byways of Big Sur periodically
in search of new photo opportunities.

  Detlefsen counts among his favorite photographers the legendary
Weegee, Diane Arbus and Mary Ellen Mark, all three of whom have done
great pictures over the years of people living outside of the mainstream
of society.