I should have posted these HABS photos back in 2023, after they were accepted into the Library of Congress HABS collections, but something probably came up. Something always does. CROSSROADS OF THE WORLD HABS No. CA-2965 6671 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles Large Format Historic American Buildings Survey photography from July 2022. Crossroads of the World (constructed in 1936-37)…
Documentary Photography
HABS Donations Transmitted to Library of Congress
A few of my HABS* and HAER* donations were transmitted to the collection at the Library of Congress last year (2025)…
Vaillancourt Fountain and the Historic American Landscapes Survey • HALS CA-164
Lately, there’s been a lot of discussion about the Vaillancourt Fountain at the Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco. The fountain is historic, and these two photographs were taken of the plaza and fountain in 2022 when I was documenting the Market Street Historic Landscape District, a 2.3 mile-long section of Market Street from The Ferry…
Scanning 4×5 Negatives for HABS/HAER/HALS
There’s a really good (ongoing) discussion on the Large Format Forum about camera-scanning 4×5 and 5×7 negatives for HABS, HAER, or HALS. I use a DSLR (or Mirrorless) camera and a copy stand to photograph my negatives and create 30+ Megapixel digital photographs. Follow the discussion here: https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?157757-4×5-amp-5×7-Negatives-Camera-Scanning-with-Nikon-D800E&highlight=habs
HABS HAER Photography transmitted to the Library of Congress
Middle of May 2025 Four more records transmitted to the Library of Congress last week. Three Historic American Engineering Record projects and a Historic American Buildings Survey project. Presidio of San Francisco, Aircraft Hangar (HABS CA-2942) Natomas Ditch System, Rhoades' Branch Ditch (HAER CA-144-B) Southern Pacific Railroad Bayshore Cutoff, Tunnel No. 3 (HAER…
UNT Lecture on HABS April 23, 2025
I’m teaching a webinar on HABS/HAER via zoom through the University of North Texas. April 23, 2025. Link: https://library.unt.edu/news/2025/03-19-lecture-habs If you’d like more information about HABS/HAER/HALS photography take a look at our website. www.HABSphoto.com Stephen Schafer Architectural Photography Ventura, California Ph: 415-857-HAER
CPF webinar about Stephen Schafer, HABS Photographer
My Path to Preservation: Insights from a HABS Photographer INFO LINK Members Non-Members FREEDate: May 20, 2025Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Join the California Preservation Foundation for our My Path to Preservation series, a webinar program with the goal of sharing insights with students, interns, graduates, emerging professionals, and anyone interested in a…
Topanga Ranch Motel Lost to Fire HABS CA-3002
Today, I got an official HABS number from HDP, after looking through some files and finding the negatives. HABS CA-3002. This week the motel was lost in the Palisades Fire.
New HABS Photo Scans on the LoC Website
Just found two new sets of scanned records on the HABS site today. As the LoC slowly gets through the backlog of HABS/HAER/HALS photos waiting for scans from the last couple decades. It’s nice to see some of my photos out in the public domain where they belong. These two examples of historic survey photography…
HABS HAER To Do List
HABS TO DO LIST, what Historic American Buildings Survey photo are next?




