Photographer,
Steven Meckler
By Stacey Gregory
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Steven Meckler has penned volumes about Southern Arizona. With a career spanning decades, he has photographed all walks of life, from mayors to musicians and restaurateurs to ranchers. He’s even helped shape the look of Tucson Guide from its early days.
His portfolio is vast and eclectic: environmental portraits of artists, food shots for magazines, and architectural images for builders and manufacturers across the country. You can see his
photography gracing the walls of the Tucson Medical Center and the Tucson Museum of Art, as well as in the pages of Arizona Highways and his own book, Steven Meckler Photographs: Tucson Artists.
Originally from Brooklyn, his photography journey began academically with a degree in biology and a minor in photography from SUNY Stony Brook. A stint in medical illustration at Sloan Kettering in New York eventually gave way to a spontaneous career pivot when his father invited him to Tucson to help run a used furniture store. That experience shaped not only his understanding of how to build a sustainable creative career but also rooted him deeply in Tucson’s community.
Over the years, Steven has earned a reputation as a go-to photographer across Southern Arizona. So we asked him for recommendations to guide you through your travels.
STEVEN’S HOT TAKES FOR OUT-OF-TOWNERS
When Steven plays tour guide, he leans into the unique and unexpected. While the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a must, his personal favorite is the Titan Missile Museum, located just south of the city. “It’s like walking into a 1950s sci-fi movie,” he said. “The door is a giant safe; the whole thing is built on massive springs to absorb shock from nearby blasts. You literally walk underground into an amazing Cold War time capsule.” For those willing to venture further, Steven and his wife are regular visitors to Bisbee, particularly the Lowell neighborhood, known for its vintage cars and preserved streetscape. The Gadsden Hotel in Douglas brings them both back to this dusty border town for its stunning lobby with marble columns, stained glass, and a sweeping staircase. “From the outside, it looks like nothing. Then you step inside, and it’s like a movie set,” he said.
STEVEN’S TASTES OF TUCSON
Grant Sergot - Hatmaker, Steven Meckler
Steven lives and works from his expansive home and studio in the heart of downtown Tucson, placing him within walking distance of some of Tucson’s best restaurants. In his downtown studio, Steven turns vision into images.“I’m spoiled; there are 25 to 35 great restaurants within walking distance,” he laughed. “I meet people at The Cup at Hotel Congress all the time—it’s one of my go-to lunch spots,” he said.
In Five Points, he is a regular shopper at Forbes Meat Company, where he recently dined on an excellent ribeye, and Tabu is a hidden gem for drinks and appetizers, while Casa Madre offers a tasty chef’s board and is a great spot for a celebratory meal.
Downtown, he visits The Nook for breakfast, and he says Perche’ No, located next to the Fox Theatre in downtown, serves such good Italian
food that even his Italian friends like it. Obon and Obon’s Rainbow Poke Bowl are his picks for fresh, casual dining. Penca is where he goes for ceviche, which, in his opinion, ranks as one of the best in town. And he says every visitor to Tucson must try a Sonoran hot dog at El Güero Canelo for an authentic Tucson dining experience.