Bob Perkoski

For over 20 years, I have been entrenched in the visual elements of the Rust Belt, documenting everyday life in and around Cleveland through both my personal and professional work. My photo-journalistic style has covered the growth of the city over the past decade and more, especially during its recent comeback. Telling a story with my images and capturing the essence of any event or performance as well as anticipating key moments to capture are my forte. View my work at https://www.perkoski.com.

From 2010 to 2024 I was managing photographer for FreshWater Cleveland (http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/) an online magazine that covers the best of what’s next in Cleveland as well as official photographer for [LAND Studio] (https://www.land-studio.org/) and [Holden Forests & Gardens] (https://holdenfg.org). My freelance work includes Playhouse Square, Cleveland Public Theater, MOCA, The Port of Cleveland, Belt Magazine, The Sun News and other notable Northeast Ohio organizations. My substantial portfolio includes news coverage, portraiture, architectural -real estate photography, industrial photography and fine art.

Awards

In 2024 I won 1st Place in the Press Club of Cleveland’s 2022 Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards Best in Ohio: Photographer category in Multiple-Photo Essay, Gallery or Slideshow category for “Walking the Streets: The best of #StreetsofCLE” in FreshWater Cleveland. The judges’ comments; “Very nice! Engaging, creative and composition was excellent”.
In 2023 I placed 2nd in two photography categories. The photo essay, “City lines: The landscape of downtown buildings”; and photo essay, “Parade of Sail: Tall Ships arrive in Cleveland”.
In 2022 I placed second for “The urban landscape: A photo essay of Cleveland neighborhoods” with the judges stating, “Great capture of urban beauty”.

Books

[Rust Belt Burlesque:] (https://ohioswallow.com/book/Rust+Belt+Burlesque) - Co-Author with Erin O'Brien, Publishing July 2019
[LGBTQ Cleveland:] (https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781467129213) Images of Modern America by Ken Schneck - Contributing photographer
[Rust Belt Chic - The Cleveland Anthology:] (https://beltmag.com/cleveland-anthology/) - Cover photo & design on first edition and contributing photographer
[Rust Belt Chic - The Pittsburgh Anthology:] (https://beltmag.com/the-pittsburgh-anthology/) - Contributing photographer
[Moon Cleveland] (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/douglas-trattner/moon-cleveland/9781612387208/) by Douglas Trattner - Contributing photographer

Publications
A sampling of online work
​
Politico: [The Hot New Park at the Center of the Republican Convention] (https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/07/what-works-ohio-cleveland-public-square-urban-park-redesign-republican-national-convention-214035)
The Guardian: [Hungry in Cleveland: if the economy's improving, where's all the food?] (https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/mar/12/hungry-cleveland-ohio-economy-food)
Cleveland Magazine: [Frame of Mind] (https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/the-read/articles/frame-of-mind)
Cleveland Magazine: [IngenuityFest Brings New Light to Old Things] (https://clevelandmagazine.com/things-to-do/articles/ingenuityfest-brings-new-light-to-old-things)
Cleveland Magazine: [With Pride] (https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/commentary/articles/with-pride)
Cleveland Magazine: [Book Club - Michael Symon’s Carnivore: 120 Recipes for Meat Lovers] (http://clevelandmagazine.blogspot.com/2012/11/photo-by-bob-perkoski-www.html)
Next City: [Did a Hundred Homeowners Just Change the Great Lakes Forever?] (https://nextcity.org/features/view/did-a-hundred-homeowners-just-change-the-great-lakes-forever)
Next City: [Cleveland’s Pain Was Donald Trump’s Gain] (https://nextcity.org/features/view/neighborhood-where-mortgage-crisis-began-cleveland-donald-trump)
BELT Magazine: [The Brelo Verdict: Safety in Numbers for the Police] (https://beltmag.com/the-brelo-verdict-safety-in-numbers-for-the-police/)
BELT Magazine: [The 5th Annual Roxy Remembered: Reviving Cleveland’s Burlesque Past] (https://beltmag.com/the-5th-annual-roxy-remembered-reviving-clevelands-burlesque-past/)
BELT Magazine: [Scenes from the Cleveland International Film Festival] (https://beltmag.com/scenes-from-the-cleveland-international-film-festival/)
BELT Magazine: [Rust Belt Recovery: The Story of Addiction and Rehab in Cleveland] (https://beltmag.com/rust-belt-addiction/)