Bob Lampert

Bob Lampert is an American photographer who also works with film, digital or video cameras. Lampert first started winning awards for his photography as a young San Diego teenager when he won a prized Kodak photographic award. His passion for photography led him to a photographic career which has spanned over 50 years; winning two Emmy's (1982–1987)and four Golden Mike Awards (1969-1975 two in 1982), a Sigma Delta Chi Award in Journalism and a State Bar of California Award for Administration of Justice reporting.In addition, Lampert's still photography has been published in Time and Life Magazines, as well as California and Washington newspapers.

On December 31, 2005 Lampert captured film of a Killer Whale off La Jolla Shores, California.

Lampert started his career as a newspaper photographer (1957), later taking a job as Chief Photographer for California Western University (1961). Hewas later hired as a photojournalist for KOGO in 1963 which became KGTV, the ABC affiliate television station in San Diego.

During his 38 years at KGTV, Lampert covered a variety of assignments; his favorite involved law enforcement.A well known fixture to local, state, and federal law enforcement officials, his ability to learn about highly sensitive undercover operations then stay out of law enforcement’s way while still getting video footage of the story was remarkable.His sensitivity to not identifying undercover agents made for a positive relationship.

In 1963 he became a San Diego Police Reserve Officer and served until 1972.During those years, Lampert received numerous commendations from the department, including the Moral Fiber Award from Kiwanis for assisting in Saving the life of a courtroom watcher, when he put down his camera and helped apply artificial resuscitation reviving acomatose male. He was also involved with two shooting incidents, in one of which he shot a rifle-wielding suspect in Mountain View Park while other officers were under fire. The first shooting took place May 10, 1965 San Diego Union-Tribune 5-11-1965 Mission Beach when Lampert and his partner attempted to contact the driver of a stolen car.

A frequent San Diego Police Academy guest speaker on news/police relations, Lampert also gave lessons to law enforcement regarding camera equipment capabilities and lighting techniques during undercover operations. Upon retiring, Lampert received awards from the FBI and United States Marshal’s Service.The County of San Diego further honored him by proclaiming March 9, 2001, the day of his retirement, Bob Lampert Day.It was no surprise that on May 15, 2008, the San Diego Police Historical Association presented Lampert with the Legends Behind the Badge Jose A. Cota Award.

Bob Lampert is married to Alicia (Daly) Lampert the first uniformed female police officer for the San Diego Police department to work a patrol car alone in the field.Lampert continues to share with his community his knowledge of photography, and is the contributing photographer for author Aaron Elkins and Charlotte Elkins author of the novels about a fictional golfer, Lee Ofsted. Lampert is also a member of the National Press Photographers Association and the Leica Historical Society of America.