John’s creative spirit was evident from the beginning, but
it took years of study, practice, and experimentation before he developed his
signature black and white style. He absorbed and applied the principles of
photography as espoused by Adams, Weston and other photographers he admired,
first emulating their techniques, then incorporating what he learned into his
own artistic vision.
In his crisp and defined black and white photographs, John
interprets the images in tones ranging from dark to light and all the hues in
between. “I chose black and white photography because it emphasizes the images.
Sometimes color creates noise, competing with the image for the spotlight.”
For his new color photographs, the principle flips. His soft
and fluid images are enhanced with a full range of muted colors.
John has been experimenting with digital imaging for many
years, but he didn’t embrace color photography until digital printing
technology met his standards. “This technology opens new doors, new
possibilities, giving me the license to create outside the parameters of
traditional gelatin-silver black and white photography.”
John’s photographs began winning awards in high school,
encouraging him to pursue photography as the medium for his creative
expression. He continues to gain recognition at the annual Piccolo-Spoleto
Outdoor Art Exhibit in Charleston, South Carolina, including two first place
ribbons and the Mayor’s purchase award.
It’s no surprise that John chose to photograph Charleston’s
historic buildings and the low country landscape. He grew up in a Southern
California town that revered its history and Victorian structures.
In 1989, he moved to Charleston two months before hurricane
Hugo devastated the city. The dedication of Charleston residents to rebuilding
their city inspired John to make a long-term commitment to photograph the Lowcountry.
He was commissioned by the Edisto Island Historic
Preservation Society to document the island’s fading historic structures. These
photographs were featured in the Society’s museum gallery and the Colleton
County Museum gallery in Walterboro, South Carolina.
Working with medium and large format and digital cameras, John personally completes every step of the printmaking process. His gelatin-silver and giclee photographs are produced, mounted, and framed using archival processes and materials. Current prints are offered in editions of 45 or less.