John's Biography

Primarily a self-taught photographer, John has been watching magic happen in the darkroom trays for nearly 30 years. He works primarily in black and white, using medium and large format equipment (up to 8x10). His work encompasses a wide range of topics, from portraits to landscapes, with a special emphasis on abstract close-ups.

John has won 2 Gold and 1 Silver Awards in the 2005 and 2008 B&W Magazine's Single Image Contest Editions. He has received numerous awards from local shows, including Best in Show at the 2000 Lynchburg Fine Arts Center Juried Photography Contest.

John has also had several gallery and commercial shows in Lynchburg, Charlottesville and Roanoke, VA.

Personal Statement

My primary goal with photography is to translate the three-dimensional light and beauty of our world, into a two-dimensional black and white image. This has to be achieved in as technically pure and precise manner as possible. Plus, it has to please the eye and hopefully keep your attention.

Some of my photographs require a little close scrutiny to determine exactly "what am I seeing in this?" I hope these entertain you, and fill you with some of the same joy and wonder I felt when I was there in three dimensions.

John Shuptrine