Photo artist interview #91 - John Francis Peters

• In 1-2 words, what do you shoot?

History

• What’s your weapon of choice?

• My heart

• Where is your favorite place on earth?

Overlook Mt.

• What would be your replacement Hobby/Profession if photography was dead?

400 and 200meter Olympic level sprinter

• What do you favor:

B&W or Color? both

Film or Digital? both

Studio or Location? location

Night or Day? both

Portrait or Landscape? both

Spike Lee or Spike Jonze? Lee

Dave Chappelle or David LaChapelle? LaChapelle

• What is your most treasured possession?

The negatives..

• Favorite photo book and/or Favorite movie?


Zona, Dorchester Days, Under A Grudgling Sun, Work, Big Trouble in Little China

• Photographer/s that inspire you?

Carl De Keyzer, Krisanne Johnson, Carolyn drake, Alex Webb, Mitch Epstien, Joseph Sywenkyj, Eugene Richards many others…

• Advice for the younglings out there looking through their first viewfinder?

Embrace a freethinking attitude, nothing is ever a failure nor is success an end to progression. Take chances with how you approach subject matter and learn how to feel with the camera.

• What’s the story behind the photo below?

I shot this while on my first visit to Haiti last December 2009. I was there 2 weeks before the earthquake traveling around with a friend. This was shot in Léogâne which is a town south of Port au Prince and was actually nearly the epicenter of the January 12th earthquake. This random guy with a shotgun escorted us around this area being developed into housing and hotels. Besides wondering if we were going to walk into a firefight, I just kept thinking, “will all these cinderblock and cement buildings withstand a hurricane, luckily they don’t have earthquakes here”. Scary and surreal image for me on many levels.

• Any future projects or travels?

Continue on my long term projects in Haiti and upstate NY. Probably
try and head back to China sooner than later.

• Where can we see more of your work?

www.JFPetersPhoto.com , JohnFrancisPeters.blogspot.com

• In 1 word, last thing you’d say if time stopped right NOW?

Go


Photo courtesy of the artist "John Francis Peters"

Thank you

T2