RonJohn, Editor@StartPhoto

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Color photograph of a large format Poloroid camera, shown in profile.

Must watch: “The B-side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography” documentary

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Like everything else, art has a lifespan. I happened across this excellent Errol Morris documentary about Elsa Dorfman’s photography on (HBO) Max. It’s worth your time (76 minutes) if you have access to the streaming service. Also available for rent from Amazon and Apple for a few bucks. Film website | IMDB page | Watch the trailer The world needs more documentaries like this one. Elsa Dorfman was an American photographer best known for portraits she made with the very large, very rare Poloroid studio camera. Before the documentary, I wasn’t familiar with her or her photography, but knew about … >>

Black and white self-portrait photograph. The photographer's reflection is visible in Garry Winogrand's photo 'El Morocco, New York, 1955'. That photo features a man and woman in excited conversation. The woman has a huge smile.

Thoughts about street photography and devoted educator Henry Wessel

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And briefly: Eliott Erwitt, Larry Fink, Garry Winogrand I like to think of street photography as a way to glimpse the countless humans stories of people as they move through the world in their separate lives, each different and unknowable, but no less important than our own. When at it’s best, street photography can become a visual representation of “sonder” (one of my favorite words): Sonder: The profound feeling of realizing that everyone, including strangers passing in the street, has a life as complex as one’s own, which they are constantly living despite one’s personal lack of awareness of it. … >>

A black and white photograph of a mostly empty desert landscape. The photo uses extremely shallow depth of field.

Project vs. projects, an upcoming change, advice for starting

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Your Sundays are about to get more interesting. This is the sixth issue of Viewfinder. It’s been a pleasure and honor to talk about art making, creativity, and photography with you. A special warm WELCOME to new subscribers: Amie, Asha (who writes Parent of Adults), Daniel, Erika (who writes The Windfall Dispatch), and Jacques. And a huge THANK YOU to all subscribers, old and new, for reading and being a part of this community. In this issue: A (small) change is a comin’ In the next issue, you’ll see a change of format that will expand what Viewfinder brings to … >>

Color photograph of a painted mural with the word "Love" in the center.

Gratitude and joy: Everything* I love about making art

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(*an incomplete list, 2023 edition) Previously, we talked extensively about the “work” of artwork. We talked about “finding your work” and “putting in the work”. Showing up, making art again and again, maybe for the rest of your life. This all sounds like so much… work. Isn’t life already filled up with work? Why would you want more of it? Because there’s work, and then there’s your ✨WORK! ✨. Workohol addiction The Oxford dictionary defines work (noun), among other things as, “… something a person… has to do.” Yep, pretty much how I feel about it too. Thanks, editors at … >>

Color photograph of a forest scene using a multi-exposure technique.

Finding Your Artwork: unbelievably simple truths about art making

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Wherein I share my youthful ignorance and what I (finally) understood about art making. One of the biggest sources of consternation for art school students (and young artists generally) is the need to “find your work”. Finding your artwork is art school speak for, “what should my art be about?”. Alternate versions of this include: “finding your voice”, “finding your style”, and “finding your niche”. It’s a declarative statement about the content, and the subject, and the form of your work. It’s your succinct response to the prompt that you’ll hear again and again… “Tell me about your work.” Young artists … >>

Image with the text "The Greatest Camera in the World" superimposed over a photograph of several camera arranged on a white background.

Revealed: the greatest camera in the world

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Film or digital? Small, medium, or large format? Leica? Hasselblad? Canon? Nikon? Discover the definitive answer, once and for all. Photographers are a weird bunch–they can be strangely tribal about the tools they use. Having worked at multiple camera stores in my early life, I’ve been privy to numerous, completely unnecessary arguments about Canon vs. Nikon, or Kodak film vs. Fuji Film. I never really understood the motivations behind these arguments, as I wanted to own all the cameras and to use all the types of film. Maybe because photography is expensive, people want to feel good about their choices? … >>

Black and white photograph of a field at sunset. In the midground, a thicket on the left balances a stand of trees on the right. Fog is just beginning to appear.

Overcoming inertia: how to kickstart your art making practice

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Everything starts somewhere. Here’s a few starts to consider. It’s been often said that starting is the hardest thing. Overcoming inertia, getting the ball rolling, making the first mark–this can be hard. Isn’t not-doing something so much easier than doing it? You can always do it tomorrow, after all. Not doing means you don’t have to think, you don’t have to commit, you don’t have to expend energy. I’m not sure it’s always true. To paraphrase a statement attributed to Mark Twain, “Starting is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.” Of … >>

A mocked up photograph of an issue of Viewfinder by StartPhoto magazine sitting on a table. Next to the book is a glass with flowers, a cup of tea, and a camera.

🚀 It’s the start of something new.

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Introducing Viewfinder by StartPhoto, an email newsletter about art making, photography, and reigniting creativity. Hi, I’m Ron ‘RonJohn’ Johnson, the creator of StartPhoto. I’m writing this newsletter/blog/podcast (whatever it ends up being) for you. And to be honest, I’m making it for myself, too, because I have needed, at one point or another, all the things I plan to share with you. I’m still figuring out Viewfinder as I go. To use a phrase that comes up a lot in my life, “I’m flying the plane while still building it”. Viewfinder might end up being highly personal, but hopefully not … >>

Photograph of half empty coffee cup and used spoon sitting on top of a newspaper.

Finding inspiration in the everyday: still life photography

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Photography is an art form that enables us to capture the beauty of the world around us, and still life photography is no exception. It offers the opportunity to create art out of everyday objects, using composition, lighting, color, and other techniques to tell a story and convey emotion. In this article, we will explore the art of photographic storytelling in still life photography, with a focus on finding inspiration in the mundane, creating dynamic compositions, playing with light and color, exploring textures, and using props to create visual interest and coherence. Still life photography provides a unique challenge to … >>

A photograph of a caucasian man wearing red knit cap in dark room

Capturing emotion, meaning, and revealing truth

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Photography is an art form that allows us to capture a moment in time, freeze it, and convey a message or emotion through an image. As photographers, we have the power to tell stories through our photographs and communicate our perspective on the world. This is the essence of photographic storytelling, a powerful tool that can bring attention to important issues, inspire change, and move people emotionally. But how do we create compelling photographic narratives that convey emotion and meaning? What are the key elements that make a successful visual story? In this article, we will explore the art of … >>

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