I have a deep-rooted passion for photography and its history. The themes of my work center on the individual whether it be a portrait, human habitation on the landscape or images of spiritual devotion. My approach is influenced by Zen and view the creative process as a quest—intuitive and experimental.
I am a writer, photographer and editor home based in New Orleans. My photographic work centers on creative portraiture, urban landscape and expressions of individuals spirituality.
I received a degree in photography and critical theory from Hampshire College where I studied with Jerome Liebling (of the New York Photo League) and Carrie Mae Weems.
But returning to the source of a thing—the real source—means the photographer has to watch, dig, listen for voices, sniff the smells and have many doubts. —Jerome Liebling
WRITING
I am the Owner/Publisher of Rebel Satori Press and founding editor of Ashé: Journal of Experimental Spirituality. My writing is collected in the The Starry Dynamo: The Machinery of Night Remixed, The Star Set Matrix & Other Occult Essays, The Desire Line, and is included in the anthologies Suffered From the Night: Queering Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Madder Love: Gay Men in the Precincts of Surrealism and I Do/I Don’t, as well as the journals Ashé, The Gnostic, Abrasax: Journal of Magick & Decadence, Lambda Book Report and Chebacco, among others. My short story “Dim Star Descried” was selected for Wilde Tales 2009: Best Gay Speculative Fiction.
The creative process, like a spiritual journey, is intuitive, non-linear, and experiential. It points us toward our essential nature, which is a reflection of the boundless creativity of the universe.—John Daido Loori Roshi
SPIRIT
I’ve been a spiritual explorer as far back as I can remember. I take a “language” approach to spirituality—striving to be at least street conversant in diverse traditions (e.g. Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, traditional paganism, bhakti yoga, techno-shamanism). In high school I discovered the work of the beat writers (Ginsberg, Snyder, Kerouac and Burroughs) and their interests in spirituality. When I was fifteen, my journey crossed that of my first teacher putting me onto the paths of meditation and love—Zorba the Buddha. Of late, my focus has been primarily rooted in the practice of shikantaza (zazen) as taught in the Soto school of Zen Buddhism.
GEAR
I shoot both digital and film…
Digital: Nikon D90; Fuji X-Pro1; Olympus E-PL2; Leica C-Lux 1
35mm Film: Leica M4-P, R4 and R7; Nikon F4 and F5; Canon Elan IIE; Pentax UC-1 and K1000
Medium Format Film: Hasselblad 500c/m; Pentax 645; Fuji GSX680III
Subminiature: Pentax Auto 110
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook | Instagram | Flickr
Bromide Supporter, New Orleans Photo Alliance