BIO
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| John Rizzo is a photojournalist and portrait photographer with 25 years experience. He is currently focusing on creating books and multimedia about cultures worldwide, to preserve and educate about how things have been done for generations. In addition to assignments,he is also teaching while leading photo tours to some of these remote locations. |
| SHOOTING STORIES: In today's world of working solo as a storyteller, there are great tools to allow a streamlined and lightweight system to produce outstanding work. I am taking these tools into areas that one rarely hears about to bring those stories to light. My experiences so far have been overwhelmingly positive, with curiosity and a willingness-to-participate the most common reaction I receive. To get the chance to find the images I am seeking, I must leave my comfort zone. You have to put yourself out there and hope for the best. In exchange for the access and trust I am given, I do not exploit my subjects. Rather, I try to take their personal story and focus it into a well organized presentation to educate and have a positve impact. I never know where the best pictures are while I am working. When I feel that my approach is not working, I try something else. You have to think on your feet, and be able to execute. This is why it is important to try different things. I am always searching for the moment when the alignment of light, color, composition and timing all connect in an instant...that is the image I am looking for. SHOOTING PORTRAITS: A news photo editor once told me, "Get what you can," and I have since used that motto to approach portraits. I usually have to work with what I find; a great challenge, but also something that I believe keeps you sharp. Most of my portraits were made in about the time it takes to eat a sandwich. It's there, and you have to know what to do with it. And then it's gone. All the personalities have been dramatically different. How each person feels about being photographed is different. Thinking I was hustling, I have been outhustled. I often tell my subjects, "I can get it, but you have to give it to me first." And herein lies the challenge of creating an environment my subjects can be real in, within the allowed time frame. I have learned to trust the process of creating a portrait, and in turn trust my own instincts. |