PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
A way of looking.
A way of looking.
A way of looking.
It started with a paper route and a Pentax K1000. I was thirteen. Photography has been something I’ve kept for myself ever since.
It started with a paper route and a Pentax K1000. I was thirteen. Photography has been something I’ve kept for myself ever since.
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BEHIND THE PHOTOGRAPHS
Something just for me.
Something just for me.
Something just for me.
When I was thirteen, I won a newspaper subscription competition on my paper route. The prize was a Pentax K1000.
When I was thirteen, I won a newspaper subscription competition on my paper route. The prize was a Pentax K1000.
I was lucky. My schools had darkrooms, and I spent just about every minute I could in them. Mostly, I figured it out as I went. Read books. Took photographs. Developed the film. Tried again.
I was lucky. My schools had darkrooms, and I spent just about every minute I could in them. Mostly, I figured it out as I went. Read books. Took photographs. Developed the film. Tried again.
Years later, working in advertising in Manhattan, I’d grab a handful of film and head out with my camera whenever I needed to clear my head. There was no brief, no client, nobody to please. It was just something I loved.
Years later, working in advertising in Manhattan, I’d grab a handful of film and head out with my camera whenever I needed to clear my head. There was no brief, no client, nobody to please. It was just something I loved.
Then one day I came home from a long trip and found photographs framed and hanging all over my apartment. My girlfriend had put them there. They were beautiful. I thought she’d bought them for me because she knew how much I loved photography.
Then one day I came home from a long trip and found photographs framed and hanging all over my apartment. My girlfriend had put them there. They were beautiful. I thought she’d bought them for me because she knew how much I loved photography.
They were mine.
They were mine.
She’d gone through my negatives, chosen photographs, had them printed and framed. Some were images I’d barely given another thought.
She’d gone through my negatives, chosen photographs, had them printed and framed. Some were images I’d barely given another thought.
She wanted me to see how beautiful some of those photographs were. And seeing them on the walls, I finally did.
She wanted me to see how beautiful some of those photographs were. And seeing them on the walls, I finally did.
It was such a thoughtful gift. Something I’d done just for the joy of it had meant something to someone else.
It was such a thoughtful gift. Something I’d done just for the joy of it had meant something to someone else.
Some of the work eventually found its way into shows and galleries in New York. But photography stayed something I kept for myself. A way to get out of my head, pay attention and enjoy looking.
Some of the work eventually found its way into shows and galleries in New York. But photography stayed something I kept for myself. A way to get out of my head, pay attention and enjoy looking.
Only later did I understand how much it had taught me about light, framing and telling a story. That all started with a paper route, a camera and some time in a darkroom.
Only later did I understand how much it had taught me about light, framing and telling a story. That all started with a paper route, a camera and some time in a darkroom.
CONTACT
Get in touch.
Get in touch.
Get in touch.
For projects, consulting or speaking engagements.
© 2026 John Zissimos
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