#44 David Johnson – “A dream begun so long ago”

The Large Format Photography Podcast

We were honoured to spend time with David and his wife Jackie for this show.

What a life!

Read and see more here: https://www.apogeephoto.com/octogenarian-photographer-extraordinaire-david-johnson/?fbclid=IwAR2gPD4veOTjGF_HJn3NVMY19cEH7gppmsBnZIxPVh4FJZgZLnDu4Igian8

Things we chatted about on the show:

Erik kicked things off by updating everyone on the progress he has made constructing the wooden barrelled lens for Alana Airitam (see show #39).

David grew up in segregated Jacksonville and then after a stint in the Navy ended up in segregated San Francisco where he photographed what was known to him, and available to him, the citizens of Fillmore.

When David was accepted into the California School of Fine Art it was none other than Minor White https://www.moma.org/artists/6342 who told him how to get the best from his newly acquired 4x5 camera and then encouraged him to make photos of what he knew.

David was part of the “Golden Decade” of photographers – here is an interesting article but you will find more if you search around. https://landscapephotographyblogger.com/tag/golden-decade/

When David came out of the Navy he was assisted as a “GI Bill” artist https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Bill a scheme that continues to operate to this day giving financial assistance to veterans wanting to pursue a career in the arts.

During segregation in SF black artists could perform but not stay at the Fairmont Hotel – here is a Wiki entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairmont_San_Francisco

David’s links

See David’s work at the Library of Congress and the Harvey Milk Photo Centre in SF.

https://www.harveymilkphotocenter.org/

https://www.loc.gov/pictures/related/?fi=name&q=Johnson%2C%20David%20S.%2C%201927-&fbclid=IwAR3ZQiFDvFCA9GPzgHJcjv5TADn14akpTIVDieIo5ZdkzDYfOsJA35b1sP4

David’s work is featured in the book from the exhibition of the Golden Decade Photographers.

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=22447813230&searchurl=isbn%3D9783869309026%26n%3D100121503%26sortby%3D17&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title1

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