John Vlahakis Photographer

Bio

John Vlahakis was born and raised in and around Chicago, IL. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Speech, and Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. A Husband, Father, and current blogger on www.earthyreport.com, he initially created and built from the ground up Earth Friendly Products, a leading green household products company. He has been pursuing his photography and writing since taking an extend sabbatical from the company in 2009. John’s work has been published, and he will have his first solo gallery show in January 2010. John splits his time as often as possible between Winnetka, IL and Harvey Cedars, NJ.

Artist Statement

I began to capture images at a very young age. Pursuing opportunities to shoot images at different stages of my life. A recent sabbatical experience rekindled my interest and passion in photography. I re-discovered my passion for capturing moments in time.  These moments are a record of my passing through them.  Life passes by so quickly.

Pursuing a passion in imagery is to capture that moment for myself.  The pictures being offered are attempts on my part to connect with a person. I am seeking a shared emotional response to that time and space.  Each image is for me, that specific moment of time's passage.  The image captures my sense of being in that moment, in that space, of that time.  It's not just about taking an image.  It's taking the time to observe your place and what that place's meaning to me is at that time.  I hope that my photography elicits an emotional response and shared connection. Most will view it as just an image.  But, I'm hoping that the audience will dig a little deeper.  My photography is focused at this time on landscapes and portraits.  Landscapes are taken close to home as well as from journeyed travels.  Rediscovering ones own back yard, or the inspirations that come along from traveling.  Being personally connected to the green movement, my landscapes are my contribution to inspire people to respect and preserve their environments.  Be it their back yard environment, or the inspired landscapes found around our planet.  I've always have enjoyed taking candid images of people.  Some people were aware of my taking their picture, others were not. Voyeuristic on my part, but I believe that it can provide a focus on life's pathos. I think the above is more in line with my feelings to my photography. Discussing each image would take away an individual response to what you are viewing. I'm not sure I want to influence your feeling towards the picture. You can make up their own mind if you like it or not.