Claire Griffin
CONCERT MANAGER
A future blog about Claire Griffin will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1998.
50-Years of Vision Quest
I have photographed thousands of people, most becoming life-long friends, all of them stand the separation of time, distance, choice, or in death because of the photograph. They are enshrined by the blink of a camera's eye, providing a reference, a road-map and a testament to Living Art.
It is a formidable task to edit over half-a-million pictures, scan the negatives or slides and then find words. This collection is just the beginning, a "friends in progress," to be continued and updated. Drop me a note if I've photographed you; click the "like" button or comment as a vote to expedite the completion of a specific friend.
CONCERT MANAGER
A future blog about Claire Griffin will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1998.
RESTAURANT OWNER
A future blog about Romul Grivov will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 2011.
Jim Grossman, 56, died May 30th, 2022, doing what he loves, kayaking. John Kerry, the godfather of Jimmy’s son Buey, said: “He paddled into a water hole and never came out.” The news hit me hard in the waking hours on the opposite side of the world …
BABY BUEY
A future blog about my bird name Baby and Buey Grossman will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 2010.
CHAIRMAN YAKIMA NATION
A future blog about Jode Goudy will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 2015.
WRITER/PARAPLEGIC
A future blog about Gavin Grow will be completed. Enter now to see photos. Since 2014.
PHOTOGRAPHER
A future blog about Mark Godfrey will be added here. Enter now to see photos. SInce 2010.
PHOTOGRAPHER
A future blog about David Alan Harvey will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 2010.
TV ANCHOR
A future blog about Larry Hatteberg will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1980.
Welcome to the future page about Teresa Heinz, widow of former U.S. Senator John Heinz and the wife of former U.S. Secretary of State, longtime U.S. Senator, and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.
PHOTOGRAPHER
A future blog about Larry Hildreth will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Circa 1994.
FILM PRODUCER
A future blog about Ted Hope will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 2014.
TED TURNER OF TAIWAN
A future blog about Ted Hsueh will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1980.
FOUNDER OF JAMIS BIKE
A future blog about Ron Jamis will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 2003.
ALCHEMIST
A future blog about Julia Jensen will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 2003.
PROFESSOR
A future blog about my longest known friend Paul Jernberg will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1969.
AIRLINE EXECUTIVE
Future blog page about John Jessey will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1998.
PHOTOGRAPHER
A future blog about Jim Richardson will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1979.
CHIEF EDITOR
A future blog about Chris Johns will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1979.
SCULPTOR
A future blog about renowned sculptor from TaiwanJu Mingwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1981.
DIRECTOR METROPOLITAN MUSEUM
A future blog about Karl Katzwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Circa 1973.
ENVIRONMENTALIST
A future blog about Bobby Kennedy Jr.will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 2016.
SENATOR
A future blog about Ted Kennedywill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Circa 1984.
SENATOR
A future blog about John Kerry.will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Circa 1999.
PHOTOGRAPHER
A future blog about Berne Ketchumwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1979.
BELGIAN ACTRESS
A future blog about Maggy Kitchenwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Circa 2014.
PHOTO EDITOR
A future blog about Charles Kogodwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1979.
PHOTOGRAPHER
A future blog about David Kutzwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1973.
EVENT ORGANIZER
A future blog about Peggy Laylorwill be added here. Enter now to see Since. Circa 2001.
PULITZER PRIZE PHOTOJOURNALIST
A future blog about Brian Lankerwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Circa 2002.
SAILMAKER
A future blog about Mike Lamwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Circa 1999.
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER
A future blog about Wes Lappwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Circa 1998.
EDITOR/MANAGER
A future blog about NG Magazine Photo Editor Sarah Leenwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1979.
Welcome to the future blog page about Ruth Lester. LIFE Magazine Photo Editor and Portfolio Editor at the International Center of Photography. Enter to see more photo. Circa 1973
ANESTHESIOLOGIST
A future blog about Linda Leumwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1983.
CONCERT PIANIST/MISSIONARY
A future blog about Susan Hsueh Linwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Circa 1979.
HORSE WHISPER
A future blog about Lori Lischnerwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 2014.
ARTIST
A future blog about Megan Lucaswill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 2018.
MARKETING DIRECTOR
A future blog about Barbara Lundwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1971.
Welcome to the future page about Harry Lunn, the founding father of fine art photography market. Enter to see photos. Circa 1981
MODEL/DANCER
A future blog about EM Mariewill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 2018.
DECADE OF ADVENTURE: Fresh and exciting, a decade of innocent encounters, whether temporal or spiritual, all powerful awakenings. A dance of light, faith, and form, converging in time, out of chaos into moments of delight and awe.
INDULGING DEFIANCE: Photography gave me wings but also a sense of boundless creativity. This was a decade of independence, anti-establishment. It was a decade that avoided entrapment, both stylistic and accomplishment,. an era of exploration and renaissance.
SINK OR SWIM: The ’90s were filled with risk and perils. A decade of demanding faith and vision. Jumping before knowing where to land. A decade filled with challenges, difficulties and yet breathtaking miracles.
HEAT’S ON: A decade of transformation. The dawning of the age of Aquarius. Water turning to steam. Fruition from the quest was liberating. It was a decade that exchanged ambition for the magic of the unknown.
GRATITUDE: A decade beyond expectation. I learned to live in the moment instead of capturing the moment. . . simply, being present to welcome the moment.
This work-in-progress is the unveiling of a fifty-year visual-journey by photographer John Chao. You’re signing up for future updates, events, and offerings. We guard your privacy and maintain your exclusive ad-free subscription. Unsubscribe at any time with a click of a button. Thank you!
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-Continued from Published
Bob Gilka, the Director of Photography at National Geographic Magazine seem to resent me for sleeping with the enemy. He was not about to further my career. He saw me as a rule-breaker. Someone unbefitting to his proven talents even though I graduated from the very top of his associated institutions. He never gave me a single assignment, voluntarily, that is. Thirty years later, his assistant sought me out at a gathering and told me he was near death.
I embraced her, asked her to wish him my best and to tell him how much I’ve admired and looked up to him. Her eyes glassed; in a tender, almost apologetic voice, she said. “Thank you, John, I know it will mean a lot to Mr. Gilka to hear this coming from you.”
Gilka was an ego-driven drill sergeant whose magazine was his oligarchy. The reputation and mystique behind the magazine suited him well. My first encounter with the man was in his office. Like all aspiring photographers, we made our way to be ordained. On his door, the sign said, Wipe Your Knees Before Entering.
“You need to work for a newspaper!” was his response after viewing my portfolio. Sheepishly told him I was offered a job in a Kansas newspaper but turned-it-down because I didn’t want to leave NYC. Before I could finish, he yelled: “Who Clarkson!?”
Surprised by the outburst, I timidly said, “Yes!” He stared at me for an eternity. I swear I saw smoke sputter out of his head. He hissed, “NOW, IF THAT IS TRUE! You have to be the dumbest jack-ass ever walked into my office!”
With his doubting eyes, he glared at me as if he’d caught me in a lie. “Do you know how many photographers would give their right arm to be at the Capital-Journal?!” My sheepishness must have confirmed his suspicions. Not being a student of journalism, I was unaware of the extensive network this drill-sergeant uses to gather his Geographic talents. Colleges, newspapers across the country, the bastion of the Missouri Workshop, were all part of his well-established web. That morning, I was utterly unaware; Topeka Capital-Journal was the pinnacle of his recruitment network. Anyone hired there would not have gone unnoticed, and anyone declining a job there is a liar. “Well, get the hell out there and come back after you have some newspaper experience.” (I swear I’ve got a bruise on my rear to prove it ;-).
So I called Rich Clarkson and asked if the job offer was still good.
A FEW YEARS LATER, I sat in the same office facing the same doubting face. Chief Editor, Bill Garrett insisted that he assign me to photograph an article I’d proposed on Taiwan. After weeks of delay, he reluctantly offered me a fraction of the day-rate compared to GEO and later made a stink about the Chinese receipts I submitted. I did not get more assignments from him even though the Taiwan article was credited to be “transformative.” I don’t know what that meant, but it was, the first time Geographic published blurred pictures. So when his assistant made the non-verbal apology, I was surprised and wished that I had the opportunity to sit and laugh with the old geezer some 30-years later.
I understand Bob Gilka; we had mutual friends. I will always be grateful to him. Firstly, in helping me realize what newspaper work means. Secondly, in affirming my conviction NOT to wear corporate success as a form of personal achievement. Throughout the years, I knew he was surprised to hear my name intertwined in conversations. I was the jack-ass that kept beating the drum but didn’t follow his path. I think, in the end, he would have applauded me for doing this. RIP
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