I know! My last name seems to be either misspelled or at the very least, missing some vowels. People encountering it for the first time often find it necessary to add syllables. Don’t worry. I’m used to it. For the record, “Grusd” sounds like, “bruised”.
A life in photography
Photography was woven into some of my earliest childhood memories because of my dad, an accomplished amateur photographer who was never very far from his twin lens reflex camera. I captured my first images with that camera at the age of three. I played at taking pictures with my dad’s obsolete cameras and my favorite children’s picture books were his portfolios of Ansel Adams and Edward Weston prints. I received my very own camera, a Kodak Brownie Starflex (below), when I was six years old and have had a succession of cameras ever since. Photography was a constant that continued with me from childhood to the present.
Aesthetics
Graduating from California State University at Long Beach with a degree in Industrial Design, my working life has led me through the creative disciplines of design, special effects for television, advertising graphics, video games and animation. A professional life in and around the arts as well as a lifelong student of art history has pointed me toward an aesthetic that reflects many creative styles. Design, painting, drawing, sculpture, graphics and illustration as well as photography influence what I try to achieve through the viewfinder. This broad foundation in art allows me to find inspiration in traditional compositions as well as modern non-representational approaches. Below are just a few of the works that have inspired me:
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What I do…
Simply put, I respond to and interpret the subject. I draw upon my knowledge and experiences and those influences can be very different from image to image. I naturally respond to patterns, shapes or other elements of design and composition and my background in design often comes through in the way I compose my images. The process can lead me to a composition that can be traditional or challenging. One never knows what will bubble up. Whatever it may be, it’s always an adventure!
What else I do…
Besides interpreting the world around me and creating images, I also guide photographic adventures and instruct photography workshops. For me, sharing my favorite places and knowledge with others is as rewarding as anything else I do. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about trips, workshops, my work or just to say “Hello!”
I hope you enjoy the work that follows. Cheers!
PS. Regarding the above: I’m not camera shy but I am a reluctant subject. I’ve never even taken a selfie. Many thanks to the good folks who sent me the candid pictures of me!
John Grusd Photography
