arrived at the conclusion that he would pursue photography while studying medicine. Though he had grown up taking pictures for fun -- living in fog-covered southern San Francisco, surrounded by beaches and soaked in soft, overcast light -- it was during his graduate programme studying public health in Massachusetts that he really began taking the medium seriously. “I was really interested in art and photography and I ended up combining it with medicine in my graduate school thesis.
Gaining a little experience shooting weddings in Massachusetts, after graduating he moved back to San Francisco faced with a decision. “I was at a crossroads: pursue medical school or keep pushing along with photography? I ended up moving to New York in 2011 for a few months to focus on photography. I immersed myself in it and surrounded myself with stylists, designers and editors in the fashion world, and was able to slowly build my portfolio and find my voice.
Today, his work bears all the hallmarks of his hazy, California upbringing while nodding to the fashion experience he gained in New York. Looking through his work, you’ll find his lens bathes each of his subjects in a gentle, warm light against dusky backdrops, reminiscent of the beaches he grew up on. Shooting for the likes of, his work takes in portraiture, interiors and food photography.
This second volume began taking shape for Justin after a visit to Japan. “I went to photograph a chef,. When I met him in 2016, he was in the process of building a country home and dedicated to spending more time with his family. I was so curious and fascinated by his lifestyle and work -- he is a chef with multiple restaurants and a casualness to his cooking style that I admired -- and he was also able to share some of his lessons on fatherhood with me.
With some studio visits taken over the course of multiple trips across several years, the connections Justin has made feel very authentic. Taking in architects, editors, professors and more, the book covers an expansive range of creative professions. “Photographing studio visits over the years in both personal and commercial work has enabled me to gain experience and confidence in telling these kind of ‘day in the life’ stories through photographs,” Justin finishes with.
Art x STEM ✌️