Angling for the Abstract: Meet Photographer John Andrew Murphy
John Andrew Murphy didn’t have to leave his heart in San Francisco. He was raised in the city and now lives in nearby Marin County, where he photographs landscapes, people, and abstract city scenes — all with the goal of capturing these images with “a different angle,” as his website aptly proclaims.
From Nature to Urban Abstracts
There’s plenty of balance in John’s work. From stunning seaside vistas to cows on a hillside, nature is well documented. In the city, he tends to focus on the interplay of lines: power lines, light poles, steel girders, railroad tracks. Even shadows and fog become stunning from John’s point of view.
The colorful “Abstract City V,” shown above, is one example from John’s new series titled “Abstract City,” where San Francisco’s many textures come to life. Another from this series and shown below, “Abstract City III,” is a dramatic black-and-white photo of San Francisco cable tracks leading the viewer’s eyes directly to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
The Human Element
Along with photographing places, John also captures family memories with professional portrait and headshot sessions. These clients tend to buy their own frames, but John does purchase frames for his fine art work. “I am so glad I found Frame Destination,” John says, adding that he appreciates our products and “stellar” customer service. “Frame Destination has definitely elevated my work and possibilities.” We’re grateful to call you a fan, John!
See More of John’s Work
John’s fine art website is a great place to seek additional photography. From there, click over to PhotosMarin.com, where you’ll find family portraits and headshots. His Instagram page features a combination of both.
Keep scrolling to see my Q&A with John below, where you’ll learn about the advice he tries to follow and the most indispensable element of his work.
Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with John Andrew Murphy …
1. What is your background; how did you get started?
My creative journey started with my sense of sound and the ensuing lessons on how to read music and play a tune. As a teenager of the ’80s, my heroes were guitar players — Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Jerry Garcia — and my bedroom walls were adorned with posters of these musicians. Years later, I got a Canon film camera for Christmas, and I realized immediately that my sense of sight brought me as much joy and wonder as strumming my six-string. And that is where I am today, creatively: strumming chords and clicking shutters.
2. How important is it for a photographer to "connect" with their subject?
As a people-and-places photographer, the relationship I form with my subject prior to clicking the shutter is key to meaningful and accessible imagery. Whether conversing with a family prior to capturing memories or envisioning my next Golden Gate Bridge image, these connections are critical to the final product, one that hopefully emits emotion and a sense of time and place.
3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?
A fellow photographer and business owner who is well regarded in my community once said to me: "John, things get more interesting the more critical you become of your own work." So true, and difficult to do consistently and honestly.
4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?
I am a fun (bordering on silly) citizen who loves to connect with the people I photograph. Hopefully the viewer sees my joy of life in the photos I take and print. I am also a thoughtful person who takes a moment to consider what I am seeing and feeling. When pointing my lens at a beautiful landscape, I always stop, ponder, and question the scene before me.
5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?
Absolutely, creative blocks are always looming and ready to strike — out of nowhere, most of the time. Being creative nourishes my soul, so these blocks can temporarily hurt me mentally and emotionally. Time is the great healer. I am fortunate that my blocks come and go in a short-ish time period.
6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)
My workflow — from envisioning to clicking the shutter to editing and printing — is key to my best imagery. Knowing how a raw capture will translate on screen or paper informs the initial capture.
7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?
I am working on a new series called "Abstract City,” a study of my hometown, San Francisco. My goal is to capture The City's many textures and turns ... with a twist.
8. What "fad" gadget do you most regret purchasing?
Not a fad, per se, but I owned a 16”x20" ultra-large-format film camera. Much money and effort later, the results were disappointing and limiting to me.
All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.
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Last Updated February 8, 2022