TONY JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY When I was a child, I was continually filled with the excitement of seeing things for the very first time and finding beauty everywhere. In 1975 I looked through the viewfinder of my brand new, single lens reflex camera and those old feelings came alive again. As with any passionate activity, I experimented, made mistakes, learned and grew. My primary goal as a photographer is to create an image which captures the imagination by inviting the viewer to think, feel and wonder. In order to to be successful, I cultivate my intuition and trust it. I believe intuition is a place inside where imagination, presence and total commitment play together. Intuition recognizes an image that contains a compelling story and intuition depresses the shutter. I have learned that the nature of a photographic story often does not become apparent until after the photo is taken and studied. When I’m not exploring the world with my camera I have found other venues for creative expression. In 2006 I taught a class entitled, Photography As the Art of Telling Stories. During this class it became clear that our expression shapes our art, but also our art shapes who we are and how we understand and experience the world. In January, 2007, I formed the Camera Arts Club of Petaluma as a way to support others and deepen my own work. This group provides our members the opportunity to study their images, improve them and explore what they mean. Currently I am drawn to create black and white images because this medium tends to reveal ambiguity and mystery. These qualities help me see and appreciate the subtle beauty and amazing complexity of life. My photographic journey has been a continual source of sheer joy, personal growth and a form of meditation. Through my lens I have watched the seasons change and witnessed everyone I know and love grow older. This has made me acutely aware of the transitory nature of everything and keeps me mindful of the fact that each and every day is an incomparable gift. The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. 
-Proust