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John Travis

Bio

I grew up in London to the soundtrack of T. Rex and Bowie, but it wasn’t until punk rock exploded that I felt like I belonged. I bought a guitar, started bands, and eventually landed in Berlin in the 1980s, surrounded by artists and creative energy. Then early hip-hop pulled me to New York, where I worked at Chung King Studios during what is now known as the Golden Age of Hip Hop. After 25 years in music, I picked up a camera searching for a new creative outlet. That spark reignited during the George Floyd protests in Los Angeles, where I found my voice as a street photographer, and had my first image published in a book about the protests. 

Last year, I received the Bronze Medal in the Documentary category of the International Black and White Photo Awards for a photo I shot on film, developed in the darkroom, and printed by hand.

Artist Statement

My camera gives a voice to the things I don’t always say. Sometimes it flatters, sometimes it yells, sometimes it makes me laugh, sometimes it blurts out things people would rather have left unspoken. My camera is my three chords and the truth, my two turntables and microphone, my unfiltered voice to the world and that voice can get loud!

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© 2025 by Street L.A.

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