#LeicaConversations

Recorded - August 20, 2020
From AL SOL to ZOI and back to Boston, Stella Johnson has been seeing, investigating and reflecting culture, community and family over the last forty years. She will talk about her process in crafting an image that brings the viewer to look again and again. Stella will also discuss how and why she has developed lifelong relationships with the people she photographs, and what that means to the photographic narrative. Learning to see requires perseverance, patience, preparation, and knowing what to look for when you encounter those unexpected moments.
Hosted by the Tom A. Smith - Director of the Leica Akademie USA.
#LeicaConversations
BIO:
Stella Johnson is a photographer and educator known for her passionate and honest documentary projects. She received a Core Fulbright Scholar Grant to photograph in Mexico in 2003, and Fulbright Specialist grants to teach in Mexico in 2006 and in Colombia in 2018.
The University of Maine Press published her first monograph, Al Sol: Photographs from Mexico, Cameroon and Nicaragua in 2008. ZOI, her second monograph, was published in 2018 by Wild Greek Press.
A dedicated educator, Johnson holds teaching positions at Boston University and Lesley University College of Art and Design. She also teaches workshops in Greece, Cuba, Colombia and Mexico. Johnson holds a BFA from The San Francisco Art Institute and an MS in Journalism from Boston University.
Johnson’s photographs have been widely exhibited in the United States and internationally. Her work is held in public collections including The DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, The Haggerty Museum of Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Portland Museum of Art, and The Southeast Museum of Photography, among others.
She was a 2018 and 2013 finalist for the Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Fellowship, Photolucida Critical Mass Top 50, twice, and a nominee for the Boston Foundation’s Brother Thomas Fellowship. Johnson’s work has received numerous honors including a New England Foundation for the Arts Cultural Collaborative Artist-in-Residence Grant and Julia Margaret Cameron Award.

[@Leicashootr]

The best and most graceful female photographer at this moment ‼️❤️

[@NarcissismSurvivor]

Stunning art. Just stunning. Thank you!

[@dr_davidmd2065]

Stoked for her workshop 2021!!

[@tomreese2285]

What a wonderful photographer and beautiful soul. Another reminder to slow down and be purposeful in our work.

[@rolf_siggaard]

Many thanks for this. Very inspirational images and impactful storytelling.

[@geraldhewes]

Wonderful interview and beautiful work by Stella.

[@vwindman]

Wonderful conversation- thank you for sharing these inspiring images!

[@aliffbasri9540]

Thank you! I learned a lot today!

[@nocommentnoname1111]

Geia sou Stella! :)

[@RohamBroccoli]

I was afraid/anxious that these series would mainly be about how fantastic Leica is and how important it is to have a Leica bla bla, but I was wrong. Don't get me wrong, I have had most Leica cameras(M6-7-9-240 etc), but Iam here to learn and listen. And I got it. Thanks

[@vproven]

What an outstanding vlog. Stella Johnson’s work is second to none. Absolutely incredible images.

[@stank5857]

What an educational video, wonderful

[@tuftufclub159]

Very intresting Q&A video ! Thanks alot for sharing your thoughts and images with us. Very inspiring ! Stay in Good Health ! Greetings, Roger, Antwerp ;-)

[@HatefYaminiOnline]

Tom, another great interview. Can't wait to take Stella's workshop in January.

[@gisele6961]

Really enjoyed this talk!

[@ebreckpo6563]

Very inspiring conversation, thank you

[@chloescanlon1107]

Great talk, lovely lady and fine photographer. ‘The receiver’ Lol. He’s called a goalkeeper 🙂

[@aspenknight7237]

Great program/interview! I don't think Greece is as opened to foreign visitors as there's a nationalist movement like in Hungary.

[@lewisallrightsreserved7879]

Excellent, enjoyable and educational - she is an excellent photographer - thanks for the video, subscribed! 😀😀😀📷📷📷👍👍👍

[@boarini2003]

I recently discovered Stella's work. She is up there with the very top. Her compositions are just amazing. I really recommend her book "Al Sol".

[@justadailylearner]

Love these!

[@emanon321]

Thanks for a wonderful interview, thanks to Stella for being a charming and gracious interviewee, and for showing her lovely work. I've been shooting professionally since 1973, starting my life in photography with an M2, and much of my career, primarily as an advertising photographer, has been using analog capture from 8x10 on down. I've spent countless hours in the darkroom. At this point in my life, there is no more "romance" to be found there. That's why I just purchased my first digital M Leica- an M10, and as Stella mentioned, it reminds me so much of my M6. I'm retired now and look forward to many happy hours using the M10. Leica has indeed kept the faith with this one. Oh, one more thing, I got a kick out of Stella's story about how it took her approximately 100 frames to capture that single image. Been there myself many times, and have no desire to repeat that anymore, so I've finally decided to sell my M6. :)