Today we’d like to introduce you to John Bogna.
John, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I moved to Houston two years ago from California, and ever since then, I’ve been working as a freelance journalist, writer, and photographer. Freelancing found me by accident: it was the first work I got after coming to Texas, and I kept on getting it. Now, I’m trying to build a full-time freelance business around my skill set. When I’m not working on a copywriting piece, an article, or a shoot, I’m writing fiction and poetry.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Right now I’m doing a lot of portraiture work and writing fiction and poetry every day. Street photography is also very close to my heart, and I went heavy into it when I first got to Houston (I plan to do more of that soon).
As far as photography goes, I like capturing things as they happen. I’ve done some photojournalism and event work, and being in the moment, capturing real emotion and expressing a story in a photograph as concisely as I can, is thrilling for me. When doing portrait work, I try to catch the real person, to give the viewer a sense of who my subject is.
In my writing, I’m definitely trying to make you feel something. Whether that’s afraid, disgusted, happy, or hopeful depends on the subject and the story. There are so many times in my life that I’ve been inspired by words, and I hope to be able to do that for someone else one day.
I consider myself a storyteller. The medium I choose depends on the concept, and how I want to deliver an idea.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I think it’s kind of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the internet makes it easier than ever to build an audience, get discovered, and make a living from your work. That also means a very saturated environment some would argue it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stand out in. Cost can also be a barrier to entry in the arts, especially for photography; good equipment is expensive.
That said, it’s also easier to learn than ever before. I think if you’re persistent, practice your craft until it becomes a honed skill, and be patient; there are plenty of places willing to give you a platform for your work, with more opening up every day. You just have to find them. Don’t be discouraged by a lack of resources. Do what you can. Start, and build up from there.
I was pleasantly surprised by the art scene when I moved to Houston, and how active it is. I think the number one thing we can do to help one another is to collaborate instead of competing. There are millions of people in this town, and enough business to go around. Share resources, and refer your talented friends!
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
This is great! Thanks for helping people see my work. You can find me in a few places:
My photography is on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john.bogna
My creative writing is on Medium: https://www.medium.com/@jbogna
And I share a bit of both on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jbogna
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john.bogna
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jbogna
- Other: https://www.medium.com/@jbogna
Image Credit:
John Bogna
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