Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Johnston.
Greg, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Fascinated with the ocean, I became a scuba instructor as a teenager and began taking underwater photos. My first sale and subsequent first assignment from the Florida Outdoor Guide was a story on Pennekamp Park in Key Largo. The Florida Keys. That was the key to my pursuit as a photographer. I queried many magazines and started getting assignments.
I soon became a contributing editor to Skin Diver Magazine and for the next eight years, I traveled writing and photographing about new island dive resorts. I became travel editor at World Publications photographing destination features for Caribbean Travel & Life magazine, Sport Diver magazine, and Islands Magazine. As a result of traveling throughout the Caribbean, I began to create advertising and commercial assignments for destinations, resorts hotels, and public relations image content.
I published several destination guides and produced many point-of-purchase videos for the dive and travel industries. Throughout my travels, I continually built my stock image portfolio with Getty Images. Much of my work today is in lifestyle, destination, and hospitality.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I started in the 1980s trying to get my work published. Being at the right place at the right time was definitely helpful in the early days of travel. Having a creative mind and a thirst for publishing I became a name in the Caribbean travel. Digital and internet marketing hurt the professionals as pricing began to drop.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work has transformed over the years. I am mostly known for my destination landscape photography, including the lifestyle of traveling couples and of course resorts and hotel architecture. I was named 2000 SATW Travel Photographer of the Year, won International Spyder awards for my B/W images, and won “Best Of” for Advertising Photography.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
As a travel photographer, I have traveled to 55 countries and experienced many different cultures. It has been a life lesson not ever taking for granted living in my neighborhood. I think if everyone had a chance to travel and experience the world it would change the minds of everyone.
Contact Info:
- Email: greg@gregjohnston.com
- Website: www.gregjohnstonphotography.com
- Instagram: @gregjohnstonphotography
- Facebook: @gregjohnstonphoto
- Youtube: Prophesies of a Travel Photographer
- Other: www.gregjohnston.com
