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artists
DAVID JOHNSON
www.davidsjohnsonphotography.com
   
A photographer with over half a century of experience,
David Johnson has the distinction of being Ansel Adam’s first
African American student at the California School of Fine Arts (CSFA),
now known as the venerable San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI). After
graduating from CSFA David Johnson went on to establish his own
studio on Fillmore Street diligently documenting the development
of the neighborhood during the 40’s, 50’s, & 60’s.
David Johnson combined his professional training as a photographer
and personal interest in music to visually record the heydays of
the Fillmore’s clubs, dance halls and way of life. His work
has been published in books such as Harlem of the West- as well
as the KQED documentary The Fillmore. Another significant component
of his work is his documentation of the civil rights movement in
San Francisco, the NAACP registration drives, including the March
on Washington.
Included in Johnson’s artistic vision was his desire to depict people
positively in the presence of discrimination, thus capturing the
emotions of the Civil Rights movement. His most published works are his
images of ordinary African Americans, children and adults, going about
the mundane routines, rites and rituals. He is likewise noted for
photographing important African Americans. He has captured Supreme
Court Justice Thurgood Marshal, A. Philip Randolph, ball player Jackie
Robinson, poet Langston Hughes and musical icons Nat “King” Cole,
Eartha Kitt, and “T. Bone” Walker. In addition to the influence of his
teacher Ansel Adams, he cites his mentors Minor White & Ruth
Bernhard. His work draws upon iconic photographers of the 20th century,
Imogene Cunningham, Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Edward Weston, and
Homer Paige.
Now in his 80’s, David Johnson still actively photographs
his everyday world. He lives and works in the Bay Area.
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