Bio:

I’ve always been interested in what I can see, particularly in nature. Growing up in then-rural Donelson, TN, I loved to roam the woods and fields to see what was there. From an early age, I took pictures of what intrigued me most.

In high school I became a member of the newspaper and annual staff. There I spent many hours taking pictures around campus with my first 35mm rangefinder camera, and then developing the black and white images in the school’s darkroom. In college, I graduated to a 35mm SLR camera, and worked one summer for the Franklin Review-Appeal.

For some time after that, photography was a serious hobby for me as I pursued career number one: computers. When time came for career number two, I thought that I would give my visual-creative side a chance, and chose to become a professional photographer. As I had by then gone the digital route, I could still keep my hand in with computers. In fact, I’ve designed a number of web sites for fellow photographers, as well as my own: www.jhamptonphotography.com.

So far as a professional, I’ve kept my keen interest in subjects from nature, but I’ve branched out into portraits, events, and commercial photography. I've continued my commitment to service to our community, including Williamson County 4-H, and the Williamson County Fair, where I was appointed the Fair Photography Competition Chair. In addition, I am an active Executive Board member of the Williamson County Cultural Arts Commission (WCCAC). I also teach photography classes at the Williamson County Recreation Centers in Franklin and Spring Hill.

For me, photography is the perfect blend of art and technology. It keeps both sides of my brain in tune and working together. I believe, too, that I have a gift of seeing, and that through my photography I can share that gift with others. When someone looks at one of my photos, and that changes their vision and understanding—no matter how much or how little—I know I’ve made the right choice in what to do with the second half of my life.

Sincerely,

John Hampton