My name is John Atkinson, and I am a freelance visual artist living in the Sacramento Valley region of northern California. I have been a photography fanatic since childhood, when I used to develop my own film in the one bathroom of my parents' house (prompting the need to check with everybody to make sure they'd done their business before starting a lengthy enlarging session). I shoot mostly digital with my Canon EOS Rebel, but lately I have been experiencing a film renaissance, and have gotten back to developing my own film. I also collect vintage and antique cameras--preferably with the intent of shooting with them (I am a firm believer that cameras, unlike smartphones, were built and meant to do one thing, and that is to take photographs. NOT to sit on a shelf.)

In recent years my photographs have won numerous ribbons and awards at various county fairs in northern California, and at the California State Fair. I am a member of the LightWriters Photography Club in Vacaville. I like shooting a variety of subjects, including landscapes, wildlife, still life, but arguably the lion's share of my passion goes into light painting/drawing.