It began with a daydream.
In fact, it began with a lot of them.
Just over a decade ago, and several years into a career as an advertising copy writer in Australia, John Barton’s aspirations of becoming an award-winning industry creative, and all the perks that come along with an esteemed and creative career, were losing their shine. The long pursued dreams he had for his life were turning restless and in their place, a passion for photography and a yearning for adventure and travel were waking inside of him.
Increasingly preoccupied by the lucid daydreams of far-off places etched into his memory from his yearly surf trips, it had become increasingly difficult sitting at his desk and watching the days drift pass the windows.
Through a turn of fate, while on a surf trip in remote Indonesia, a golden opportunity presented itself as John was offered a position as the resident photographer / surf guide for Pitstop Hill Mentawai - a land based camp in the Mentawai Islands. A seemingly obvious decision was met with trepidation at the thought of leaving a secure career to chase a dream. However, the fear of future regret over a missed opportunity far outweighed the fear of the unknown, so John packed up his life and armed with nothing but his boards and his camera box, took the gamble on making his dream a reality.
In the years that followed, John has cemented a name for himself through his documentation of surf culture and indigenous cultures in wild, remote and idyllic locations across the globe. With a unique command of natural light, John’s work embodies the dreamlike visions that once inspired his journey. His ambition is to share his love for nature and travel and to inspire wanderlust in those who view his work. John has a hunger for high-speed action and an eye for the ethereal. The balance of these elements in his photography has led to a long list of accolades and awards and has seen his work regularly featured on the pages and covers of magazines, online media and branded commercial campaigns worldwide.
John now calls Southern California home where he spilts his time between commercial campaigns for a long list of clients and furthering his travels and adventures.