One Photographer's American Journey
Donation protected
My name is Jonathan Walker. I am a 23 year old film photographer from New Jersey. The majority of my photographs are taken in and around New York City.
Before I share my story, this is a sample of my work.
NYC, 2016
New Year's Day, Brooklyn, 2016
NYC, 2016
East Village, NYC, 2015
Nebraska, 2015
NYC, 2016
Colfax, Denver. 2015
Central Park, 2016
NYC, 2015
My Complete Portfolio
Who I am and why I photograph:
Three years ago I was diagnosed with Bipolar II. I was an English student in college at the time when I got sick. I'm going to skip the details about my illness because all of the symptoms are already on the internet. I realized right away that bipolar is a lifechanging diagnosis and took a leave of absence from school to adjust to my new normal, seeking balance through counseling and creativity. At the time I was writing a lot of music. For the next eight months I adjusted to my medication, sought counseling, and played anywhere from 5 to 8 hours of music every day. Music was the way I coped with severe and chronic depression and the acute mood swings of bipolar. It was absolutely necessary to my survival at the time. Around January and my 21st birthday, my hand began to hurt. I kept playing music, shrugging it off. Soon after it hurt constantly so I decided to see a doctor; I had developed tendonitis.
The doctor told me I needed to stop playing music for several months to rest and rehabilitate my hand. I was devestated by the news. I continued to play music against the doctors advice until I physically could not play anymore through the pain. I couldn't bear not playing music at the time. I fell deeper into my depression without music, longing for the sensation of guitar strings and beneath my fingers. I didn't have any friends in New Jersey. Everyone I knew was at school, and I had grown increasingly withdrawn over the course of the year because of my undiagnosed illness; in short, I felt I had fallen through the cracks into a place where I was completely alone. While in reality this was not true, I had hit bottom. In general, trying to get through the day with bipolar disorder can be like trying to drive on the highway with a migrane.
I decided to get a job at a health food store around May and worked full time for 8 months, all the while struggling with severe depression. Still unable to play music, my doctor and I discussed the need for new art in my life. I gave my notice at work and enrolled in a photography class at a local community college. When I saw my first print materialize in the tray of developer I was hooked.
I have spent the last 8 months photographing obsessively. This past January I subletted a place in Brooklyn from a school friend for $400. I woke up every morning at 5:30 and went to sleep every night at 10:00. I photographed in Harlem, Newark, Manhattan, and a bit in Brooklyn.
Why I need your help:
I know in my heart that I am an artist. I remember receiving my bipolar diagnosis and thinking, "Of course, it all makes sense now." I am also at a unique point in my life when I can take a few months away from everything and everyone and simply create. I am proud of my portfolio, but I know I can do more diverse work. That is why I want to travel around the country.
Your money will either be spent on film, gas, food, or lodging. I have already bought the gear that I will use.
I've sold nearly all of my music gear and spent every dime I earned at the healthfood store on cameras and film. The money I've spent on gear and photobooks is the best money I've ever spent. The joy I receive from photography is invaluable to my mental health and recovery.
My proposed journey will hopefully last about two months, depending on how much money I receive. I am primarily interested in heading south to New Orleans before swinging west to Texas and Southern California. From the Los Angeles area I plan on heading north to Seattle before heading East through Chicago, continuing all the way to Boston. I will post specifics of how long I will be in each location and where I plan on photographing soon. I have a friends and relatives to stay with in Baltimore, Washington D.C., New Orleans, Southern California, San Francisco, Denver, and Boston (so far). Obviously I will photograph in between those locations, but those are some major checkpoints I plan to hit.
For now, this is the first half of my trip.
My trip will be roughly 10,000 miles in total (counting the rest of the my stops not shown here).
I need the money by mid may if this trip is going to happen.
This trip will cost around $5500 for two months on the road. broken down it looks like this:
$1500 for gas, tolls, and parking
$2000 for lodging and food
$2000 for film :)
I need at least $1000 to get the ball rolling and I'll see if I can scrap together the rest myself. If I receive more than $1000, I will be able to stay on the road longer and will have more money to spend gaining access to great places to photograph. I am sure there will be surprise expenses as well. Ideally I want to raise around $2000.
After I complete the trip, I will need to purchase paper and photographic chemicals for developing film. The complete cost of the trip factoring that in will be more than $6000.
To keep costs down on the road I plan on sleeping in my car at truck stops whenever possible, eating inexpensively but efficiently, and staying with friends I know from school who are now scattered across the country. I don't drink alcohol or smoke cigarretes; your money will be spent only on this dream I have envisioned for myself: one artistic dude, three cameras, a heck of a lot of film, and the open road.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my story.
I want to conclude by saying I know I want to make photography my life's work. I'm also in a good place with my illness have found the right medication. I feel balanced, creatively satisfied, and loved. I am happy to be here.
Cheers,
Jon
Before I share my story, this is a sample of my work.
NYC, 2016
New Year's Day, Brooklyn, 2016
NYC, 2016
East Village, NYC, 2015
Nebraska, 2015
NYC, 2016
Colfax, Denver. 2015
Central Park, 2016
NYC, 2015
My Complete Portfolio
Who I am and why I photograph:
Three years ago I was diagnosed with Bipolar II. I was an English student in college at the time when I got sick. I'm going to skip the details about my illness because all of the symptoms are already on the internet. I realized right away that bipolar is a lifechanging diagnosis and took a leave of absence from school to adjust to my new normal, seeking balance through counseling and creativity. At the time I was writing a lot of music. For the next eight months I adjusted to my medication, sought counseling, and played anywhere from 5 to 8 hours of music every day. Music was the way I coped with severe and chronic depression and the acute mood swings of bipolar. It was absolutely necessary to my survival at the time. Around January and my 21st birthday, my hand began to hurt. I kept playing music, shrugging it off. Soon after it hurt constantly so I decided to see a doctor; I had developed tendonitis.
The doctor told me I needed to stop playing music for several months to rest and rehabilitate my hand. I was devestated by the news. I continued to play music against the doctors advice until I physically could not play anymore through the pain. I couldn't bear not playing music at the time. I fell deeper into my depression without music, longing for the sensation of guitar strings and beneath my fingers. I didn't have any friends in New Jersey. Everyone I knew was at school, and I had grown increasingly withdrawn over the course of the year because of my undiagnosed illness; in short, I felt I had fallen through the cracks into a place where I was completely alone. While in reality this was not true, I had hit bottom. In general, trying to get through the day with bipolar disorder can be like trying to drive on the highway with a migrane.
I decided to get a job at a health food store around May and worked full time for 8 months, all the while struggling with severe depression. Still unable to play music, my doctor and I discussed the need for new art in my life. I gave my notice at work and enrolled in a photography class at a local community college. When I saw my first print materialize in the tray of developer I was hooked.
I have spent the last 8 months photographing obsessively. This past January I subletted a place in Brooklyn from a school friend for $400. I woke up every morning at 5:30 and went to sleep every night at 10:00. I photographed in Harlem, Newark, Manhattan, and a bit in Brooklyn.
Why I need your help:
I know in my heart that I am an artist. I remember receiving my bipolar diagnosis and thinking, "Of course, it all makes sense now." I am also at a unique point in my life when I can take a few months away from everything and everyone and simply create. I am proud of my portfolio, but I know I can do more diverse work. That is why I want to travel around the country.
Your money will either be spent on film, gas, food, or lodging. I have already bought the gear that I will use.
I've sold nearly all of my music gear and spent every dime I earned at the healthfood store on cameras and film. The money I've spent on gear and photobooks is the best money I've ever spent. The joy I receive from photography is invaluable to my mental health and recovery.
My proposed journey will hopefully last about two months, depending on how much money I receive. I am primarily interested in heading south to New Orleans before swinging west to Texas and Southern California. From the Los Angeles area I plan on heading north to Seattle before heading East through Chicago, continuing all the way to Boston. I will post specifics of how long I will be in each location and where I plan on photographing soon. I have a friends and relatives to stay with in Baltimore, Washington D.C., New Orleans, Southern California, San Francisco, Denver, and Boston (so far). Obviously I will photograph in between those locations, but those are some major checkpoints I plan to hit.
For now, this is the first half of my trip.
My trip will be roughly 10,000 miles in total (counting the rest of the my stops not shown here).
I need the money by mid may if this trip is going to happen.
This trip will cost around $5500 for two months on the road. broken down it looks like this:
$1500 for gas, tolls, and parking
$2000 for lodging and food
$2000 for film :)
I need at least $1000 to get the ball rolling and I'll see if I can scrap together the rest myself. If I receive more than $1000, I will be able to stay on the road longer and will have more money to spend gaining access to great places to photograph. I am sure there will be surprise expenses as well. Ideally I want to raise around $2000.
After I complete the trip, I will need to purchase paper and photographic chemicals for developing film. The complete cost of the trip factoring that in will be more than $6000.
To keep costs down on the road I plan on sleeping in my car at truck stops whenever possible, eating inexpensively but efficiently, and staying with friends I know from school who are now scattered across the country. I don't drink alcohol or smoke cigarretes; your money will be spent only on this dream I have envisioned for myself: one artistic dude, three cameras, a heck of a lot of film, and the open road.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my story.
I want to conclude by saying I know I want to make photography my life's work. I'm also in a good place with my illness have found the right medication. I feel balanced, creatively satisfied, and loved. I am happy to be here.
Cheers,
Jon
Organizer
Jon Walker
Organizer
Somerset, NJ
