Meet John Baran

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Baran.

Hi John, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Santa Cruz, CA. Being a coastal town, I spent a majority of my childhood summer days at the beach or in the ocean. My mother was a graphic artist and talented in every artistic way possible. From sketching to painting to pottery to sewing to miniature doll houses. The first dollhouse she ever made won the California State Fair. As a child, she constantly encouraged and supported me in the arts. I was continually creative and artistic throughout my early years, all the way up until the end of high school.

I don’t remember painting, drawing or creating anything throughout my 20s, however, my love for the outdoors and nature never wained. Although I wasn’t creating, if you needed to find me while I wasn’t at work, I was probably in the ocean or hiking in the mountains.

I am what is considered a non-traditional student. My education beyond high school consists of a BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I spent time working and going to school part-time throughout most of my 20s and didn’t finish my undergrad until the age of 30. (SUNY Cortland in New York). A couple of years later, I went to graduate school at Cornell University to obtain a Master’s in Landscape Architecture. This is where everything began to change.

Landscape Architecture consists of many different fields, but creativity is at the forefront. I had a professor from Nigeria who was also a part-time painter. We bonded and discussed art a lot. One summer break, I decided to buy a couple of canvases and began painting abstracts inspired by aerial views of landscapes. After graduating from Cornell, I continued to paint part-time while working as a landscape architect, selling paintings now and then.

Six years into my landscape architecture career, a life-changing event happened to me, and I was compelled to become an artist full-time. I managed to get into a few galleries around Santa Barbara and Palm Springs and eventually started participating in Art Fairs around the US and the World. (Seattle, New York, Palm Springs, Busan, South Korea and Brussels, Belgium)

Christmas 2012, everything changed again, I decided to paint some animal portraits for my daughter, who was 10 at the time. I used by the abstract technique to make these and posted the results on Social Media. They were instantly popular and people wanted to buy them. Slowly the wildlife art took over the abstract art by a ratio of 4 paintings to 1.

I started producing limited and open addition prints printed on paper and wood, selling in the in local shops. My mother’s side of my family has Hawaiian roots, and I have spent a lot of my adult life traveling there. It was a no-brainer to start pitching my art to shops and galleries around Hawaii. My art is currently in nine galleries and shops on Maui, Oahu, Big Island and Kauai.

When the wildlife painting started to become a steady thing, I really wanted to use my own photos as reference material. I began with Go Pros (for sea life) and an old digital camera for land life. I really only wanted a photo of the animal and didn’t really care about the quality. This didn’t last long! After returning home from a trip to South Africa, I had plenty of shots to work from but also thought to myself how much better the photos could be if I knew what I was doing.

I began upgrading equipment, investing in lenses, etc. I returned to Africa two years later with new intentions. Of course, I now need an underwater housing to photograph sea life. Done! I have spent time in the water with sharks, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, octopus, sea lions and elephant seals. I am an experienced shark diver, having swam with 16 species of shark and one time with over 70 at once. I have been on the ground with rhinos, cape buffalo, bison, grizzlies and packs of wolves.

I would like to consider myself a ‘conservation photographer’. Helping tell stories with my images in hopes that people will act with respect when it comes to nature. Whether it be treating wild animals with the respect they need by giving them space when in their presence or taking time to volunteer or donate to non-profits that protect the environment.

I AM STARTING TO GET A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER NOW. SORRY. I AM AT THE DENVER AIRPORT AND WRITING THIS BEFORE I GET ON MY NEXT PLANE

One day, while swimming in from a shore dive in Santa Barbara, I saw a wave coming and decided to snap a couple of photos. Enter another new obsession. This was five years ago. I have since spent easily 1500 of those days in the ocean at sunrise or sunset taking photos of waves. Sometime twice a day. I have traveled up and down the west coast in search of the perfect photo. I even once went to Alaska with a friend who surfs. That was an adventure! Just the two of us in the water at a location possibly no one has ever surfed before. The boat captain gave us a waterproof radio and told us to call if there was a problem. We had to swim 200 yards into where the waves were breaking. When I got out on the beach, I could see wild tracks. It was a very surreal experience.

Most of my shoots for surf are at sunrise or sunset. I love the early morning light and colorful skies when we can get them. Nature is my meditation practice, and nothing beats being in the water alone with pelicans, sea lions and dolphins allowing you in their space.

Drone photography has become a fascination and obsession of mine, too. Sometimes the surf is too large or too dirty after a rain. I still want to be capturing the beauty of it all, and a drone is another way to do that.

I have also been using my time in the water to inspire me to paint more abstracts and even the waves themselves.

My current catalog consists of wildlife photography, wildlife art, wave photography, wave art, landscape photography and abstract art.

My photography adventures have now taken me all over the US, including Alaska and Hawaii. I have swam with humpback whales and tiger sharks in Tahiti, manatees in Florida, been surrounded by wolves in Yellowstone. I went on a lion walkabout in Africa, photographed black bears and grizzlies in Alaska and Yellowstone. Chase monsoons in the Southwest and Sierras.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Finding time and money to travel. Much of being a successful photographer comes from being at the right place at the right time. This takes money and patience and time. Like with any artistic endeavor, you can get in a creative funk. Fortunately, I sell paintings and photography, and rarely am I in a funk with both!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Around the Santa Barbara area, I am known for my wave and landscape photography and wildlife art.

My art can be found in shops and galleries in Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Santa Cruz, Carmel, Maui, Big Island, Kauai and Oahu.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Be patient. Don’t let criticism get you down. Art is very subjective.

Find a niche. There are A LOT of talented photographers! I have to go into the cold ocean before the sunrises during winter mornings to stand out.

Make friends with other local photographers. Be humble.

I always say, ‘Mother Nature makes the art, I try to find it.’

The beautiful imagery is out there, you just need to know where to look for it. If you are just starting out, there is no reason to spend a lot of money and travel to exotic locations. Start telling stories with your photography in your own backyard while honing your photographic skills.

Contact Info:

• Website: johnbaranfineart.com, johnbaranphoto.com, johnbarananimalart.com
• Instagram: johnbaranart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnbarananimalandsurfart/

Image Credits
Cam Grant – profile photo of me