Through his lens outward

Through Johnson’s photography, we are given a personal account of those uniquely human moments that seem to escape larger histories. His work remains unique, for it captures scenes of rural life in a deeply present manner. Each photograph presents the world as it appeared to Johnson; we view through his lens outward. These scenes of daily life remain resonant almost a century later, capturing architypes and actions which parallel those familiar to us. We hear and understand conversations lost to the ether of time, as if present in the moment when Johnson's shutter snapped. Johnson photographed his friends, family, and strangers he met during his travels. One such figure who appears in many of Johnson’s photographs is his longtime friend, John Burroughs.