Juan Bacote
Photographer
Philadelphia, PA
“Shooting the riots and protests were some of the most memorable moments I’ve experienced as a Photographer.
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Juan Bacote
Philly-based Photographer, Juan Bacote, sees the city through a different lens, and we're not just talking about the Nikon D300 he uses.
As landscapes fill our feeds and line of vision as we walk around the city, Juan brings our attention to those less-appreciated areas, bringing life and beauty to otherwise neglected subjects.
Juan always knew he wanted to be an artist, and explored the creative world before ultimately picked up a camera for the first time.
"I worked in construction with my dad, but something was missing…I didn’t feel complete. I tried painting, and was terrible at it; I didn’t understand yet what being a creative meant.”
5 years ago, Juan discovered photography as an outlet to battle depression upon the passing of his cousin. His black-and-white based portfolio captures images of abandoned buildings, graffiti art, landscapes, and the nooks and crannies of cities that we often walk by blindly without appreciating their beauty.
“At the time, I was shooting anything and everything out the window of a car. Now, I find myself being more intentional with my shots. It is the only way to effectively tell a story, evoke emotion, and bring out the true beauty somewhat, untraditional subjects that I shoot.”
Growing up in Philadelphia, Juan knows there is beauty in the perfect shot of the skyline with headlights and bikers blurring past the lens. However, there is a deeper story to tell from and about the streets of a city; something we find a bit more authentic, engaging, and real about the the subjects and scenes captured.
Not only does Juan have a knack for capturing unconventional subjects, his portrait work and journalistic approach to story telling bring a new dynamic to his work.
“Shooting the riots and protests were some of the most memorable moments I’ve experienced as a Photographer.
Childish Gambino's “This is America” playing in my head on repeat. It was unreal to be a part of history that will end up in books one day.”
Juan was recently featured in the Muse Gallery, and began teaching interested students how to shoot outdoor photography, showing them the stylistic power and moods of shooting in black and white. An artist inspired to learn and teach, he hopes to become a positive influence in the art/ creative community.