J.R Portman is a professional photographer whose studio is based in the French Quarter of New Orleans. J.R. has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Studio Art from Tulane University, and graduated Cum Laude with departmental honors in both majors. After graduating, he moved to London and spent a year learning the business side of photography by assisting for world-renowned professional photographers. While living in London, he traveled throughout Europe and as far as Capetown, South Africa. He then returned to the United States and developed a successful Advertising, Portrait, and Fashion Photography career in Los Angeles, shooting for such clients as View Sonic and Archive magazine.
On April 1, 2006, J.R. returned to the city in which he went to college in order to help rebuild and revitalize. He dedicated a year of his life to learning carpentry and electrical work in order to help repair the city that has shaped him more than any other in the world. His latest work, a series of night landscapes of New Orleans entitled "Terra NOLA", evolved from the experience of working to repair storied structures in a myriad of neighborhoods throughout New Orleans. Shot in the twilight hours around this seductive city, these photographs illustrate how this place above all others radiates a sublime and often otherworldly beauty through its weathered architecture and entropic environs. The word 'Terra" is Latin for land, and also means the terrain of a celestial body that gives of a glow. NOLA is simply short for New Orleans, Louisiana.
J.R. is back to shooting full time, but still does construction work every once in a while to keep his feet on the ground and hands on the pulse of the city. In addition to displaying work in galleries throughout New Orleans, J.R. also shoots consistently for New Orleans Living Magazine and the New Orlenas Jazz Orchestra, and was recently published in Cantanker Magazine out of Austin, Texas.
To be notified about future exhibitions by J.R., or to for any other inquiries, please send an email to jr@jrportman.com
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