By Belinda Cai
“With black and white, you’re forced to deal with the subject. You don’t get a chance to get lost in the color. It takes you straight to the story without any distractions.” — John Simmons
For photographer John Simmons, the absence of color reveals the vibrancy of truth. In his second solo exhibition, Life in Black and White at The Perfect Exposure Gallery, Simmons presents a collection of 92 photographs that span from his first camera at age 15 in the 1960s to the present day.
While the images may be monochromatic, the stories they tell are rich, dynamic, and deeply human.
The Art of the Ordinary
The exhibition presents a wide spectrum of human experience — youth and age, wealth and poverty, struggle and celebration — all captured through Simmons’ observant lens. Among the images are portraits of prominent cultural and political figures such as Nina Simone, Sun Ra, Fidel Castro, and Rosa Parks. While these iconic moments immediately draw attention, the true strength of Simmons’ work lies in his documentation of everyday life.
Nothing in Simmons’ photography is staged. Each image reflects moments he witnessed and came to understand through lived experience. Alongside public figures, he captures ordinary passersby, revealing that every subject carries a story worth telling. The absence of color invites viewers to engage more deeply with the subject matter.
A Front Row to History
Born in Chicago and coming of age during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Simmons’ work is inextricably linked to the struggle for racial justice.
“The racial undertones are a result of the life that I lived,” Simmons notes. “Chicago was very racist, but was pretty much a cultural mecca… There was the Vietnam War, the Free Love movement, jazz, artists, and poetry.”
Mentored by Bobb Sengstacke—whose family owned The Chicago Daily Defender, the country’s oldest Black publication—Simmons learned to treat the camera as a tool for truth. He followed in Sengstacke’s footsteps, taking risks to document the realities of the era.
- The Photograph: Macon, Georgia (1969)
- The Story: A powerful image of a Black man surrounded by white police officers during a boycott.
- The Risk: Moments after capturing the weathered emotion on the man’s face, Simmons was knocked unconscious by one of the officers.
One of Simmons’ most powerful images, Macon, Georgia (1969), captures a Black man surrounded by white police officers during a boycott sparked by violence against a Black child and her mother. The photograph reflects both the physical danger and emotional weight of documenting injustice at the time.
“Right after that picture, I got knocked out by one of those policemen,” Simmons recounts.
Despite the risks, Simmons continued to document the lived realities of African Americans and marginalized communities. His subjects include anti–Vietnam War protests, youth in poverty, and moments of quiet dignity amid hardship. One particularly moving photograph shows a young Black girl wearing two mismatched shoes — a subtle yet profound reflection of inequality.
Global Humanity
From his time at Fisk University in Nashville to travels in Indonesia, Morocco, and Mexico, Simmons carries his camera everywhere. His lens captures the universal crux of human nature: suffering, celebration, love, and resilience.
One particularly touching image features a young girl wearing two different shoes—a subtle but heartbreaking glimpse into the poverty of Black youth.
For Simmons, photography is a matter of kismet. “My path crosses their path,” he says of his subjects. “As insignificant as the moment may seem, we’re brought together.”
The exhibition “Life in Black and White” runs from April 12 to May 24, 2018, at The Perfect Exposure Gallery.
John Simmons’ work, including his solo exhibition Life in Black and White, has been showcased at The Perfect Exposure Gallery in Los Angeles. View his complete portfolio online at johnsimmonsasc.com.
