Jonathan Brothers’ journey into photography began with a simple birthday gift. “My parents bought me a camera for my 16th birthday, and I wanted to use that to capture skateboarding because that’s what I did,” he recalls. His early years were filled with snapshots of skateboarding, and he considers himself lucky to have captured these moments, allowing him to look back on them and remember the thrill of those days. Despite these beginnings, his relationship with the camera was intermittent, and it wasn’t until much later in life that photography would take a central role.
Brothers’ interest in photography lay dormant for over a decade after a high school black-and-white photography class. “I think I put the camera down for about 14 years,” he muses. “Somewhere in my early 30s, I picked it back up, and I’m not even sure why. I think I just enjoyed taking pictures.”
This rekindling of interest was not driven by a profound external influence but was more serendipitous, a rediscovery that came during a turbulent period in his life. “Probably somewhat of a midlife crisis after my first divorce. I had a camera and just decided to start shooting again.”
For Jonathan, photography was less about emulating great artists and more about personal expression. His mentor, Dick Cicone, played a pivotal role in shaping his skills and artistic vision. “Dick Cicone is my photography mentor. I’ve taken many classes from him, and when I did the show that I put on myself, I worked with him and got a lot of input on my photographs.” His guidance was instrumental in Jonathan’s artistic growth, a fact he deeply appreciates.
Cicone’s mentorship helped Brothers refine his techniques, particularly in Photoshop, allowing him to achieve the visual effects he desired. “My eye is different than it used to be, and the way I like my photos is different than it used to be,” Brothers explains. “He helped me learn better techniques in Photoshop to bring out what I wanted in my photographs.”
Brothers’ artistic journey led him to admire Ansel Adams, especially for his evolving approach to photography. “Ansel Adams influenced me because his photography evolved quite a bit. When he first started out, he was part of the S-64 group, which believed in taking pictures exactly as they were. But later, he started using all the technology available to him at the time to do contrast and dodging and burning.” Brothers appreciates Adams’ transition from mere documentation to image creation, a philosophy he resonates with.
The turning point in Brothers’ photography career came with his first exhibition, born from a leadership transformational training program he attended. “The current exhibition came from a previous one that emerged from a leadership transformational training I took in 2019,” he shares. The exhibition resulted from a ‘letter of accomplishment’ (LOA) exercise, a task where participants outlined a three-month plan for achieving their goals. “My goal was to do a photography exhibit because people had been telling me for a decade that I should do a show. I had always been scared, thinking I wasn’t that good a photographer.”
Despite his initial apprehension, Brothers decided to take the plunge. “When I decide to do something, I make it happen. I had no idea what I was doing; I had never done it before,” he admits. With the help of his mentor, Cicone, and his trainer,Kris Delgado, who is also an artist, Brothers meticulously selected and prepared 20 photographs for the show.
The exhibition was held in the office of a friend, Scott Korbin, in downtown Cary. Brothers turned the space into a photography exhibit, inviting people through social media. “I posted on social media and invited people. About 60 people showed up, which he recalls was amazing for a first show.. The success of this first exhibition was a humbling experience for Brothers. “Every time the door opened, it was like Christmas morning. Friends showed up that I hadn’t seen in 10 years.” Scott’s support and the turnout of friends made the event even more special.
The positive reception of his work encouraged Brothers to continue exhibiting. He was invited to display his photographs at Frank’s Fine Arts gallery in Littleton, where he sold several pieces. His participation in the Lakeland Arts Center competition in Littleton is another milestone, where he hopes his work will be recognized and perhaps even win a permanent exhibit.
Brothers’ photography often focuses on abandoned and discarded places and objects, which he finds in nature or other settings. “I typically focus on the abandoned, what humankind has discarded that I find in nature or similar settings,” he explains. This fascination with the forgotten evokes a sense of mystique and curiosity. “It gives me the same feeling, I get scuba diving on a wreck. How did this ship sink? What happened to the sailors? Why is this house abandoned? What happened to the people?”
Despite his love for photography, Brothers maintains a balance, ensuring it remains a passion rather than a job. “I enjoy exploring and photographing, and creating the final image with as little editing as possible.,” he says. His future goals are modest, focusing on staying behind the camera and shooting what he loves. Jonathan Brothers’ story is one of passion, perseverance, and personal growth. His journey from a teenager capturing skateboarding moments to an accomplished photographer with successful exhibitions is a testament to his dedication and love for the art. As he continues to explore and capture the forgotten and the abandoned, his work invites viewers to ask questions, evoke emotions, and appreciate the beauty in the overlooked. “I hope people enjoy my photographs and appreciate them,” he says. “I do it for me, but I love when people get a kick out of my photography.”
