Award-winning photographer joSon was born in the Philippines to a Filipino mother and an African American father. Sent to live with his mother’s family in Vietnam at age ten, he was educated in a Buddhist temple in preparation for becoming a monk. “I thought that was my calling long before I saw life through the viewfinder,” joSon recollects. “But the truth is, I have never left the monk-hood. I just left the temple.” Today, joSon is a fine art photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area.  His work explores and questions our relationship with the space around us and how we impact the world of nature.As Sunset Magazine described joSon’s first monograph, 'joSon: Intimate Portraits of Nature,' from Graphis Press,  "Had Richard Avedon taken up gardening, he might have ended up with photos like this.”  

His work has appeared in magazines including Scientific American. Geo, Outside, Conde Nast Traveler, Vogue and The United Nations. He as won awards from Photo District News (PDN), Communication Arts, and American Photography (AI-AP).joSon’s work can be found on Instagram, @joSonphoto and his website josonstudio.com 

Professional roles: Photographer

Location: United States