Photo | John Winton

top of page

There’s a saying that goes something like “trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky”. I think of this anytime I capture a silhouette of branches on open sky. I’m incredibly lucky to grow up among the largest of these trees: the California redwood. Upon entering the redwood groves, there is usually a trunk cross-section with labels on different tree rings that show how large the tree was when gunpowder was invented or Jesus was born. While fascinating, I can’t not think about what enabled me to see these rings. A tree that spanned millennia but was cut in minutes. These old redwoods that we can only conjure in our heads would actually dwarf most of the “giant” trees left standing today. The past and current lack of creation care is really a stain on the legacy of humankind, supposedly the stewards of God’s creation. Take care of a plant! A real one!

📍Marin Headlands, California

There’s a saying that goes something like “trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky”. I think of this anytime I capture a silhouette of branches on open sky. I’m incredibly lucky to grow up among the largest of these trees: the California redwood. Upon entering the redwood groves, there is usually a trunk cross-section with labels on different tree rings that show how large the tree was when gunpowder was invented or Jesus was born. While fascinating, I can’t not think about what enabled me to see these rings. A tree that spanned millennia but was cut in minutes. These old redwoods that we can only conjure in our heads would actually dwarf most of the “giant” trees left standing today. The past and current lack of creation care is really a stain on the legacy of humankind, supposedly the stewards of God’s creation. Take care of a plant! A real one!

📍Marin Headlands, California

These photos were captured from two parks in San Francisco (bonus if you can name them). The city of hills creates interesting perspectives that make houses look like they are stacked on top of each other like Legos. I also saw an artist in the park working on a painting. Love to see the creative side of the city still alive and well.

📍 San Francisco, California

These photos were captured from two parks in San Francisco (bonus if you can name them). The city of hills creates interesting perspectives that make houses look like they are stacked on top of each other like Legos. I also saw an artist in the park working on a painting. Love to see the creative side of the city still alive and well.

📍 San Francisco, California

A couple photos I took from the driver’s seat at red lights or stop signs around San Francisco!

📍 San Francisco, California

A couple photos I took from the driver’s seat at red lights or stop signs around San Francisco!

📍 San Francisco, California

📍Livermore, California

📍Livermore, California

California really is quite beautiful in the springtime. Around mid-April, the green grass turns into yellow weeds and some of it burns in the fall fires. Some people say the golden hills are part of the reasoning behind the nickname the Golden State. But maybe I’m just spreading rumors.

📍Livermore, California

California really is quite beautiful in the springtime. Around mid-April, the green grass turns into yellow weeds and some of it burns in the fall fires. Some people say the golden hills are part of the reasoning behind the nickname the Golden State. But maybe I’m just spreading rumors.

📍Livermore, California

📍Lake Tahoe, Nevada

📍Lake Tahoe, Nevada

The last of my film photography for now. My street parking location affords me some great views of downtown. Walking up and down those hills makes me understand the importance of public and accessible transit between neighborhoods and community hubs like grocery stores, pharmacies, and hospitals. Unfortunate to hear that public transit budget is being cut in San Francisco. Regardless of the state of the system (which is still one of the best and most interconnected in the United States), public transit is a service owed by the government to its people. There cannot be good care for the elderly and vulnerable populations without good public transit. Change my mind.

📍San Francisco, California

The last of my film photography for now. My street parking location affords me some great views of downtown. Walking up and down those hills makes me understand the importance of public and accessible transit between neighborhoods and community hubs like grocery stores, pharmacies, and hospitals. Unfortunate to hear that public transit budget is being cut in San Francisco. Regardless of the state of the system (which is still one of the best and most interconnected in the United States), public transit is a service owed by the government to its people. There cannot be good care for the elderly and vulnerable populations without good public transit. Change my mind.

📍San Francisco, California

Sister’s first basement party, with music courtesy of my dad! Some SF nights are for music and others are for watching sunsets.

📍San Francisco, California

Sister’s first basement party, with music courtesy of my dad! Some SF nights are for music and others are for watching sunsets.

📍San Francisco, California

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Click below for reflections. See my full portfolio on Instagram!

John Winton © Copyright 2021 - 2025

bottom of page