He holds a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri. Before working on staff at the Concord Monitor in 2010, John was a staff photographer at the Midland Daily News in Midland, Michigan from 2008-2010. In 2006 he completed photo-intensive coursework at the Danish School of Media and Journalism in Århus, Denmark. He grew up around the country but calls Virginia and the Northeast home. He is a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal among others. When not making photos, he is a snowboard instructor during the winter and surfs during the summer.