John Ulaszek

John started shooting when he was ten years old with a 35mm toy plastic camera he bought from the back of a comic book. He now shoots primarily digitally but does a fair bit of work with a Holga and Leica M3.

John's current project is following and photographing Burlesque performers backstage. A couple years ago he was shooting a local revue at the Arlington Cinema Draft House and noticed Kitty Victorian standing in the corner lit by one of the deco lights. He asked her not to move, and took her photo. When she saw the result, she asked John to shoot her preparing for a Burlesque Show at the Warehouse theater the following week, and he's been shooting backstage ever since. Through his time spent with these performers, he has been able to branch out into working with other skilled characters up and down the East coast, from firebreathers at Coney Island to human blockheads in Baltimore. John is able to use his unique position, where few others are allowed to go, and his talent at making people comfortable in front of his lens to capture the intimate moments of these intriguing people, some leading double lives, some embracing wildly alternative lifestyles, all sharing the same space just out of the limelight.

In 2005, John was the winner of the St. Mary's College of Maryland Governor's Cup Professional Photography Competition. His print resides in their permanent collection. He was also a winner and exhibitor in the 2007 and 2008 DCist Exposed Photography Shows.

John is a contributing editor and photographer for several automotive publications, including GM High Tech Performance, Popular Hot-Rodding, Chevy Hi-Performance, and Super Chevy, and has worked with some of the best in the Hot-Rodding business, such as Johnny Hunkins and Robert McGaffin. He's also done some assignment travel photography, in places such as Petersburg, Alaska.

You can find more of his work at his web site.