Born and raised in Chicago, John Simmons came of age at the height of the politically charged, artistically fluent 1960s. With a prolific career as both a still photographer and cinematographer, Simmons draws inspiration from current events, as well as political and social narratives. Through his recent collage works, he unites visuals of turmoil and tenderness, isolation and interconnectedness, despair and joy, to unveil striking pockets of hope.
After studying fine art at Fisk University, Simmons received his M.A. in Cinematography from the University of Southern California. He is a member of both the American Society of Cinematographers and the Board of Governors of the Television Academy. As a Director of Photography, Simmons is an advocate of increased diversity on set and has worked with wide number of renowned musical artists and acclaimed directors such as Spike Lee and Debbie Allen. His photographs are held in the collections of the Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA; Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, MA; High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX; Center for Creative Photography, Tuscon, AZ; American Society of Cinematographers, Los Angeles, CA, and the David C. Driskell Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.