“I owe my love of photography to Nick Johnson. While I had a career in architecture and was taking photography workshops as a side hobby to learn to make better pictures of my children, Nick made me fall in love with the medium and the craft of photography. He made me strive to make the best pictures I could and produce the best prints possible. The pictures of my children became pieces of art! His gentle guidance, his sharp critique, and his enthusiastic encouragement are the reasons I changed my whole career trajectory and became a photographer.”

- Rania Matar

“I first started working with Nick two decades ago. He taught me how to gain control of the technical aspects of photography, and worked with me to understand what I wanted to accomplish with my photos. His teaching style is collaborative, and he always finds great ways to explain ideas and concepts. Working with Nick has greatly improved both my film and digital photography.”

~ Robert Budding

“Nick Johnson doesn't teach photography; he teaches people how to become photographers. There's a very important difference. Not only is he a superb, award-winning photographer, but he is also an extraordinary teacher who takes genuine interest in his students; he will take you from where you are to where you want to be. Some say that Nick has infinite patience, but I think they're wrong, because you don't need patience when you have love. Don't pass up the opportunity to work with this extraordinary photographer, teacher, and human being.”

~ Peter Avilia

“I knew Nick as an instructor at the New England School of Photography, where he taught photography for 27 years. Like many others, I took his Basic and Advanced Darkroom classes many times. Each term, Nick would give a few very clear lectures on exposure and the zone system; the rest was practice. He very quickly got people taking photographs, developing and printing them. Nick would review each student’s prints, and give them quick, insightful feedback on next steps. Nick taught us to see the subtle changes in light and dark and contrast that make a balanced and harmonious black and white image. Quite a few photographers learned how to make beautiful photographs under Nick’s always positive feedback and encouragement. Nick never tried to impose a vision or method on a student. Rather he looked at what the student was trying to do, helped them realize their vision and way of seeing the world. Nick is a great teacher and mentor, always positive, funny and insightful. I can’t think of a better person to work with, if you want to begin or advance your photographic journey.”

~ Richard Vogel

“I am the photographer I am today from the years of tutelage I have received from Nick. With his input, I developed skills with analog photography, darkroom methods and the Zone System, I put together an award-winning black-and- white portfolio, and I even built a darkroom in the basement of my home. Nick's approach is always positive, supportive and instructive, never judgmental. And on top of all of that, he's just a fun person to be around. I am proud to have called him my teacher and now my friend.”

~ Andy Clark

“Nick Johnson has been a teacher, mentor, and friend since I enrolled in classes at the New England School of Photography (NESOP) in 1998. Having studied composition, landscape, and street photography with a 35mm camera, I felt ready to learn the processes of film development and printing images in the darkroom.

A good photographer possesses a unique way of seeing coupled with the technical knowledge required to operate cameras and other equipment. Nick is a gifted teacher and visual artist. His vast knowledge of the many films, cameras, lighting, and other equipment has guided students in selecting the items that will help them realize their artistic goals. Nick's talent for simplifying technical concepts so his students comprehend them is unmatched. He guides his students' development by listening to their interests and artistic visions along with encouragement and constructive feedback. Becoming part of the NESOP community and Nick's student has transformed my life. Working with Nick is a positive, creative journey.”

~ Diane Germano

“Nick Johnson introduced me to large format photography back in 1998 when I was a student at New England School of Photography in Boston. I had only played around with 35mm prior to this and mainly just snapshots. Nick taught me how to slow down and analyze my shot before taking it and how to visualize exactly what I wanted the print to look like before ever exposing the film. This thought process transcends well beyond photography and has helped me with life in general, in learning to slow down and think of the end result before ever acting in anything. One of the best features of Nick’s teaching, which I appreciate, as did other students, is that he never pushes his subject matter or style onto his student’s work. I have had other instructors that would always tell you to change your style to match what they would shoot. Nick wants you to find your own style and teach you how to make it the best that you can.”

~ Mike LaMaster

“My path has crossed Nick's a few times over several years. The most recent found me profoundly stuck in so many aspects of my life, but most importantly, with my art. I scheduled time with Nick and sat in his workshop at the gallery. Two folding chairs facing each other and he seemed to sense my fear. He started to talk, he asked me questions and I answered and then I cried. Nick knew how to coax the pain to the surface. We worked together for several sessions, reviewing my work and talking.

Today, I can say that my work has evolved into something I never expected. Nick also helped me complete two collections of essays and photographs. I can't say enough about Nick Johnson. He is one of a very shortlist of people that had a hand in how I look at art and my work. The evolution I experienced during our time together was the foundation I needed for the next chapter of my work and beyond.”

~ Joy Dwyer

“Nick Johnson helped change my photography. Nick gave me the space to shoot what I wanted to shoot, and helped me see things in my images that I would’ve never seen. One of the most inspiring things about Nick is his vast knowledge of photographers - he introduced me to some of my favorite photographers by drawing parallels between my work and theirs. No matter what your subject matter is, if you are looking for someone to critique your work, Nick is the person you are looking for.”

~ Rob Collins

“Nick Johnson is a phenomenal artist and a gifted teacher. The interaction between light and chemistry is incredibly complex, but Nick is able to explain every aspect of photographic technique with perfect clarity. Students come away with complete creative control. I started studying with Nick because I had a lifelong fascination with analog photography, but no idea where to begin. Under Nick’s guidance, in just a few weeks I was printing photos that are still hanging on my wall. Nick gave me practical skills, artistic inspiration, and endless encouragement. I used to be a photography enthusiast; now, thanks to Nick I consider myself a photographer.”

~ David Elmer