DOCUMENTING LIFE THROUGH THE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY
by Jennifer Recktenwald
As a drawing and painting major at U of L, John Nation '74A "thought photography was cheating." He had never touched a 35mm camera until he joined the Navy and took a self-paced photography course at Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. Nation fell in love with the art form and went to work for Louisville Magazine after returning to his hometown. He's still shooting for that publication 22 years later. His work has also appeared in Travel & Leisure, Runner's World, Jump, Pizza Today, and Country America.

Nation's career has taken him to Africa, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Ireland, Jamaica, and across the United States. He has photographed four presidents and world leaders such as Mikhail Gorbachev.

"What I like about my job is that I get to meet different people and work on a variety of projects that stimulate me," Nation says. "And my work is published every month. That's very gratifying." In addition to the recognition he receives for his photography, Nation is also a 1999 inductee into the U of L Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a Cardinal swimmer.

Photographing Ed Hart, Six Flags-Kentucky Kingdom CEO, was a memorable day for Nation. "I convinced him to meet me at sunrise," he says. Hart reluctantly climbed to the top of Chang, one of the park's popular roller coasters, in an expensive Italian suit. "I'm sitting on the outside rail praying that the shot would work and I wouldn't fall," Nation recalls. "The whole time, Ed was telling me 'you're crazy.'"