Jonathan Levin
Director. Photographer. Guitarist. Artist. Consultant. Teacher. Half baked comedian. Pretty nice guy.
A few years ago on a chilly March afternoon, I was born.
I come from a family of creative thinkers. My father, and first artistic influence, was a serious photographer when he wasn't selling insurance policies. Growing up, art and music was my sanctuary. I am especially fond of the human figure.
Academically, I was every teacher's nightmare. I sucked at everything. And according to at least one of my grade school report cards, I used the bathroom much more often than the other kids. In keeping with the Levin tradition, there was never going to be a sports star in my family. Ever.
Photography and music soothed the pain. I found that I was really good at those two things. I attended one of the last Ansel Adams Photography Workshops in Yosemite National Park. Ansel saved me from falling into some fast-moving water. How demeaning it would have been to be the first workshop attendee to be shipped home in a coffin.
I recieved my BFA at Rhode Island School of Design. My major was photography, but I spent much of my time working in film and editing. I even began to love lithography and drawing with the amazing encouragement of friends and very open-minded and very patient professors. Art and music were everywhere. And not commercial shit. Art by real fine artists. We were all going to starve to death!
Around 1980, I opened my own studio in Chicago. And that is my resume for the next 42 years! I have to thank my mentors along my journey: Richard Olderman, Kevin Dole, Walter Raczynski and Budd Shehab. And a few very inspirational friends. And especially my wife Pam. Thank you so much for lending an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, and a smile for all my bad jokes and comments as well as sharing my success.
My paid assignment work has been primarily in advertising and marketing. For the most part, pharmaceutical, hospital and healthcare. Most of my paid work now has been for colleges and universities. Working off of grant money, I put together educational and instructional videos. samples of this work can be seen on this site.
Please get in touch with me if you have an idea, and a little (or a lot) of dough.