After studying photography at the Antonelli Institute of Art and Photography in 1987, John immediately discovered the possibilities of creating art within fashion but he eventually found a better and more natural fit for through storytelling. Though he avoids being typecast as a photojournalist, his work stills tells the story whether it’s in a single image created during a fashion shoot or a published photo essay.
His travels in Iceland starting in 2001 placed him in an area of photography he rarely explored, the landscape. He found the traditional approach unrealistic given his travel habits so he made the best of each opportunity he found. Whether the skies were thick with clouds or bright and welcoming, John made his way through Iceland over a period of several years and captured what he experienced.
As described in The Philadelphia Inquirer’s review of a 2007 exhibition, “Welsh seems to be working in the area between documentary photography and art.” So far his Icelandic images have been exhibited in Pennsylvania, North Dakota, New Jersey and Ontario, Canada. They also have been gifted to the Embassy of Iceland in Washington, D.C.
His latest & long term projects document the fate of the Huber Breaker, the last of its kind located in Ashley, PA and exploring the Delaware River in its entirety.
Welsh has also taught photography privately and through the Wayne Art Center as well as an honors program workshops in photography at Villanova University. He currently serves as president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers.