Catherine Just

One of my favorite photo sessions in Paris. The oh so talented photographer @carlfehres and his beautiful daughter Amelia. I travel from Los Angeles with my 4x5 camera (aka: Pretty Girl), and all the supplies to create a makeshift traveling darkroom. I use Direct Positive paper and Caffenol developer. Caffenol is made of coffee grounds, washing suds and Vitamin C. Less toxic and give a nice warm tone to the prints. . @maltman36 introduced me to Carl’s beautiful photographic work a few months back. Neil is known as The Man to go to when you want masterful photographic prints. People fly in from around the globe to work with him at @iconla . Carl is one of them. . I was lucky enough to meet Carl and photograph him and his daughter right before I left Paris and right at the end of the photo exhibition I was in with @altavistaarts . A magical sliver of time that aligned. . If you look closely you can see Amelia dancing next to me as I develop the images. And I loved introducing her to the 4x5 camera as we both got under my treasured blue mud cloth given to me by @drpattygm . Amelia used the magnifying loop to look at the image of her dad upside down and backwards. That aspect of large format photography is still a trip. Every single time. . It’s all a giant learning curve as I make the switch from @new55film to another process altogether. A big thank you to @jeffkobermeditation for going through the entire process with me before I got on the plane to Mallorca to photograph @gordonstuder and @cathryn.lynea and Paris to photograph @carlfehres . I tend to always say that when I look through the lens of my camera I see a version of “God”/ source/ universe/ whatever you want to call it…. Looking back at me. It takes my breath away. Photographing Carl and his daughter was no exception. . Capturing the light that is the truth that radiates out of a human being. It’s always so moving. . #largeformat #4x5film #caffenol #filmisnotdead #catherinejust #neilbloomquist #carlfehres #paris #france #travelingdarkroom #portraiture #lovehowthelighthitsyoursoul #lovewins

Capturing Breath on Film. . I’m capturing the breath, the heartbeat, the dreams wishes and desires of the planet. . One piece of 4x5 film and my 4x5 large format camera. Sacred space for you to sit with yourself and be with the truth of who you are… which has ZERO to do with how you look, your make up, your hair. I’m talking about what lives in between the words and underneath the surface. . This isn’t your typical photo session. . It’s the marking of a moment that matters. Anchoring back into your intentions for yourself and your life. It’s a plugging back into the YOU that maybe you’ve forgotten about in the stress and overwhelm of the daily grind of life. . It’s an opportunity. . It’s an invitation. . It’s a way to reclaim the YES inside yourself for who it is you truly are and the life you’re ready to live. . Some come to me during sobriety dates or birthdays. Some do these sessions during a letting go process. Some mark moments during hard transitions. Others just want to write a list of gratitude toward themselves, fold it up, put it in their pocket and have a photo taken that reminds them of the love they declared to themselves that no one else needs to know about. . Here’s YOUR invitation to deepen your experience of yourself… come and release what no longer serves you and move more fully into the you that’s ready to be more on purpose. More authentic. More right aligned. . Come to my enchanted home in Laurel Canyon ( Los Angeles ) this January, or to any of the other destinations this project is headed this year. Or.. let’s design something in your favorite place in the world. . This is for individuals and I do capturing breath workshops. Click the link in my profile to learn more and secure a spot. . As an artist and spiritual guide I help support you through a process of waking up. Becoming inspired by the mere act of living fully. Sinking into yourself so you can do your great work in the world. . I’m looking so forward to connecting with you! . Let’s do this! . #capturingbreathonfilm

My photograph on the cover of @natgeo National Geographic, twice. National Geographic Czech Republic and Croatia. . I didn’t plan to be a fine art photographer who changes how people see themselves. I just kept following what was true. And then National Geographic Magazine called me asking if they could pay me to use this image on the cover for a story about where love comes from. The lesson for me is to allow my work to be seen so the people who need its medicine can experience it. aka: make the work, don’t hide. Sacred Sessions open → link in bio ✨ Break the spell of perceived not enoughness. . #nationalgeographic #catherinejust #sacredsessions #fineartphotography #portraitphotography

Hey join us at booth J14, Photo London. Artist talks – Friday at 5 PM Book signing – Saturday at 1 PM @loriapond @ericakellymartin @cjust @richardschow /event/booth-event-book-signing-lori-pond/ #3CGallery #PhotoLondon #MixMedia #AlternativePhotography

Day 2 • @photolondonfair • Thursday, May 14th. Today my friends Rich and Jemilah took a train for 2 hours to see me. How touching is that. Rich was celebrating 15 years of sobriety so we started the festivities inside the Photo London restaurant with charcuterie and finished it off with carrot cake… yes that might sound like an odd combo… but it was soooo goood. Nothing like eating delicious food with friends you love to celebrate life with. 🎉. . Speaking of….I started this lovely day sharing Turkish eggs with @sal.taylorkydd at @letocaffe.official in Soho. The company and the food were both delish! ❤️ . I bounced between @altavistaarts and @3c_gallery and sauntering between the two we hung out with @devinyalkin at @evinartgallery who has such beautiful work. We’ve (@sal.taylorkydd @ericakellymartin and myself) enjoyed getting to know him a little bit. Bonus.. he lives in LA and has a deeply moving book that I really want to own, but don’t want to add to my luggage… and so we get to meet again for… you guessed it… food and a book delivery to both myself and @ericakellymartin . . Only 3 days left! Looking forward to seeing @tessagarlandartist @roseykate @xatherine and spending more time really taking in all of the art here. . I reposted a story tonight of an art critic saying that Photo London is so much better than ever. She called it a mini @parisphotofair and that the caliber of work is just incredible. I agree. More soon xx . photo of me with my work by @sal.taylorkydd ❤️❤️❤️

Day 1 • Photo London @photolondonfair • Wednesday, May 13th • Preview Day for VIP Press, Curators, Gallerists, Collectors, and Industry people from all over the world. . It was so much fun spending time meeting new people and taking about my new work and seeing all of the other Galleries here and what their booths looked like now that all of the work was up. . And making new friends and spending time reunited with my talented friends also exhibiting at the fair. . @hightree19 @shariyantra @sarahhadleystudio @ericakellymartin @loriapond @richardschow @dawnwatson.photo @pamelatakiffphotography @sal.taylorkydd @nicolaslaborie @jpmasclet @edward_rollitt @altavistaarts @3c_gallery There’s a Photo Booth you can take full body photos so we jumped at the chance to do that. And some of us literally jumped. . More soon. xo

We are Live at @photolondonfair ! Lots of visitors, we are at Booth J14. Unique and amazing work from: @ericakellymartin @cjust @loriapond @richardschow #PhotoLondon #AlternativePhotography #3CGallery #Photography

Installing my work at Photo London today. One of the most emotional parts of this experience is that I’m exhibiting in the same fair as the Starn Twins. @dmstarn Anyone who knows me well understands what that means to me. I’ve been inspired by their work since 1989, back when I was newly sober, in art school, and trying to find my way through life by making images. And now somehow, decades later, this is happening!? Honestly, it feels like being inside a dream. • What’s interesting is that the questions I wrestle with now are different than they used to be. I don’t question whether I belong in these spaces anymore. I know I do. But I think deeply now about refinement. About becoming better. More honest. More precise. More masterful in the work. How do I continue evolving instead of calcifying? Because there’s always another edge. Most artists make their work alone. But some of the greatest growth in my own work has come from having people around me who can see what I cannot see yet. People who challenge me. Push me further. Help me refine what’s already there. I’m deeply grateful for the people who have helped me continue growing instead of staying trapped inside my own blind spots. . It’s exciting to see 12 new pieces up in Photo London. 6 have never been shown before. And to be in exhibition with @3c_gallery along with @ericakellymartin @loriapond and @richardschow . And seeing friends showing at @altavistaarts and Fabrik Galleries, and @cyrusartist is exhibiting down the hall from us… and so many more humans that deepen my experience of being on the planet and being an artist. . Tomorrow: VIP day. The Press, Curators, Gallerists, Collectors, and industry people from all over the world. . Looking forward to sharing more with you as we go! . #photolondon #3cgallery #catherinejust #photograms #mixedmedia

Happy Mother’s Day to ME!!! Here’s a handful of photos out of order, but I don’t think you’ll mind. How’d I get so lucky that Max picked me to be his mama. He teaches me how to love and live life with a wide open heart, love for all, curiosity for .. everything. And so so so much more of course. He’s currently with his dad and his step mom (pictured in this pile of photos) while I’m in an uber heading to the airport on my way to London for @photolondonfair . He called earlier to tell me Happy Mother’s Day. That guy is the BESSSST! . Some photos of my dad and my mom with Max (my dad passed away in 2019) and some photos of Max well… you can see. how bout that belly on me right before he was born! . Happy Mother’s Day! . #ilovemax

I fly to London on Sunday for @photolondonfair . I’ve been sick since Tuesday and today was the first day I could handle the prep. Picked up the final 6 pieces from @luiscustomframing and went to @la_centerofphoto to pick up the piece with the real butterfly pinned to it. Excited to meet up with @ericakellymartin @loriapond and @richardschow who will already be there when I arrive. We’re all exhibiting together with @3c_gallery and we’re all staying together in a big beautiful Airbnb. Looking forward to seeing all of my friends who are showing with @altavistaarts and @fabrikprojectsgallery . I was invited to show with all three galleries in London (!!) and initially said yes to all of them. But work has been slow so I had to get real. Grateful to be showing with @3c_gallery ! It’s going to be so much fun. And I’m delighted to find out that @cyrusartist has a booth near us with a group of talented folks as well. . @nigelstefani was spotted in the wild by @ericakellymartin and I cannot wait to see him again! Love that we met and stayed in touch. Go check out his art and follow him. He’s incredibly talented. . Counting the days until I see @nicolaslaborie , @richfile_ Jemilah and Kate! And I made a new friend through @natalia_benson ’s membership (it’s life changing by the way) that I get to meet in person soon. . Ok back to packing up the art, the 4x5 camera, the film, the Polaroid camera and the rest of it! . #photolondon #catherinejust #3cgallery #photograms #luiscustomframing

“Nagual” from the series “TORN” will be on view @photolondonfair May 14-17 with preview day on May 13. Exhibiting with @3c_gallery in the Discovery section Booth J14 with @richardschow @ericakellymartin @loriapond . . The series TORN explores the rupture and transformation of identity, revealing that through breaking inherited beliefs, a deeper and enduring truth emerges. TORN is informed by a five-year personal apprenticeship with don Miguel Ruiz, @donmiguelruiz author of The Four Agreements. The work draws from a dreaming practice that dissolves the agreements that bind us, functioning as a physical totem and reminder that we are not our limiting beliefs. . Breaking the addiction to our own stories of who we think we are is painful, but the expansion available to us is real personal freedom. . In Toltec wisdom, the nagual is the unknowable, formless aspect of reality. Pure energy and consciousness, the infinite field beyond words and form. It’s the counterpart to the tonal, which is everything we can name, see, and measure. It’s also the part of you beyond your story and conditioning, your essence. In other words … you are (we are all) Neo, and have been this entire time.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ . This is a unique one of a kind print / object 8x10” Photogram on @ilfordphoto warm toned matt paper silver gelatin print. No reproductions or editions are made. 1/1 . DM for inquiries. #photolondon #catherinejust #3cgallery #photogram #toltec

When I look at this piece I hear “American Dreaming” by Dead Can Dance @dcdofficial . My favorite song of theirs. The sound, the guitar, his voice. The opening lyrics live in my body. “I need my conscience to keep watch over me. To protect me from myself. So I can wear honesty like a crown on my head, when I walk into the promised land.” — Brendan Perry The butterfly at the top of my head as a crown. Wings transparent enough to see my hair and the edge of my face through them. Wearing what’s inside outside. Values worn like a crown. My own consciousness keeping watch over me, protecting me from myself. Can the whole lyric be the title? Or is there a seed here for something that’s mine? This is what I’m working on today. Titling the 6 newest pieces of the 10-12 I’ll be showing at Photo London @photolondonfair with @3c_gallery . Many artists keep a tidy portfolio on IG. Titles. Sizes. Professional. I find it boring. Show me the insides. Show me the conversation happening while you make the work. Show me your internal and external process. And of course…the “correct” way to use this platform is whatever’s correct for you. Unless you’re hiding because a part of you doesn’t feel safe being seen. Soothe that part. When you feel safe inside yourself, you stop chasing validation. You make and share because you ache to. The rest sorts itself out. Not easy. It’s a life long practice. Worth it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ . This is an 8x10” photogram, self@portrait made with 4x5 camera and Polaroid Type55 film. And a butterfly. @ilfordphoto warm toned fiber based paper. Torn and mended.. just like our process of living… rupture, healing, contraction, expansion, suffering, transformation… repeat. . Getting framed tomorrow at @luiscustomframing without glass so the viewer can have more of a connection to this piece. Do we really need more things that separate us from connection?