Jack St Jack is a photographer who currently lives and works in San Francisco. He was born into poverty in the Appalachian Mountains, but has lived in the Bay Area half of his life. Simply put, photography gives Jack the opportunity to express who he is and who he hopes to be. His photos capture people as they are and as they hope to be.
Each photo Jack takes is a step out of poverty and hopelessness. It is a step to a much better future. With his genuine skill as a photographer, St Jack captures the essence of life in “grit”.
“SF Grit”
San Francisco is a beautiful city with towering buildings, picturesque vistas, diverse culture and people.
However, San Francisco has the other people — the gritty people. This subculture lives in the gritty parts of the city. Not every resident of San Francisco works at a start-up and owns a house in Pacific Heights. You will not see these other people on tourist brochures. They are not beautiful, in a superficial, judgmental sense. You will see these people in St Jack’s photographs. Why?… Because St Jack believes everyone has dignity and deserves a chance, often more of a chance than society is willing to give.
These photographs should be enjoyed because of the beauty of capturing the gritty moments — the day-to-day lives of real people in their particular environment. Appreciating the dignity of the undignified, their humanity, and the power of the image is captured by the skill of a true photographer.