Every hour someone commits a hate crime. It could happen on a city street, in an abandoned field, in the frozen food aisle, in the girls’ locker room. It often begins with name-calling, bullying. The voice can become a fist, then a gun or bomb or plane. Hate Kills is a project about that direct line from bigotry to bullying to deadly force. These images show 8 places in America where different equaled dead. (Project funded by Open Society Institute)

- Lynn's Bio
- Lynn's Site
- xenophoto.org

Audio Interview With Lynn Johnson

This is my first audio interview (I am a far cry from a Terry Gross or an Ira Glass). So, feel free to give me some feedback. This is not a formal interview. it was more like Lynn and I were just hanging out and letting the conversation flow.

The beauty of Lynn Johnson is that personality is reflected in her work. Lynn is one of the most passionate, sincere, and humble people I have ever met. This conversation is hopefully a little more insight into her world and the thoughts that go into her shooting.

Below is a guide to the topics we discussed in the interview so if you see something you are especially interested in you can jump closer to that part.

- Serena

Sec.1“people want to tell their stories”
Lynn speaking about why media with integrity is important. She discusses her view on “objectivism” in photojournalism. She says how honesty and trust are vital to getting stories.

Sec.2 “being a photographer, you always feel like an outsider”
Lynn discusses that being an outsider is a part of being a photojournalist. She discusses how her hate project is about wanting to be on the inside, a part of a community.

Sec.3 “great story telling is personal”
Lynn relates to how there is always a part of ourselves and our passions in the stories we tell. Lynn relating to the feeling of hate in a crime. Lynn relating her hate project to being adopted.

Sec.4 “communication is key”
Lynn talks in depth about her hate crime project and experiences evolving from it.

Sec.5 “where does prejudice stem from”
Lynn talks of the environment one grow up in and how it affects our feelings towards violence or love. She brings up an example in her finding her adoptive mother at age 50.

Sec.6 “where the passion for photography began”
Lynn describing the moment when she knew she wanted to do photography and the journey that took her into photojournalism.

Sec.7 “you’ll find a way if work is meaningful”
Lynn talking about what advantages she had in being 5’1 and underestimated. She talks about shooting no matter what, all the time.

Sec.8 “witnessing intimate emotional moments”
Lynn talks about her most rewarding stories and experiences…the fleeting moments.

Sec.9 “personal and professional become one”
Lynn discussing what issues she has come to focus on.

Sec.10 “getting your ego out of the way”
Lynn talking about the effects of her photography and how she works. She speaks about the OSI grant and how it helped with hate crimes project. Last but not least, Lynn talks passionately photographers coming together.