John Free was a social documentary/street photographer who lived in Los Angeles. His photographic essays ranged from railroad tramps in California to street life in Los Angeles, New York, Paris and London and around he world. His other bodies of work included automobile abstacts and still lifes.

John inspired photographers of all ages and skill levels for many years through teaching sold-out classes and workshops that carried on the tradition, values and discipline of “street Photography”: full frame, candid and available light. Part stand-up and part evangelist, he spoke from the heart to inspire new generations of photographers through his workshops, YouTube videos and his blog. He was also involved with several non-profit organizations teaching inner-city kids the excitement and power they could get from being photographers.

John’s work was featured in numerous publications from U.S. News and World Report and Newsweek to Photographic Magazine, Smithsonian and The Sun. He was among the international photojournalists selected to take part in the project that resulted the the book “24 Hours in the Life of Los Angeles.”

In 2021 his book “End of the Line: Railroad Tramps of the Los Angeles Freight Yards” was published. This book is now sold out but his son, Scott Free, is now completing his second book which he was working on when he passed in 2024.