John Steele

“My camera opened my heart.”

John Steele

“My camera opened my heart.”

My early life revolved around teaching alpine skiing, running western rivers and flying  a Hang Glider.

1997 brought an old vision for me back to life. I decided to pick up a camera once again.

Shortly after, in January 1998, a gift from Mother Nature was presented — my introduction to a Harem of Wild Horses. The significance of this day would not become clear to me for years. I knew nothing about wild horses or the wild herds of the American West, and for that matter, had little knowledge of domesticated horses either. But seeing these creatures in the wild for the first time left me speechless.

In November 2006 another gift was bestowed in the form of a poem written by a Jungian philosopher Sam Keen entitled: The Enemy Maker: How to Make an Enemy. Instantly I knew what I needed to do, return to Vietnam. Seven months later I walked up the Jet Way on a hot and steamy Saigon evening, bringing back emotions of the past front and center. I was there during the war 1968-1970 but not in My Lai.

Then I started the second and the most healing project, returning five times with one more trip to do. I traveled from the China border to the Gulf of Thailand, interviewing survivors from the My Lai massacre while attending the 40th & 50th memorial ceremonies. I have sat with my former enemy drinking home-made rice wine until we giggled like kids. I have been blessed to see what none of us who were there during the war could allow ourselves to see, the Vietnamese people as human beings.

I have had the privilege of photographing many other events, wildlife and people; but none as important as my Wild Horses or the Vietnamese people.

My camera opened my heart, starting a journey that I could have never imagined.

John Steele
John Steele
photograph by Val Stephens