Born in Avezzano, Italy
John Petrella began his career in the field of fine arts, at the young age of sixteen. His oil paintings of nature and wildlife not only garnered rave reviews and International success but also won him many awards, including one for outstanding achievements in the visual arts, and in 2006 won him a place in our City Arts and Culture Wall of Fame.
His subsequent move to still photography won him further acclaim, as he became a master in painting with light and colour. His decision to step into the motion picture arena was as inspired, as it was inevitable.
John's imaginative visual palette is now augmented by the further option of playing with time. John’s outstanding work as a Director of Photography has revealed a daring sense of composition, an eye for capturing the perfect camera angle and an unrelenting zeal for pushing the boundaries of convention. His images speak of ability, passion, and dedication to the poetry and artistry of motion picture.
John draws his passion from his childhood love of the outdoors and nature. As a young boy he spent most of his free time up in the mountains near his home in Avezzano Italy and that is what cultivated and fueled his passion for the natural world. “My philosophy as an artist, is to always stay true to the lifelong and unwavering passion for my craft. Hopefully my images, whether on canvas, in print, or on the silver screen, will inspire others to look and see the world in a different light and help preserve our fragile eco-system. I feel very blessed to live in a beautiful place such as Niagara. I’m surrounded with diverse beauty all year round, not to mention one of the world most famous spectacle, Niagara Falls.