James Carbone's life is a study of cultures that's expressed through his passion for photography. Bilingual, the son of a Mexican mother and Italian father who was a portrait photographer, Carbone was born in Los Angeles. From an early age, Carbone read through the books of great photographers: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Mary Ellen Mark. "Seeing all those great images started my obsession with photography," Carbone says.

For over fifteen years Carbone studied under Mary Ellen Mark, a world-renown documentary photographer. James Carbone's specialty is shooting digital and black and white film, using classic documentary photography skills. His work is characterized by human touch. With his intimate and interactive style, Carbone generates personal and heartwarming images of people in their natural environment. Since 2000, in Oaxaca, Mexico, he has documented the day-to-day life of the Lopez family, pepenadores (literally "sorters") who struggle to survive by scavenging plastic bottles in a garbage dump. He recently worked in New York City at the New York Art Institute in DUMBO Brooklyn with photographer Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb designing his new book, called Familia Lopez.

Working as a photojournalist in Los Angeles offers me the creative freedom and flexibility to capture compelling stories and moments. With over 20 years of experience in the newspaper industry, I bring a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling to every assignment. Navigating the diverse landscapes and communities of Los Angeles allows me to document the heartbeat of this vibrant city through my lens, creating powerful and impactful visual narratives.