Meet John Celeste | Photographer & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Celeste and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
The American West has always captivated me. When we were younger, my brother and I would spend countless hours watching John Wayne films and playing Cowboys & Indians. As I got older, however, I developed a passion for reading books and watching movies about outlaws like Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Jesse James, Buffalo Bill, Wyatt Earp, and of course the Gun Fight at the OK Corral.

My mind would run wild, and I would often daydream about travelling to the places I had read so much about and been in awe of on the big screen. I had no idea back then that my passion for the American West, travel, and photography would serve as the cornerstones of my company Cactus & Lime, which sells prints of those very locations.

Being in the desert makes me feel alive. The landscape, solitude, and beauty of the desert are something I crave. Although usually alone, I am actually happiest and most content there. I’m passionate about capturing moments that only I can see and then sharing them through my photography with others so they may get a glimpse of that fleeting moment and share it with me, even though they weren’t there.

The road trips I take to photograph mid-century modern buildings, palm trees, and brilliant blue skies in Palm Springs, the energy of the ancient Joshua Trees in the Mojave Desert, or the majestic Saguaro cactus, a universal symbol of the American west, are what I consider to be the ultimate expressions of freedom, happiness, and fulfilment.

What thrills me, motivates me to look forward to the next road trip, and ultimately brings me happiness in life is having the opportunity for others to appreciate my photography through Cactus & Lime.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I fell in love with photography on those initial travels. When things became tough, capturing a moment in time that I could look back on after the trip kept me going. And it was those initial photos that sparked comments and inquiries asking if I had ever considered selling my artwork, which got me to thinking.

It didn’t take long for the excitement, eagerness, and anticipation to grow. As the owner & creative director of a web design & marketing agency, I was able to create the branding, logo, and website pretty quickly. I wanted to create something thrilling and truly unique that would appeal to others who shared my desire for a dusty road, a vast expanse of blue sky, and an open horizon.

Cactus and Lime was founded in 2018. Even though, looking back, it seems as though everything magically clicked into place, there were some difficulties and learning curves along the road. I had to pick up a lot of knowledge really quickly to make sure the prints I sold were of the highest quality, I had to learn about aspect ratios, print sizes, and download formats. But I did learn, and I was so excited to share the photography from my road trips that nothing seemed difficult or laborious.

Today, I offer prints for sale on both Etsy and my own website, www.cactusandlime.com. I’ve lived the experience, taken the photo, and made the memories so I can share it with you.

I’m hoping that Cactus and Lime has a successful future ahead and that the prints I sell continue to bring people as much joy as they do for me. I’d like to continue travelling and photographing in the Wild West, fulfilling a childhood fantasy. My dream…to see a Cactus and Lime print proudly displayed in restaurant or hotel lobby!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’d start in LA, soaking up some culture at The Broad or LACMA, lunch at Cafe Gratitude in Venice, and maybe catch sunset at El Matador Beach before heading east. But our real adventure would begin in Palm Springs, where we’d rent a mid-century modern house, swim under palm trees, and shoot some classic architecture in the early morning light. We’d visit ‘Forever Marylin’ and grab a mocha freeze at Koffi North & sit in the beautiful garden out back, marvel at the windmillls and eat at Chef Tanya’s. We’d grab a nightcap at the Thompson or maybe some nachos & a margarita at The Saguaro.

Next stop: Joshua Tree. We’d base ourselves in a cozy desert cabin or a vintage Airstream, hike through boulder-strewn trails in the National Park, and stargaze like we’re on another planet. Then on to Yucca Valley to do a little shopping and then for a totally unique experience, visiting the Mojave Mini Donkey’s in Morongo Valley, which is pure joy and somehow fits perfectly with the desert’s charm.

We’d wrap the week in Pioneertown, maybe catch a show at Pappy & Harriet’s, meet some desert characters, and grab a few last golden-hour shots of tumbleweed streets and raw desert beauty.

This isn’t just a road trip, it’s a slow ride through landscapes that feel like they belong in another lifetime. We’d meet old souls, misfits, artists, wanderers. The desert has a way of attracting people who are searching for something, and it often gives you more than you expected.

And if my best friend took a photo they were proud of? I’d tell them to print it. Frame it. That’s what Cactus & Lime is all about, capturing a moment that whispers something only you could hear, and then sharing that feeling with someone else.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My story has been influenced by many people, books, road trips and experiences along the way, however my number one supporter is my wife, Kerry. She is always there by my side on our adventures. She encourages me, pushes me forward and I am the person I am today because of her.

Additionally, I’d want to acknowledge Edward Abbey, one of my favourite writers. I was really influenced by his book Desert Solitaire, which added fuel to my desert fire. It stoked my desire to explore the American West and search for adventure.

And lastly our very good friends Anne & Eddie McGuinness were inspirational to me as they pioneered across the Mid-West on holidays, coming back rich with stories, experiences and memories that I wanted to claim as my own.

Website: https://www.cactusandlime.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cactusandlime/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cactusandlime/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cactusandlime/

Image Credits
All Credits to John Celeste – Cactus & Lime