A photographer, designer, and musician, Jason Travis is creative across the board. While versatile in his abilities, photography plays a significant role in his life, and in the winter of 2007, Jason embarked on a personal project aptly named Persona. What began as an experiment has now grown into a series containing over 300 unique diptychs. By photographing an individual and the items he or she carries with them, Jason reveals a portion of their identity. Things normally kept private in the folds of a bag are made spectacle, giving insight into each person’s style, interests & personality. “Everyone that lets me take their photograph lets me share a slice of their life. Learning about my subjects through glimpses at their daily essentials gives me a direct line into their lives. Accompanied by conversation, I always get a unique story as well.”  

From the beginning, Jason found the series to be a great segue in connecting with people. “Catching up with old friends and meeting new ones became a part of the enjoyment. I've always been willing to photograph anyone who I find compelling, and I generally approach people on the spot, whether it is someone I know or a stranger. I've photographed people for Persona all over the US, as well as a few in Europe and Central America.”