During the dark ages of cannabis prohibition, finding a photograph of your favorite plant was no easy task. This was especially true before the internet, when the only way to see a picture of cannabis was to settle for a stack of bricked-up weed confiscated by the police. However, pioneers in the cannabis photography field, such as High Times and first-generation cultivation writers like Ed Rosenthal and Jorge Cervantes, paved the way for the art form.
But as legalization spreads, cannabis photography has become a crowded field. In order to focus on some of the emerging trends and reflect on the rapid evolution of cannabis culture, we have decided to profile four of today’s leading cannabis photographers. Each has their own unique approach, but all produce striking images that showcase the beauty of the cannabis plant and contribute to the growing acceptance of cannabis in society.
Kristen Angelo, also known as @apotfarmersdaughter, is a native of Washington state’s Vashon Island and proudly refers to herself as the “daughter of a pot farmer.” Growing up in a world of small-scale home-growers and secretive guerrilla patches, Angelo’s world was shattered when her family became victims of the drug war in the late 1990s. Now, she sees her photography as an act of defiance against the drug war, aiming to document cannabis and the humanity behind it in an honest and insightful way. Her work has been featured in various media outlets and even in the bestselling book “The Cannabis Grow Bible.” In 2016, her photos were included in an exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California, the first major museum exhibition in the U.S. focused on cannabis.
Through her unique eye for documentary-style photography, Angelo hopes to dismantle preconceived notions and mainstream stereotypes surrounding cannabis culture. Her photos capture the authenticity of her subjects and showcase the beauty of the plant, ultimately contributing to the growing acceptance and understanding of cannabis in society.
