John Botte is a former NYPD second-grade detective and lifelong photographer, whose work has appeared in exhibitions internationally. Born in New York to Italian parents, he spent part of his youth growing up in Italy on his grandfather’s vineyard. Photography found Botte at the age of eight, when his uncle gave him a 110 camera that had come free with two packs of cigarettes. At age twelve, he was taken under the wing of a master black-and-white, fine-art printer, who mentored him and exposed him to the works of photographers such as Slim Aarons, Lisl Steiner, and Barbara Morgan.

Since his teens, Botte has spent his free time photographing concerts and bands. Known for his distinctive black-and-white style, he was hired by Rolling Stone magazine to photograph Bruce Springsteen, Van Halen, AC/DC, and Steve Miller, among others.

Botte is best known for his work documenting the aftermath of September 11, 2001, at the site of the World Trade Center in Manhattan. His position as a first responder and experienced detective gave him the access that allowed him to capture the iconic and profound images of a pivotal moment in history. Botte spent countless hours at Ground Zero, photographing and witnessing firsthand the heroic, behind-the-scenes rescue and recovery efforts.

He is the author of Aftermath: Unseen 9/11 Photos by a New York City Cop (Harper Collins), John Botte: The 9/11 Photographs, 10th Anniversary Exhibition Folio (Morrison Gallery), and One Woman (Glitterati Editions).

Botte lives in Seattle, Washington.