Jānis Miglavs

• Name — Jānis Miglavs • Born — 1948 • Field — Photography • Website — http: www.jmiglavs.com/

Born in 1948 in a displaced persons camp in Germany after his parents fled Latvia, Miglavs learned firsthand the importance of culture and the ripping pain of its loss. Eventually, his family immigrated to the United States, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, then received a master's degree in Fine Arts from California State University at Sacramento. • Illustration — "One of my dreams while in Ethiopia working on the Africa's Undiscovered Myths Project."

His first calling to adventure travel photography came in 1976, during a four-month trip through Japan, northern India, Nepal and Sikkim. In Nepal, Miglavs was one of the first to be allowed into the Muktinath / Mustang area on the border with Tibet. The warm-hearted people, the immense mountainous landscapes and the monks who taught him about Yoga and Tibetan Buddhism expanded his inner vision of the world. Miglavs went on to photograph and write for publications, including National Geographic, Travel & Leisure, Sunset and National Wildlife, traveling through more than 30 countries over 25 years. His commercial clients include Hewlett Packard, Deloitte, 7-Eleven, Sheraton Hotels, Oregon Tourism, PGE and Nikon.

Miglavs is developing and exhibiting the photo documentary Africa’s Undiscovered Myths & Archetypal Dreams. This aims to document the stories of Africa’s most remote indigenous tribes and to create photo illustrations from descriptions by chiefs, shamans, witch doctors and tribal elders. • Illustration — Sunlight breaking through storm clouds over Valley View Winery vineyard and barn in southern Oregon.