Post by WOTP tour photographer Johann Ramos-Arteaga, who we’d known for a while as JAR (theworkofjar). Since we all often credit him here as Jar, I thought I’d share this, he prefers to be called his real name going forward!
Dear Diary,
When I created ‘The Work of Jar’ at 19, I had no idea how far it would take me. My big imagination helped me travel to over 30 countries, work with artists I admired, and create content that connected with millions. But last year, I went through some scary personal challenges that put everything into perspective. During that time, people would check in on me—some calling me Jar, others calling me Johann—and I realized how disconnected I felt from the “Jar” persona. It started to feel awkward, like I wasn’t being fully honest with myself or the people around me.
For years, I kept my personal life and my professional identity separate, partly because I had this narrative in my head that people in the industry didn’t have the best intentions. But the truth is, I’ve met so many incredible people—artists, roadies, managers—who not only value what I do but also see me as a human being. That realization has made me want to bridge the gap between who I am and how I present myself.
For those who know me personally, I’ve always been Johann Ramos-Arteaga—or Johnny, to my close friends (they know who they are). That’s who I’m moving forward as.
I also know I sort of jumped into the AI space out of nowhere, and it might have been confusing for some people. So I want to tie this loose end up before there’s any misunderstanding. Working with AI has been incredibly inspiring. It’s given me the same excitement I felt when I first started shooting concerts—coming home and diving straight into editing because I couldn’t wait to post the best shot. These tools allow me to create music visuals and videos faster and more efficiently than ever, but the magic is still in the vision and direction behind them.
Anyway, just tying up loose ends and stepping into this next chapter with more clarity and alignment.
TL;DR: I’m letting go of “Jar” and moving forward as Johann Ramos-Arteaga (or Johnny, to close friends). I’m still creating, focusing on music visuals and videos with AI. Onwards.
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