John J McCann received a B.A. degree in Biology from Harvard University in 1964. He worked in, and later managed, the Vision Research Laboratory at Polaroid from 1961 to 1996. He currently consults and continues to do research on color. He has studied human color vision, digital image processing, large format instant photography, and the reproduction of fine art. His 130 publications have studied Retinex theory, color from rod/cone interactions at low light levels, appearance and intraocular scatter, and HDR imaging.

He is a Fellow of IS&T and OSA. He received the SID Certificate of Commendation and is the IS&T/OSA 2003 Edwin H. Land Medalist, and IS&T 2005 Honorary Member. He is past President of IS&T and the Artists Foundation, Boston. He served as Secretary of the Inter-Society Color Council, the USA Member body of AIC. In 2012 he and A. Rizzi published the Wiley/ IS&T book, The Art and Science of HDR Imaging.