BEYOND THE LENS

Award-winning fashion photographer and the man behind style blog Garcon Jon, Jonathan Daniel Pryce, is no stranger to creating a masterful image of a male figure. The cipher, he tells GQ, is finding the stories of his subjects and giving them a canvas

- SAUMYAA VOHRA

What inspired you to become a photographer? Have you been training for it all your life, or did a twist of fate put you on this path?

I have strong memories as a child that circle around photography. My mother was a singer in London in the 1970s, and the photos of her from that time were magnetic to me. In my early teens, I experimented with all kinds of image-making, but it wasn’t until I was 17 that I took it seriously. My university had studios and dark rooms where I got my hands dirty and truly understood the magic of photography.

How would you describe your aesthetic?

As a lot of my work tends to feature male subjects, I like to soften the tone so there’s a contrast. I’m a nostalgic person, which I’m told reflects in my work. I’m drawn to timeless storytelling that leans towards a warm visual.

What are you looking for through your lens?

People are my primary interest. The camera allows people to share life stories and personal lessons in a way that I don’t experience in everyday life. On a fundamental level, I’m just trying to understand humanity more deeply. I’ve always felt like a bit of an outsider and photos help me make sense of the world.