In Between Moments with Jeffery Jones
Self Portrait series - Photography by: Jeffery Jones
“I’m in love with the in-between moments. As long as I'm challenging myself every time, taking risks that’s what makes me feel excited to be behind the camera.”
One piece of advice you may hear often is to “live in the moment.” To be present is a difficult task for most. It’s something we recognize when we see it, but seldom practice. NY-based photographer, Jeffery Jones, thrives on this. He delicately pieces together fragments of time that create a story and a personality that conveys romance and indifference, movement and stillness, and intention and inadvertence all at the same time. His observations are thoughtful. He leads with serendipity. But above all, he reminds you that when stripped of all vices, and left with a wandering mind, you have finally found yourself living in the moment.
When was the first time you picked up a camera?
1996-1997
What subject matter do you find most interesting to shoot?
Nature
Much of your photography appears to be spur of the moment, which feels very natural. What is your approach to composing a shot?
My approach to composing a picture is instinctual. I see the picture and how it should be composed naturally. But the pictures that I am after are the ones that I have no control over. I’m in love with the in-between moments. As long as I'm challenging myself every time, taking risks that’s what makes me feel excited to be behind the camera. A lot of artists always say something similar to this, "that you just know it when it feels right." I used to think that but then I found it to not be true for myself. Sometimes when it feels right, the outcome is a good picture but then again we see so much photography, art and that I feel like that picture that feels right can be a bit contrived. So those pictures aren't good enough anymore. I had to learn everything about photography, absorb all of that information only to forget about it. For me to be happy with my work.
How did you get your start in fashion and editorial photography? You have a long list of accomplished work in notable publications including Fondation LOUIS VUITTON, i-D, VOGUE UK, and VOGUE Italia.
I got my start about a year after graduating from Art Center College of Design in California. My first focus was painting before switching to over to photography. After school, I assisted a lot of photographers, both big names and new people just beginning to make an impact. A year later I got my first commissioned editorial fashion story for Surface magazine. At that time the magazine was sought after. Every year they put out an issue completely dedicated to finding the next best photographers. It was such a huge thing for me. The shoot went well and its actually something that will be included as part of my permanent work. Those pictures are crucial to my life, and very much the way I shoot now.
Soon after, I moved to NYC and, like everyone, you romanticize the life you could have and endless possibilities, but it was a difficult time being here. I spent a decade after moving here trying to hustle and survive. I think somewhere in all of this I got lost and had no idea what I was doing. I took off for a few years and surfed and documented my friends. It was important in that it brought back my confidence and excitement for photography and delving into what really matters to me. Since then I put my head down and have become very pro-active in showing my work, developing it even further with a less is more approach.
“When I look at other photographer's work that can hold my attention, I am both living in their moment and fascinated with everything that happened around the creation of the image.”
So much has changed across the globe as a result of the pandemic. With your work mainly focusing on the "romanticism of social ideas around American culture," how do you see this shaping your work?
I think that my work has changed since the pandemic. I am more open to the idea of realism in photography. I don’t think everything needs to be romanticized and a part of me feels like romanticism just happens naturally. If you are present in the moment and you connect with that subject that’s in front of your lens don’t you think for just a brief second that you’ve just created a world where time stands still. When I look at other photographer's work that can hold my attention, I am both living in their moment and fascinated with everything that happened around the creation of the image. Therefore I am and we are romanticizing the photograph. We do this naturally.
We loved your most recent series of work titled "self-portrait", which you mentioned is a "romanticized version of my life during quarantine." Tell us about the story behind these photos and what made you decide to document it?
Originally I thought about taking pictures upstate somewhere and just getting out of the city but I was drawn to the idea of our life living together for the first time since quarantine. There were highs and lows. I remember one day I woke up and laid in the chair for an entire day just like Michi (model) did in one of the photos. I don't even remember my fiancé and I talking much that day. It was the peak of the virus for New York City. It was such a sad day. You could hear ambulances every few minutes up and down the streets. The idea of that sounds depressing I know but I loved the idea of laying in that chair and doing nothing but think. When I did the photo with Michi, I added light to the image but I also wanted to include a direct light, as a feeling of hope. Similar in the way old masters would create their paintings. Anyway, there were a few sad days like that but then there were these amazing days in contrast to that experience where we would feed birds from our window. Those days were magical and I felt connected to these moments. When the weather started getting nice out, we started spending a lot of time in Tompkins Square Park. I was taking pictures, birding, and hanging out there feeding the animals there. I wanted the Self- Portrait shoot to reflect that experience.
NAME 4 SONGS YOU'RE LISTENING TO AT THE MOMENT.
What was the concept behind the ad campaign for KOCHÉ PW18 BOOK? We are particularly interested in how you realized that styling a coat on a trash can could look so good.
The Concept for the KOCHÉ book was also about New York City. I felt like I wasn’t finished with the project just yet. To add to it, we had very little time to create the images on models. I remembered some pictures that I took with my iPhone that I thought they could be interesting to redo. In this situation, I asked the designer if it would be possible to come by the showroom to take clothes with me to photograph on their own. At first, I don’t think they were into the idea but I kinda begged them a little and finally, they agreed.
So, I took the clothes in a suitcase and hung them up on the street in a similar manner, so that they appeared to be for sale. There were periods where people walked by completely ignore them and myself. Then, someone would stop and ask me the price of a pair of pants hanging. I pretended for a moment like they were for sale and asked the customer if the liked them or even commented that they would look amazing in them. I even asked if they would like to try it on. They would ask me who is the designer was and then after a few minutes of conversation I would explain that they weren’t for sale but I was just taking pictures of them. It was funny, the whole interaction of it. It brings back such good memories.
What are some of your favorite creative sources for inspiration?
This is difficult to answer actually. I don't know if there is a go-to source of inspiration for me. I would answer that it's a bit of everything. Like most people finding certain music, art, and imagery. For me, it's about reconsidering moments in real life that I have experienced and incorporating those ideas into my work.
Pigeons - how about them?
Wow, my first interview where I am asked about pigeons. I find them to be fascinating and very intelligent. You won't see that if you don't pay attention, so it takes a little effort but what you will find that these birds are quite special. Some of the most brilliant people like Darwin, breed, and studied their genetics. Picasso, and Matisse both used them as subjects for their art but also had them as pets. From fancy breeds to the pigeon eating crumbs at your feet, they can be traced all the way back to the same original DNA as the rock pigeon which descends from Europe to North Africa and east into Asia.
What's something you've learned or discovered through your photos?
That I always have something more to learn.