CHRISTOPHER STEPHEN JONES

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I was 15 when I stumbled upon a book of photographs in a bookstore at the mall. It featured a stunning collection by Swiss photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, whose images captured people in moments that were uniquely individual yet universally human. Cartier-Bresson described his approach as “The Decisive Moment,” made possible by the use of small, unobtrusive 35mm cameras.

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I shared these photographs with my father, who agreed to buy a camera, provided I paid for the film and development with money I earned while working at a local record store. I set up a tiny darkroom in a corner of our garage and began developing film and making prints. By the time I was a senior in high school, I was contributing to my school annual and the statewide newspaper.

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By the age of 26, I was making a living as a commercial photographer in Raleigh. I moved to Manhattan at 28 and began traveling internationally for magazines and corporations. I've always kept a camera loaded with black-and-white film, constantly seeking images that resonate with me. Today, I continue to travel, enjoying storytelling and creating metaphors through my lens.