Jeff Dunas on lessons from 50 years behind the lens at Xposure

In his talk, ‘A Journey Through Decades of Photography,’ Dunas delved into the stories behind his iconic images, his passion for capturing the human experience, and the lessons he has learned from a lifetime behind the lens, offering a glimpse into his creative process.

“Photography isn’t about finding a style, it’s about taking the pictures you want to take,” Dunas said. “When you focus on what drives you, your style will naturally emerge.”

Beginning with his teenage years in Los Angeles, Dunas recounted his early passion for rock n’ roll photography and the serendipitous encounter with radio legend Wolfman Jack, which launched his career. “I met Wolfman Jack when I was 16 years old. He liked me, and I was already a photographer, so he let me take pictures of him,” Dunas recalled. This early break set the course for a career that would see him photographing some of the biggest names in music, including Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and blues legend B.B. King.

But it was the milestone publication of the book Captured Women at age 29 that solidified his standing in the industry. Yet, Dunas emphasised his evolution beyond fashion and celebrity photography. “I realised I didn’t just want to photograph… not really. I wanted to understand people, to consider the connections between their stories and my own experiences.”

Icons, blues and American Life
​Among the highlights of his talk was Dunas’ deeply personal project, State of the Blues, a tribute to legendary musicians like BB King and John Lee Hooker. His session also featured anecdotes from American Pictures, a reflective exploration of small-town America that marked his return from years living in Europe and took him across the US capturing the nuances of American life. “Each image was like stepping back into a composite memory of the ’50s or ’60s. I travelled the country photographing America, wanting to take the archives of these pictures into the next century.”

​One of the hallmarks of Dunas’ work is his ability to capture people in their most honest moments. “I love getting the in-between moments. One of the best things about photography that makes me so happy is finding out when I have gotten those in-between moments and I tell myself little stories about them,” Dunas explained as he explored his street photography work captured in Paris, New York, and Los Angeles.