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3. ‘JML NYC 02-23’: Exploring Humanity Through the Lens of Joseph Michael Lopez

At his recent book signing, JML NYC 02-23, at the Grand Palais in Paris, part of the Paris Photo event, photographer Joseph Michael Lopez shared with This Is Beirut the depth and philosophy behind his life’s work.

The images of photographer JML, who recently signed his book JML NYC 02-23 at the Grand Palais in Paris during the Paris Photo exhibition, capture the timeless essence of human connections, filling empty spaces with meaning and seizing fleeting beauty. With his Leica, Joseph Michael Lopez frames moments that evoke memories and inspire the imagination, bringing photographs to life with a language that transcends words. Laden with emotional resonance, his work speaks in universal terms, bridging the internal and external in a way that both dissects and celebrates life.

For Joseph Michael Lopez, photography is an intensely personal, emotionally charged expression. Reflecting on his artistic process, he explains, “Photography is my real language, the one I could trust. With photography, I found clarity and a way to communicate. It’s the intersection of what’s inside me and the world outside; the camera becomes my mediator.” His art is, at its core, an ongoing dialogue between his internal world and his experiences. Describing his approach, he elaborates, “I’m imposing a frame, pointing, questioning, celebrating, or responding to my life. Through 25 years of commitment, photography has made me a better person.”

Joseph Michael Lopez’s journey into photography was gradual yet inevitable. But how did he get started? “It all started as an obsession. In film school, I realized that to communicate through film, I first needed a technical mastery of the camera to understand the language of a frame.” He dedicated two years to studying sound recording, the mechanics of motion picture, and especially the art of framing. This passion for capturing images soon led him to photograph his own life, capturing his brother through his Lens. His breakthrough came when he became an assistant to a well-known photographer in New York, and he started absorbing the city’s visual culture while expanding his own artistic horizons.

In describing his approach to photography, Joseph Michael Lopez views it as both self-expression and a reflection of the world, shaped by his intentions and the moment itself. He explains, “Photography is like a theater. It’s an impulse, an obsession, sometimes a coping mechanism, even a form of psychoanalysis. It can be a mirror reflecting myself, or a window looking out into the world.” His work draws inspiration from many sources; “life, beauty, movement, kindness, empathy, children, parents, families.” His new book reflects these themes, capturing street portraits, urban life, and the mysterious traces left by human intervention. “The book itself is a gesture that says, ‘I was here. I cared. I loved, I lost, I learned.’ It’s up to the viewer to take something from that and discover themselves in the process.”

Joseph Michael Lopez’s visual language has a cinematic quality, influenced by his early studies in film and his years as a photographic assistant. His Leica camera, which has accompanied him for decades, is now integral to his process. “I give myself restrictions with imagination and consistency, becoming one with one tool,” he explains. “If you play the harmonica for a long time, you’re in sync with it, and it becomes part of you.” By committing to this one instrument, he allows his creativity to thrive within defined boundaries, producing images that are both spontaneous and carefully crafted.

One of the photographer’s foundational images, taken in 2002, is of a young man blowing smoke towards his friend. It captures a moment of poetic intimacy that has come to define his style. “I didn’t know then that it would become one of my significant works,” he recalls. This ability to find the extraordinary in the everyday defines his approach, building a body of work that celebrates subtlety and emotional depth. Joseph Michael Lopez also emphasizes that his work doesn’t set out to advocate for any specific causes. Instead, his focus lies in observing and documenting humanity as it exists. “I have no grand agenda like saving the children or climate change. I’m tired of politics, yet I’m also politicized by my upbringing in New York,” he explains.

For him, photography is sometimes about “stealing moments” and, at other times, “building trust” with his subjects and then “directing”. His work is enriched by social research on themes like justice and women’s reproductive health, adding layers of meaning that go beyond the surface. In his recently published book, JML NYC 02-23, Joseph Michael Lopez explores diverse themes, from candid portraits to images that evoke unseen stories, nestled within urban structures. His aim is to leave a mark, to ignite curiosity, and perhaps inspire others to explore themselves. When asked if he had to capture the one and only picture of his life instantly, he looked at the woman sitting quietly beside him and said, “This woman. My wife, the beautiful Simona.”