Jérôme Gence

"When I discover a great story, I get a strong gut feeling about it," says documentary photographer and Canon Ambassador Jérôme Gence. "When my body does that, it means I know it's something I want to talk about in my images."

Jérôme experiences this visceral feeling when working on stories focusing on the impact of the internet and new technologies on people's lives. His enthusiasm and dedication have been rewarded with success. During the past four years, Jérôme's images have featured in magazines including Le Figaro, Stern, Le Monde and on National Geographic's website, and in 2020 he won the Pierre & Alexandra Boulat Award for documentary work with a social purpose.

However, the turning point in his life came in 2013 when, inspired by a BBC documentary about Darjeeling in West Bengal, India, Jérôme began a long overland journey from Paris to the Himalayas via several countries. He took a Canon EOS 5D Mark II (now succeeded by the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV) to document the journey.

His high-quality images from the trip were subsequently exhibited at Atelier Yann Arthus-Bertrand, an art gallery in Paris, in 2016. Jérôme also got to know the French photographer Éric Valli, who advised him to find his own specialist area and explore it through documentary stories.

Inspired by the suggestion, he chose a subject he already knew well. "As a data analyst, I observed how the internet was changing society and the ways companies can make people addicted to the services they provide," Jérôme says. "I realised nobody in photography was dedicated to this topic, although there are so many things to say about it. I started to look for stories in that direction, and I found photography gave me a voice to explain what's behind these new technologies."

Since then, Jérôme has produced long-term projects on a range of internet-related subjects, mostly based in Asia. They include Livestreamers: Geishas of the Internet, a series examining the lives of young women who broadcast themselves online. Another is Virtual Singers: I Love a Hologram, which looks at the phenomenon of Japanese computer-created digital divas such as Hatsune Miku.

Jérôme's current project, Telework, documents the ongoing transformation of lives through home working and what it means for individuals and society as a whole. To shoot this project, he recently started using the Canon EOS R5. "It's an incredible camera – in terms of specifications, it's just crazy," he says. "It's a great tool."

Jérôme's work today is still driven by the sense of curiosity he developed as a child. "I haven't yet found the answers to all my questions," he says. "I think the reason I keep telling stories is that I'm always trying to find explanations for myself, as well as showcasing topics that are important to others."

You didn't study photography at school or university. How did you teach yourself?
"I loved to read photography magazines and books and learnt a lot from them. When I bought my Canon EOS 5D Mark II, I read the manual and found out all I needed to take pictures. For me, photography is not about which exposure mode you use; it's about what you want to show. That's what matters the most."

How do you persuade people to be photographed?
"I simply introduce myself and the people I work with, then explain the reason we would like to know more about them. I also share my previous work with them. It's really important to explain your project and to reply to their questions. It's all about trust. People feel touched that you're ready to dedicate months to cover a part of their story."

How often do you meet your subjects?
"I like to meet my subjects many times and I become really obsessed with the people I photograph. I could travel thousands of kilometres just to document something that is happening in their life. I like to follow and discover everything about them. I may have a camera with me all the time, but that doesn't mean I use it all the time. You get to know when it's the right time to use it – and when it isn't."

What do you like about shooting long-term projects?
"For me, long-term projects are the quest to understand everything I'm running away from: an ultra-connected world, driven by social media and immediacy, where everything tends to be the same. When I'm doing these stories, I isolate myself from my own world so I can dive inside the topic and cover all aspects. It's very important for me to make sure that my photos, and the story, reflect the lives of the people I'm photographing as much as possible."

"Editors are often sent documentary stories on the same subjects, so if you want your work to be published, it's important to choose original topics to photograph. However, it's not just about the theme you choose, but how you photograph it. You have to try new angles, new perspectives, new ways of storytelling."

Website: www.jeromegence.com