Daniel Jack Lyons

Daniel Jack Lyons is a passionate campaigner, social anthropologist, and researcher based in Los Angeles, whose profound life experiences inform his compelling and politically charged photography. With a rich background in medical anthropology, Lyons has engaged in numerous international community-based research projects, focusing primarily on marginalized youth in society's fringes and conflict zones. His photographic work embodies a participatory and ethnographic approach, reflecting his belief that meaningful connections precede the act of capturing images. “I spend a significant amount of time with individuals before I even reach for my camera,” he shares, emphasizing the importance of understanding the stories and struggles of those he portrays. Lyons has turned his lens on a range of critical subjects, including the LGBTQ community in Mozambique through his project "Hotel Luso," the plight of displaced youth in Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict, and the lives of indigenous peoples in the in "Like A River." He describes these experiences as profoundly humbling, stating, “Learning a person's background, daily life, struggles, accomplishments, and familial stories, and then being invited to collaborate and be accepted as a friend—it’s an honor I cherish.” In addition to his photographic endeavors, Lyons contributes regularly to esteemed publications such as The New York Times, More Or Less, and Vogue Italia, further amplifying the voices of those often left unheard.