BETWEEN REALITY AND IMAGINATION

Nathan has been a photographer for over twenty-five years, with the last fifteen spent based in Vienna. Specialising in photographing people—whether for editorial assignments or personal work—he has always balanced commissioned projects with his own creative explorations. Developing personal series alongside professional work is a central aim for him, and he is constantly seeking the next exciting project capable of capturing not only his imagination, but that of his audience.

Nathan’s work spans fine art, conceptual projects, and portraiture, including street photography, often carrying a cinematic sensibility rooted in his film background. His images balance careful composition with atmospheric nuance, resulting in photographs that feel both deliberate and alive. There is a quiet interplay between reality and imagination in his work: authentic moments laced with a subtle undercurrent of narrative suggestion, as though each frame could be a still from a larger, unseen story.

What draws you to the arts?

I’m always looking to see how art is used to reach out for the common good and inspire people far further than the art world. Going to exhibitions, theater etc. is something to relax the mind from the day to day work practice, and its always a form of therapy for me.

What did you like best about this photography project?

Why I like portraiture: It is empowering to the subject, it enhances their character and pride showing their self worth, they discover a stronger version of themselves. So that in turn is something that a photographer can give to someone and that feels special to me.

I also like taking the picture in a fictional direction if there are the opportunities. Striking the balance between their reality and my perceived interpretation of them.

Portraiture holds a particular place in Nathan’s creative practice. For him, photographing people is an empowering act—one that can enhance their sense of self, reveal aspects of their character, and spark pride in who they are. “They discover a stronger version of themselves,” he explains, “and that in turn is something a photographer can give to someone. That feels special to me.”

His approach often begins with observing and listening, allowing the person in front of the lens to inhabit their own space with confidence. At times, when the opportunity arises, Nathan enjoys taking the portrait into a more fictional direction—blending the subject’s real identity with his own interpretive vision. This interplay of truth and invention shapes portraits that are as psychologically resonant as they are visually striking

For Nathan, the camera is not only a device for recording appearances—it is a means of connection, empowerment, and storytelling. Whether shaping a scene steeped in atmosphere or distilling the essence of a person into a single frame, he invites viewers to look closer and linger longer, to see beyond the obvious and into the layered narratives that unfold between reality and art.

Nathan’s work stands as a testament to the quiet power of portraiture—not merely as representation, but as transformation. Each image carries the imprint of a shared moment, a dialogue between photographer and subject in which trust and curiosity take centre stage. For Nathan, that process is both a privilege and a pursuit—one that continues to drive his practice as he seeks new faces, new places, and new stories to illuminate.