Up and coming photographer Claire McIntyre debuts her new body of work on Nataal. The Ravensbourne University graduate has shot a series of portraits of young London men that seeks to go beyond the often misunderstood surface. “As a female photographer exploring the notion of masculinity, I wanted to portray it with sensitivity, and contrary to the macho stereotypes society dictates," she says. "By documenting young men in their personal comfort zones, often their bedrooms, this series seeks to connect with their souls in a soft and gentle way, giving up, for just an instant, the need to conform.”

Starting off with her friends, and then finding subjects via social media and dating apps, the project took her across the capital to meet with several men a week. Inspired by the work of Wolfgang Tillmans, Stefan Ruiz, Pieter Hugo and Nan Goldin, her images have a raw quality and use only ambient light to get up close to her subjects. “By infringing on their personal spaces, their vulnerability translates as inner strength because they have handed over the power of self representation to me,” she says. “This is remarkable, especially in today's first world where representation and the constant seeking of external approval is omnipresent.”

The end result is a collaboration with McIntyre giving every participant his own print, and exhibiting the full series at the Free Range graduate show at Old Truman Brewery this month. “Documenting the male in his universe, a relaxed state, where he owes nothing to anyone, where he can be himself to the fullest, has allowed trust and creativity to flourish.”

Free Range is at Old Truman Brewery, London from 28 June to 2 July, 2018

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Published on 20/06/2018