Inside the World of Hip Hop's Top Photographer | HYPEBEAST Diaries: GUNNER STAHL

Atlanta-born Jonathan Simmons, widely known as Gunner Stahl, was working at a Dick’s Sporting Goods three years ago. Now the 27-year-old photographer is a phenom in the industry, widely-recognized for his raw portraits of famous rappers including the late icons Nipsey Hussle, Mac Miller, and Juice Wrld.
Stahl recently compiled an intimate selection of captures for his new book titled Portraits: I have So Much to Tell You. The book features archival images alongside recent, spur-of-the-moment snaps of Lil Yachty, The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, Gunna and more. To celebrate the publication, the artist teamed up with Red Bull Music Festival Atlanta to launch a solo exhibition on November 1 featuring large-scale displays of the portraits in his new book.
For our latest episode of HYPEBEAST Diaries, we caught up with Stahl in his Atlanta studio to discover the man behind the viewfinder, his obsession with anime (preferably Gundam Wing), and his thoughts on whether or not print medium is dead.

[@adelrare5555]

my guy talks in lowercase

[@TarekMarzouki]

haahahaha

[@OnixMint]

Prod.Aplus 😂

[@user-ub8uc8gq7r]

Using his “indoor” voice lol

[@issrdn_4l]

😂😂

[@cris0312]

This comment underrated as fuck😭

[@AsiatiqueMedia]

When he is putting the cologne on, it looks like MuchDank is editing this and rewinding the clip over and over

[@shashankshekhar3791]

Makes sense

[@ProfessorFatMan]

And not a single question regarding his art was asked. What camera he likes to use, him growing up, how many bottles of cologne he goes through a day.... smh

[@OfficialWEIRD]

Only T.I asked the right questions

[@mezzaocho]

and that’s why i even clicked

[@mezatron]

And his answer was weak af

[@David-lt9jw]

Looks like Portra 400 and mamiya 7

[@OneWayFlash]

The guy is so reserved he probs didn’t want to answer a lot of questions. I think that’s why he was just showing all the stuff about his childhood rather than talk about it

[@Prezzihoe]

Keep doing these hypebeast diaries it’s beautiful

[@j.blu2]

skepta’s plug 3000 and make them longer

[@ethank6654]

Put way too much cologne on, smelling like a headache

[@shamir5509]

nigga sprayed his whole body like 10 times

[@Havellion]

that’s his sense of humour

[@shamir5509]

Havellion nah he just don’t know how to put on cologne

[@Havellion]

Shamir nah he addressed it on his ig, it’s just a funny bit, you really think the editors are gonna show him spraying cologne for 20 seconds just casually followed up with a joke about cologne delivered by him??? use brain

[@shamir5509]

@@Havellion What joke? It's common for celebrities to not say what cologne they wear and what did he say about it on ig

[@SafariPhaladi]

Y'all sure they didn't repeat the cologne scene like 5times by mistake💀

[@upularFTW]

"I was big into anime" *shows eminem figurine*

[@DjAp6]

boy jenus neutronoid blame the editor

[@raya3539]

Lmfao

[@carlosadanmendezgarcia3618]

Eminem anime confirmed

[@flickmybic7174]

T.I. lookin like his pops

[@-Tetsuo-]

devontodetroit nigga 💀💀💀💀

[@prankster23456]

Could have been a bit more in depth, would have loved to hear more about him and his process but appreciate the clean content👊🏽🙏🏽

[@kosithebuilder5206]

He shoots with a point and shoot. So his process is point and shoot.

[@user-ob9zo9cr4c]

find your process

[@DonnieGQX]

@@kosithebuilder5206 That alone is crazy. It forces you to be in the moment with a point and shoot.

[@AyechinoProd]

@devontodetroit you sound mad upset..

[@jamskaterpete]

He didn’t even mention his cologne.. you think this guy is going to say anything about his process? I think not

[@peternthite4968]

I watched this 3 year ago and it changed my life, still is today

[@manasez2548]

this would be jaden smith if he wasn't born into wealth

[@bakarimcdonald3758]

yea but he is still successful

[@zionsmith8338]

ON GODDDDD

[@zodwazungu9391]

Ironically he piped Jaden Smith's girl

[@zionsmith8338]

@@zodwazungu9391 lmao who? and how u know this?

[@legarconquiment1069]

Zion Smith that news is oldddddd as fuck and it was Sarah Snyder niggas been known.

[@JosebaMartin]

03:32 when u aint got time to have a shower but u have to smell good

[@dionewarbitch9271]

T.I. was like damn this youngsta got on so much cologne😂😂

[@vonvex]

He really mostly just documents hip hop. His photos aren’t exactly difficult technically. The difficulty is getting in the room with artists and gaining trust. So big props for that

[@Lovecore802]

devontodetroit bro u gay

[@vonvex]

devontodetroit you got problems man

[@user-eb2nk3en2y]

Stunna 4 Vegas be living two different lives

[@latenights6131]

Fuck You The correct word is “lives” in this instance. “Life’s” is used as a contraction for “life is.”

[@mikemidas5546]

lmaooooooooo

[@lungelo9023]

Yooooo😂😂

[@marcomoreno900]

😭😭

[@lilchrisscope]

lmfao i work at Dicks Sporting Goods i’m tryna imagine Gunner asking a customer if they have a score rewards account with us

[@ExecuteOrder420]

I wanna see this guy do a behind the scenes shoot video or stories behind the photo. Love how this guy views photography.

[@CheMalik]

Glad I was able to be apart of this!

[@ItsMoat]

thats so f-ing dope, it sucks how under-appreciate they are

[@AndyS52]

did he really just put that much cologne on?

[@garkmebauersanzug7129]

Oh boy, maybe next time first one on the vid - dope🙏🤞

[@afraidofdrowning]

his style is amazing

[@thatflysniper]

Look at Gunner man, so inspirational.

[@2hoodofficial190]

“Dreams into reality” Chase it ‼️

[@blasph3my1]

dude is humble and knows his value/work ethic.

[@SNCL488]

How did he get introduced to all these rappers and how did he became so popular is what I wanna know

[@izackpaz]

fr

[@utueraoduba3515]

go watch his other interviews

[@SNCL488]

utuera oduba in his other interviews it’s the same tbh there isn’t really an explanation how it came about

[@camjetspeed]

Metro boomin is his big brother

[@SNCL488]

camjetspeed ah I see, it’s generally a who you know kind of profession like Travis Scott’s photographer already knew artists too

[@vowelist]

4:14 ethan iverson in the back filmin, can’t wait for dat videoo

[@marcomoreno900]

Looks like Joey bada$$ never showed up😂😂

[@TheMrNut]

This dude 27?? Dude deadass looks and sounds like 19

[@ozvendingcompany]

This was definitely inspirational im a photographer and to imagine my shit being like that one day is 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jknox7903]

6:34 when he does that quick look at the camera lol!!! 😂

[@IAmDamiani]

Just goes to show, it’s who you know not what you know.

[@charlespryce5691]

Bruh does not need that many sprays lol

[@5518sw]

The Man Behind Many Faces.

[@channel6ixty]

gunner really broke out the endless waltz vhs GOT DAMN

[@Prezzihoe]

Oh yuh this niggas goin crazy much love to gunner

[@lezvisuals9646]

Not cocky so chill fucks with this dude

[@jibrankabani4774]

real question is how he got access

[@ReturnOfEmmanuel]

God bro

[@sonygoup]

Also he's probably the reason. Why I started shooting film. Watched a video about him like 3 years back and bought myself a Pentax k100 from then go now I'm still shooting film

[@leftify]

Whoever said print is dead must be out of their mind

[@user-ub8uc8gq7r]

Dude seems super humble!

[@Ballisticone]

Nothing but the snapshot of celebrities with his high-end point and shoot in auto mode.

[@BlackTrunksPodcast]

True but it’s 🔥

[@namcox40]

bro used the whole bottle of cologne lol

[@dangarcia5798]

This is pretty dope keep this comin.

[@ThePlaceForThings]

beautiful. absolutely beautiful

[@MrJkev23]

Student of the game I mess with dude 💯🌹 inspiring

[@paolocolin7710]

this is my favorite video ever.

[@TheJimenez14.]

blessed to know him man he’s a good human being one of my biggest motivations as a creative myself. proud of u bro bro ⭐️

[@joehasberryjr7398]

Keep hustling hard and smart really I'm proud of u truly young black man straight positive vibes Birmingham Alabama home with the Civil Rights movie 205 in and check chasing Pisces Joe junior 205 villain Joe junior

[@Tclash2k]

devontodetroit 😂😂😂😂😂Bro started rambling & giving shoutouts and shit

[@raya3539]

devontodetroit yo I can’t breathe😂😂😂😂😂💀💀💀💀

[@appartement2046]

Such a baby face. His work is dope

[@beholific]

Keep mashin bruh, good job

[@theprojectionist1]

"You lost it for me...." "You lost it for yourself...." My man repping that 90's Mighty Ducks Flavour

[@whothisis]

So proud of Gunner fr 💞🌎💞

[@junito1008]

3:34 The moment He decided to go out clubbing without talking a shower !! 😅

[@carterbliss8109]

I love you Gunner thank for inspiring me daily

[@ashton1991]

3 years ago he worked at a dept store. Thats some Inspiration.

[@Jayseuth]

Oh my this guy is amazing

[@zavulon00]

That boi hitting the joint @4:35 😂😂😂😂😂

[@kevyslatt]

fam gunner is so cool

[@champagnemanziel]

Chase yo dreams kids

[@pjfromthepjs7360]

I’m proud of Gunner I remember his from the pilot music /two9 days

[@JoshClarkson13]

These videos are beautiful

[@CaseyHardman]

Yo PLEASE follow up with this dude! I'd love to see a more in-depth part 2!

[@AldemargK]

Lmao they wrote The Weeknd as The Weekend in the description 😭come On

[@jonxstroud2250]

when are you guys going to do antsoulo interview? should be on you guys to do list for 2020 for sure.

[@abdulnasserlawi7619]

Music title please

[@AetherCS2]

Feeling very inspired

[@solodolo7230]

Shout gunner mon!

[@geraldwachira6007]

Damn near sprayed the whole bottle

[@jaetok]

Just being himself. Moving the culture.

[@Masahico]

So glad gunner winning

[@missmeyon]

@3:33 OMG! Just looking at that makes my head hurt!🤦🏾‍♀️

[@TySoloMusic1]

When he pulled out his DVD collection and I saw rush hour i was like nigga that aint your childhood. Then he said he was 27! lool

[@NichosSilvera]

I just peeped I think thats Chris Skylark in there too lmfaooo

[@chiap3ts444]

shit is inspiring as fuck, if you want something bad enough you will get it! rmeber thT y’all .

[@joeletaxi1709]

What are those old cameras!? Really love the grainy vintage look

[@Moss04101]

Cool photos and stuff but like who does he main in melee?

[@DontaeCatlett]

Contax price just went all the way up

[@jarrodjob]

“He’s fancy, he will go glove side” -Julie the Cat Gafney // !stahl Mighty Ducks

[@CC-jw8cj]

inspiring ❤

[@qTnationX]

Anyone know the make of his jacket? Thankss

[@SkateLegMartin]

What kind of camera do you guys use to film this?

[@HVNVISUALS]

Hahaha as soon as I heard them button tapping I knew smash was gwanning.

[@47dee]

fire

[@ki6eki]

So dope seeing young cats keeping film photography alive

[@jayrueda2358]

Definitely inspires me to do big things with my photography. Much love gunner +

[@niqszn]

My search for wlr continues

[@DejaxCiara]

My biggest inspo! 🖤 I'm making it to one of his exhibits one day.. or maybe he'll make it to mine 😅

[@lordkuso2710]

Someone send this to bam. It'd probably cheer dude up

[@derekreedderekforshort9064]

Kevin f^ckin Wong produced this joint! That dude is DEFINITELY every rappers photographer also!!!

[@genjimccorkle5518]

27 my ass. More like 17. But more power to him for finding his passion at a young age. Most people around that age dont have a clue where they are going.

[@nayeemahmed775]

Can anyone tell me what jacket he is wearing on this video. Really like that.

[@nowaccki]

My guy rly looks like a young Jeff Mills

[@treefallleaves6711]

1:30 He: Pokémon Subtitles: pokey mother

[@icyshots]

Motivation

[@FarFresh812]

Dope af

[@rominaamador224]

he low key seems like jaden smith

[@santiagoperez480]

He stole his girl

[@Lovecore802]

devontodetroit u big salty

[@MM-zt4oe]

Bruh mentioned Ti. Moments late having a whole convo with him

[@mabeast502]

I love it I’m out here chasing mine!

[@JM-gf7ti]

mans sounds exactly like 6lack when he talk lol