The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

by Eric Kim on May 30, 2012

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

Eric’s Note: I met street photographer Justin Wilkes when I was in Sydney – and had followed him on Twitter for a while. I had a closer look at some of his work, and was quite impressed by the diversity of his work and the pure energy and rawness of them. Check out some of his work below! 

Justin: Here’s a bit of history of myself:

Justin Wilkes, 23 years old. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia. Graduated from ANU (Australian National University) in 2010 with majors in Sociology and Political Science.

I don’t like calling myself a street photographer. It seems a bit limiting. A victim of the ‘democratic snapshot aesthetic’ I never know what will or wont get my attention next. The camera lets me explore the unknown for the sake of seeing what it looks like in a photo. A silent observer in the organised chaos of life; sometimes a figment of something deeper emerges out of this chaos and that is where I try to be.

Work by Justin Wilkes

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

1x1.trans The Organized Chaos of Life: Street photography by Justin Wilkes in Sydney

Follow Justin

I have a photo exhibited as part of Head On photography festival in sydney as part of the Australian Street Photography group exhibition in May* And attending the David Alan Harvey Workshop at Bondi in May also.

Gear: Leica M9-P (Black), Leica M6 TTL (black), Leica Summicron 35mm, Leica Elmarit 28mm, Panasonic GF-1, Nikonos V, Iphone 4. (Mostly use the Leicas but still use all of these regularly).

Which of Justin’s images speak to you the most? Leave your thoughts in the comments below! 
  • Pax Rock

    Is this what passes for street photography now? Each one of these shots is garbage.

    • Old fool

      Thanks God. I’m not the only one to think so.

    • Verdoux

      Yes, this is also street photography. Deal with it.

      • Guest

        Doesn’t mean it that it can’t as well be garbage…

    • http://erickimphotography.com/blog Eric Kim

      When you say garbage- what do you mean specifically?

  • Luke

    These are seriously bad. Drunken shots you expect to find on facebook from someones mobile after new years eve

    • Old fool

      Mind you – The photographer has attended a David Alan Harvey workshop !!!!!

  • Zach

    What one speaks to me? All of them. They are telling me, that all my normal photos on facebook, are great street photography pieces.

  • Tobias W.

    A solid hater crowd. Impressive.

    • http://www.awardsareforlosers.com/ Nathan Amedee

      “When you make something no one hates, no one loves it.” – Tibor Kalman

  • Phillip

    Two or three are cool. The rest, suck. I`m so glad people think the same.

  • http://kaushalpar.wordpress.com/ Kaushal Parikh

    Wow some pretty harsh comments.  There are definitely a few good images here.  The first image with all the bent arms, the kids in the playground, the last two images, the lady with the red shoes near the red car, and i even like the batman image, the lady on the bench (somehow the photogs shadow does not work though), and the old couple shading their eyes.

  • James

    I love the reaction to this work. Do I like some of these photos? Yes. Do I hate some of them? Yes. That’s how I felt when I saw a lot of the work that has gone onto become some of my favorite stuff. I hope Justin keeps going and finding his voice. I think he has the potential for some amazing stuff.

    My favorite thing about the comments on this blog is that most of them come from a place of extreme jealousy. It feels like kids angry at the world because nobody has recognized their genius so they come hear to scream into the void. I say get angry, but go take it out on the world with your camera ;-)

  • http://www.steveniphoto.wordpress.com/ steveniphoto

    there are some solid shots here.. everyone is so fucking negative its such a bummer. if you’re gonna bash the guy at least give him some constructive criticism so he can learn.

  • Mattei Batruch

    I really enjoy some of those pictures. Keep up the good work. I relate to your artistic endeavour, and understand how challenging (but oh so enjoyable) it is to “make art” from the most common mean, i.e. the snapshot. It is truly elevating the mundane ( what’s more common than party pics?) . Don’t listen to the Doisneau loving haters, and keep doing what you enjoy

    matteib

  • Robwillams1986

    Pax Rock, Old Fool, Phillip, post your own work. Or shut the fuck up. So the shots aren’t all great, there’s some party photos, they’re still capturing life as the photographer sees it. Does everyone have to copy HCB if they want to shoot people?
    While whoever shot these is out enjoying himself you’re sitting on Eric Kim’s website posting anonymous comments probably to boost your own ego.
    Need a kick to the head, faggots.

    • Robwilliams1986

       Simply jealous that it’s not you featured, as you tug your dicks to Erics videos.

    • GUEST

      The day one can’t critique anything is the day one lives in a totalitarian state.

      Deal with people not agreeing with you and voicing their opinion; just as you’re doing by the way and anonymously might I add…. Oh the ironyPlus, I’m sure the photographer is old enough to be able to defend himself just fine with people like you trying to help their case.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Larkin-McIntyre/100000214080915 Larkin McIntyre

    I guess I like Justin’s style because it reminds me slightly of my own{witch others have also described as crap}  Number 9 is a great shot. But really all the haters bashing on this guy should provide links to their work !

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