PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENT JAMES JENKINSON DISCUSSES HIS CREATIVE JOURNEY THROUGHOUT 2020
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO TO PEOPLE YOU'VE JUST MET?
I’m still trying to figure that one out. I guess I would say that I’m a Freelance Photographer who is studying a Bachelor of Arts (Photography) at RMIT. I enjoy Shooting, Skateboarding, Travel, Lifestyle and Photo Documentary.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
To be honest not a whole lot. I’ve decided to defer uni for the semester as I found it to be a bit of a waste of time and money if I’m not able to be on campus to access all the facilities. However, I have spent some time focusing on self initiated projects. This included trawling through my archives to gather material for a book I hope to self publish soon, as well as I was doing a bit of printing a few weeks back that has now been put on hold.
I’ve wanted to use this time of self-isolation to be as productive as possible, so I’ve also been working on marketing myself a little better for future jobs. Mainly by developing my website and presence on social media.
WHAT ARE THE BEST PLACES YOU FIND INSPIRATION?
Being at uni with other like-minded photographers has been super beneficial over the last two years. It’s an environment where I can bounce ideas off other students as well as teachers who are incredibly helpful and inspiring. Another avenue whereby I find inspiration is through Skateboarding. Just going into the city, skating around, meeting up with people has always helped me with my creative flow and process.
Also traveling to new places both within Australia and Internationally has generated some of my favourite work.
HOW HAS LOCKDOWN 2.0 BEEN TREATING YOU AND HOW HAS YOUR CREATIVE JOURNEY BEEN THROUGHOUT THE HURDLES OF 2020?
2.0 has been okay so far. I’m very lucky to still be working at my main part time job, which has kept me quite busy and given me a schedule. I’ve also just moved out in the last two weeks with my two best mates so that has made it a hell of a lot easier to be able to hang with them every day. I hope moving to a whole new area will generate some inspiration for some new projects. Whereas being at home it was quite easy to get stuck in a rut of doing nothing and letting time get away from me.
My creative journey has been bit of a rollercoaster this year I’d say. I did first semester, but only two subjects. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to shoot at Melbourne Fashion Festival before everything was closed. I had never really shot Fashion in that environment before so it was some great experience.
After being confined to my own home, it forced me to think outside of the box and test my creative inhibition. For my Fashion Photography subject, I looked into doing a collaboration with my sister who is studying Fashion. I shot this project using Polaroids, which was super fun as I had never experimented with that medium before.
For my second subject I devised a series with Inside Voices, which essentially is a series documenting the workshop and environment. I devised some of my own lighting techniques to create a unique sequence of images.
WHAT'S SOMETHING YOU ARE SUPER PROUD OF THAT YOU'VE MADE?
Last year at uni we partnered up with the Tote, which is one of Collingwood’s most famous pubs. When up and running, it has a large array of artists performing every day. I was lucky enough, along with four others in my class, to have access to the pub every day and night, to go where ever we wanted. That was a really awesome experience. We got to see and photograph some super crazy gigs like Amil and the Sniffers, which was an entirely eye opening performance. After countless visits to the pub we created this unique book which I was really grateful to have had the opportunity to be apart of.
HOW HAVE YOU DEVELOPED YOUR CREATIVE CONFIDENCE?
I think by getting more and more opportunities, it has really helped develop my confidence and understanding of what certain people expect from me. I’ve only been shooting for a few years and I’ve done quite a few freelance projects, and would love to do a hell of a lot more, but with each one I did, it really helped me grow and gain confidence.
Also feedback is a big confidence booster for me. Theres nothing more relieving than to hear someone really appreciate my photos. That’s why university is awesome to be apart of, as I would constantly have to present my work in progress, which would help immensely with the development of my work.
WHO DO YOU DAYDREAM ABOUT WORKING WITH?
Ahh there’s so many. One of skateboarding’s most respected photographers, Jake Darwen, has shot some super inspiring work for me. Just to even go skating with him and talk about his beginnings in New Zealand to then becoming one of skateboardings most prolific photographers would be a dream.
However, the late great Rennie Ellis is my all time favourite photographer. His work literally defines the ‘decisive moment’. I often reflect through his books dreaming of being in Melbourne during the 70s, as it seemed like such a cool time.
HAVE YOU GOT ANYTHING EXCITING COMING UP?
A few weeks ago I had the idea of turning some of my photos into prints on a tote bag. I’ve done a couple of test prints and I was really pleased on how they turned out, so i’m super excited to get a bunch of those underway when things re open. Overall, I’m looking forward to what I can create during such a testing time.
You can check out more of James’ work through the following links
jamesjenkinson.squarespace.com ︎ @jenkinson.jpeg
Last year at uni we partnered up with the Tote, which is one of Collingwood’s most famous pubs. When up and running, it has a large array of artists performing every day. I was lucky enough, along with four others in my class, to have access to the pub every day and night, to go where ever we wanted. That was a really awesome experience. We got to see and photograph some super crazy gigs like Amil and the Sniffers, which was an entirely eye opening performance. After countless visits to the pub we created this unique book which I was really grateful to have had the opportunity to be apart of.
HOW HAVE YOU DEVELOPED YOUR CREATIVE CONFIDENCE?
I think by getting more and more opportunities, it has really helped develop my confidence and understanding of what certain people expect from me. I’ve only been shooting for a few years and I’ve done quite a few freelance projects, and would love to do a hell of a lot more, but with each one I did, it really helped me grow and gain confidence.
Also feedback is a big confidence booster for me. Theres nothing more relieving than to hear someone really appreciate my photos. That’s why university is awesome to be apart of, as I would constantly have to present my work in progress, which would help immensely with the development of my work.
WHO DO YOU DAYDREAM ABOUT WORKING WITH?
Ahh there’s so many. One of skateboarding’s most respected photographers, Jake Darwen, has shot some super inspiring work for me. Just to even go skating with him and talk about his beginnings in New Zealand to then becoming one of skateboardings most prolific photographers would be a dream.
However, the late great Rennie Ellis is my all time favourite photographer. His work literally defines the ‘decisive moment’. I often reflect through his books dreaming of being in Melbourne during the 70s, as it seemed like such a cool time.
HAVE YOU GOT ANYTHING EXCITING COMING UP?
A few weeks ago I had the idea of turning some of my photos into prints on a tote bag. I’ve done a couple of test prints and I was really pleased on how they turned out, so i’m super excited to get a bunch of those underway when things re open. Overall, I’m looking forward to what I can create during such a testing time.
You can check out more of James’ work through the following links
jamesjenkinson.squarespace.com ︎ @jenkinson.jpeg
