Interview
Phil Austin
Phil Austin is a British-born photographer living in Sydney, Australia who specialises in black and white street photography. He recently started taking digital photographs in Sydney in 2022. His work aims to capture the mood, realities and movement of city life in both individuals and groups alike.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I began street photography recently after years of being fascinated by the ability of photographers to get in close and capture amazing candid experiences and expression of everyday people. After some months of not getting anywhere, I met up with Julia Coddington, a street photographer from Sydney. It was her tuition that really paved the way for the way I work, especially, getting close to people in many different street environments.”
What inspires you?
“My inspiration comes mainly from the uniqueness of every person’s expression and movement and of course from my own personal experiences. I have a special interest in detailing mid-tones within black and white mediums.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My themes, especially for candid portraits are to capture the mood of a person in that moment. Concerning movement, I especially like experimenting with intentional camera movement (ICM) to exaggerate or freeze a moment in time in places including city underground train stations or people on the streets.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is mostly black and white where I work to reduce scenes down to their most basic components while also aiming to produce a rich tonal range in some images and a strong contrasts in others.”
Which artists influence you most?
“My strongest influences come from the work of Vivian Maier, Henri Cartier Bresson, Brassai and Alan Schaller. Concerning ICM, I follow the work of Olga Karlovac and Simona Sass.”
“My themes, especially for candid portraits are to capture the mood of a person in that moment.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process starts with becoming invisible amongst people. Here, I spot people around me and then frame within a top-down viewfinder and then shoot the image. My work is very spontaneous as I’m always on the move, even when taking the image.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“My role as a street photographer is to offer in-the-moment perspectives on the character and mood of individuals and everyday street life. For me, it’s a way for presenting perspectives that show no one is alone with their feelings.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“As I’m really new to this work, I’ve only had one exhibition at a gallery I visit often. They were very kind in offering me a chance and the confidence to show my work.”
Instagram: @leica.lad
