Sydney has always held a special place in my heart and has become my favourite city for street photography, or urbanscapes, as I like to call them. It was the first real city I ever visited, and many of my favourite photography moments have been shaped by this vibrant metropolis. Over the years, my frequent travels to Sydney for work have allowed me to explore the city with my camera in hand, capturing moments that, at first, didn’t feel like I was doing street photography but have since revealed themselves to be stories etched from the urban landscape.
The Unique Light of Sydney
One of the things that makes it unique for me (and many photographers) is the distinctive light that bathes the city. The sunlight here is unlike anywhere else I’ve seen and has influenced my style of photography.
Sydney’s sunlight is distinct due to its clarity and intensity. The city’s geographical location, with a high UV index and a generally cloud-free sky, results in bright, direct sunlight that creates strong contrasts and sharp shadows. The light has a clean, almost crisp quality, which enhances details in photographs. The city’s coastal environment also contributes to this unique light, with reflections from the ocean adding a particular brightness and vibrancy, especially during the golden hours around sunrise and sunset.
This clarity and intensity are what I respond to most in my work. The way the light plays on the streets, highlighting the intricate details of the city, energises me to take more photos. Every corner of Sydney offers a new perspective, a fresh angle (or Brangle as I call them…I know, sorry) waiting to be captured.
Exploring Sydney’s Diverse Urbanscapes
Sydney’s diversity is another aspect that keeps drawing me back. The contrast between the bustling CBD and the characterful suburbs is stark yet harmonious. Whether photographing the city centre’s iconic landmarks from a not-normally-photographed angle or exploring the quieter, more residential areas, there’s always something new to discover. The city’s train services have made it easy to access these different locales. I’ve spent countless hours photographing the city’s streets and train stations—both underground and in the outer suburbs. These stations are more than just transit points; they are hubs of life, each with its unique story.
Sydney is a city where the old and the new coexist in a fascinating blend. Modern skyscrapers stand tall alongside historical buildings, creating a visual narrative that is both timeless and ever-changing. This mix of the contemporary and the historical is particularly compelling, where you can feel the pull of the city’s history even as the momentum of the new surrounds you.
My first real street photo was taken on New Year’s Eve in 2004 at the Sydney Opera House. The memory of that night, with over a million people, gathered around the harbour and the chaotic train ride home, remains vivid. Since then, every time I’ve returned to Sydney, I’ve found myself wandering the streets, capturing the serendipitous moments that seem to abound in this city.
Now, as a full-time artist, I realise that there’s so much more to discover. The city is constantly evolving, with developments like the new Sydney Metro offering continuous opportunities for exploration. Each visit feels like a new chapter in my ongoing story with Sydney, a city that continues to make me want to make more photos.