Jacob James

Bio

Jacob James is a UK based internationally published travel and cultural documentary photographer. Jacob’s work has been published in well known photography publications both in the UK and worldwide such as Digital Camera, Amateur Photographer, Tutti Fotografi and N-Photo. His work has also appeared in numerous exhibitions and books. Jacob has worked with a number of clients across Europe and Asia including the Austrian and Hungarian tourism boards and is available for assignment globally.

Why I chose Jacob James: I chose to study the work of Jacob James as he goes on journeys in his work to different locations around the world. James has had his work published internationally, and captivates his audience by documenting cultural photography. He places his work around a specific theme, whether it be Poverty in Africa or the everyday life of Rural Asia. His work stands out to me, as he takes the Journey aspect and looks at it with a cultural approach. Therefore, he is able to show the spectator a genuine account on what these parts of the world are really like and how they fit into his locations. I have chosen four different images below which reflect the different styles of photography in which James shoots and therefore I have a clear overview on the lengths in which my chosen artist will go to too capture these perfect images. 

This image shows a small stall lit up in an evidently remote are. This makes the stall stand out among the blue background as the calm night sky is dawning and we can see the colours of the sunset. There is a strong contrast between this and the dark outlines of the palm trees and also the scenery at the forefront. Instead, the spectators eyes are drawn towards the colourful stand which is selling 'Fresh Corn'. This sets the tone of the image and gives an indication of its location, perhaps being in a poorer country due to the ethnicity of the people inside and the produce of the stall. 

The photographer has captured this photograph at an interesting angle. By positioning the camera  against the sun, the shadows have created a silhouette of the human figure and the hill. This is very effective as it makes a bold statement and enables the viewer to tell its the main focal point, it contrasts to the bright sunny background. Also the golf club looks as if the sun is the end which makes it fun. 

The following image shows journey as it shows a male fighting against the rapids of the water. Although I am unsure of what he is doing in this, he appears to be trying to catch or collect something - such as fish. The journey is explored through the stream of the river, yet the image shows a lot of meaning as the male appears to be struggling and his expression is clear to the spectator. 

This image holds a lot of clarity, due to the colour Gold being emitted through the buildings and the surrounding objects. It stands out among the blue sky and is also lit up by several lights, drawing the audiences attention to it. One of my favourite things about this image is the contrast between  the colours, and also the shape and style of the buildings. This style of architecture is always one that will stand out due to its uniqueness.

Influences and Summary

This photographer influenced me, particularly in my Architectural shoots in Rome as he gave me the creative scope to take images of architecture and edit them in a way to enhance the colours. Without looking at the work of Jacob James, I feel as though I would not have been as influenced in incorporating the culture of places in either of my Rome or Brighton work.