Life Through A Lens - Jesse Marlow

Greetings darklings.

This evening, I am turning the Gothic Flamingo spotlight on to one of Melbourne's most talented and most acclaimed street photographers, Mr Jesse Marlow.

International Street Photography
Award 2012 Judge, Mr Jesse Marlow

I was fortunate enough to first meet Jesse a couple of years ago through work on a photo shoot. Over the course of the day, I learned that not only is he a lovely person, but he had also worked as a rock photographer for eight years, shooting gigs for Beat and Juice, then for The Age - my dream career right there! Naturally, I asked him which bands he had shot, and to my delight, Jesse started reeling off some of my all-time favourites. He remembered my excitement about this, and the next time we met for work - some six months later - he brought along two signed prints of his work for me, pictured below. To say I was thrilled is an understatement - I may have screamed a little ;) - and these beauties now hang in pride of place on my living room wall.

Tool, 2004

Soulfly, 1999

I have since learned more about just who this lovely photographer really is in terms of his career and achievements, and as a result, I have become even more appreciative of these prints! Jesse is a member of the international street photographers collective in-public.com, where "all the photographers featured have been invited to show their work because they have the ability to see the unusual in the everyday and to capture the moment." His works have received numerous prestigious awards, and are held in public and private collections across Australia. In 2002, he was the inaugural winner of the Australian Hasselblad X-Pan Masters competition. His book 'Wounded' won the McNaughton Review 2005 Book Design category, and in 2006, Jesse was selected to participate in the World Press Photo – Joop Swart Masterclass. In 2011, he was the inaugural winner of the International Street Photography Prize, and won the MGA Bowness Prize in 2012. 

Jesse’s study at home

In the last 11 years, Jesse has also published three books - his first in 2003, entitled 'Centre Bounce: Football from Australia’s Heart' (Hardie Grant Books); his second in 2005, 'Wounded' (Sling Shot Press); and his third earlier this year, entitled 'Don't Just Tell Them, Show Them' (M.33). In 2010, Jesse was profiled in the book 'Street Photography Now' (Thames & Hudson), and in September of this year, a new publication entitled 'The World Atlas of Street Photography' will be released (Yale University Press US and Thames & Hudson UK). The US cover will be different to that of the UK, but both covers will feature Jesse Marlow images. The list of well-deserved accolades just keeps growing.

The recently published 'Don't Just Tell Them, Show Them'

I recently (finally) got around to purchasing my own copy of 'Wounded', and found this book to be as inspirational as it is beautiful. It documents the resilience of the human spirit - Jesse's subjects have all been broken in some way, but have found the strength to pick themselves up and keep going. There is humour here too - the wit of this artist really shines through - as well as a sense of sadness, thanks to Jesse's keen eye and empathy for his injured subjects.

Slipcase, 'Wounded'

Title page, 'Wounded'

Jesse spent two years documenting the walking wounded, but how did it all begin? He explains: “The Wounded project first came about after I found myself with an injury after a game of social football. With my arm in a sling and unable to take photos, I began noticing other people walking the streets in similar situations and wondered about it being a possible project. It wasn't until a few years later, after it slowly began building up as a series, that I showed some of my friends at in-public.com. Their encouragement and excitement about the project really propelled me to take it to the next level and start shooting it seriously." 

From 'Wounded'

From 'Wounded'

And what was Jesse hoping to convey through his images in Wounded? "My aim with the project was to show that despite people suffering obvious superficial injuries, human beings generally get on with life.” 

From 'Wounded'

From 'Wounded'

This limited edition publication, as well as Jesse's other books, can be purchased through jessemarlow.com