Vogue | James Robinson

James Robinson

James J Robinson is an Australian photographer and filmmaker based in New York.

Initially shooting from 2014, James has since been regularly published by the likes of The New York Times and Vogue Australia, photographed names such as Kylie Jenner, Rihanna and Virgil Abloh, creative directed and shot campaigns for Instagram and Maison Valentino; as well as directed films screened at Toronto International Film Festival and World Expo.

With a background in literature and lighting design, James’s work exists within the realms of poetic realism; choosing to shoot in everyday locations we’re familiar with, but amplifying their quiet beauty through lighting.

Spending most of his time researching semiotic and historical attitudes toward the properties of light - everywhere from the Bible to more traditional Asian dogma - all of his work pays particular attention to the way we use and understand light and shadow.

This style of poetic realism derives from his desire to deconstruct and heal oppressive systems within the industry, casting everyone from his family to academics and scientists he admires. He hopes to use his work to champion the faces and voices that were missing from the media when he was growing up.

Beyond his photography and filmmaking work, James is also a writer, lighting designer, and public speaker.