Founder and Creative Director of So It Goes

For this week’s journal, we speak to James Wright - photographer, writer, and Founder and Creative Director of creative agency So It Goes.

From working on the Barack Obama presidential campaign to writing his own short film for Sony, James’ career has spanned the worlds of politics, film, art and fashion. Founding his own agency and biannual magazine So It Goes in 2012, James has gone on to work with some of Hollywood’s biggest names, creative directing and photographing the likes of Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Sandra Oh and Florence Welch.

Here he takes us behind the lens, sharing the stories of some of his favourite photographs he's taken from throughout his career. These prints are all available to buy (alongside a wider collection) to support James' life saving spinal surgery - explore the print sale.

'PETERSBURG'

For my first job out of University, I went to work for the Obama campaign in 2008. I’d written my dissertation on the politics of the American South, and was sent to a small town in southern Virginia for close to a year. I certainly wasn’t a photographer at that point, and we were technically forbidden from taking pictures. We worked seven days a week and most staffers slept on the office floor. I was one of the lucky ones and got taken in by a local family. This point-and-shoot picture is of the train track I walked over everyday to go into the office. I remember so much of that time fondly. It felt pure.

'ORNITHTHOBIA' + 'THE HANDS OF JODHPHUR FLOWER MARKET'

I went to New York to work as an Executive Assistant in the film world. It was a learning experience. After about a year and a half, I resigned and went to India after realizing that I did not (after all) want to climb my way up the ladder in film. Cricket is the great leveller in India. I had a bat in my backpack and it started so many conversations and chance encounters, as well as photo opportunities that didn’t feel exploitative.

Some of my favorite pictures of India are in black and white; this one ‘Ornithothobia’  was taken looking up while sitting on the riverbed of the Ganges in Varanasi, where families go to burn the bodies of their dead. The image in colour: ‘The Hands of Jodhpur Flower Market’ is made out of two layers of the same picture. All photographers tend to hate their own work, including myself, but the images I took when I was 23 on a small rangefinder camera are the ones I like best.

TILDA SWINTON

At very late notice, I was asked to photograph Tilda Swinton in Rome prior to the Cannes premiere of Wes Anderson’s new film, ’The French Dispatch’. This was in 2021 and the first time I'd traveled during Covid, so double the excitement and nerves.

It was 38 degrees in Rome, which is always slightly worrying, as you're never sure if actors are going to instantly convey just how little they want to be there. Thankfully that wasn’t remotely the case, and you realize why actors like Tilda Swinton are so special; they’re present, collaborative, and beguiling in front of the camera in a way only a few actors can be.

The atmosphere on set for the tenth issue cover shoot of So It Goes with Cate Blanchett (photographed by the wonderful Julia Hetta) had a similar feeling of…something…in the air that we’d remember for a long time. 

QUICKFIRE

Favourite photograph of all time? A tie between Bruce Davidson’s ‘Couple Riding the Train’, 1959 and Justine Kurland’s ‘Bathers’, 1998.

Where do you go for inspiration? Cinema. I recently found myself pausing and screen-shooting lots of scenes when re-watching 'The Double Life of Veronique’.

Favourite thing to capture? People in unknown places.

Something you can’t live without? My red golden retriever, Bee.

FOLLOW JAMES & SHOP HIS CATALOGUE OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Print Sale | Contact: wrightfamilyprintsale@gmail.com

@jamiewright84 | @soitgoesmag

http://www.jameswrightphotography.com