James Ip is a self-taught artist who works to create photographs that intrigue and spark the imagination. He regards street photography as a natural extension of his work as a story-teller and former journalist.  James looks for those magical, yet fleeting moments to make images that elicit an emotional response from the viewer, giving them a glimpse into someone else’s experience and a lens into the larger human condition... and perhaps suggesting that we all have more in common than we might think. For James, the creative process is an act of meditation and purposeful observation – there are dramatic moments unfolding all around us when we simply pause and open ourselves to seeing them.

Street and documentary photography also allow James to turn a critical eye to contemporary social issues through photo essays and projects. Through his work, he explores themes of human isolation and interaction, as well as how we relate to our surroundings, both conceptual and physical. In doing so, James hopes to expose his viewers to important questions about people, and our sense of community and belonging. His lived experience as a gay Chinese-Canadian recovering from major depressive disorder informs his subject matter and helps him conceptualize images with empathy and the capacity for a deeper engagement with the issue or people being documented.

James is a graduate of Ryerson University's journalism program. He lives in Toronto with his partner.