Jordan Disch - Photographer, Musician, and Software Engineer

This is an ongoing project on the Manly Ferry and Manly Fast Ferry, documenting passengers as they cross the bay to their destination. The project began around 2023, when I first got my camera and started my journey in street photography. Unlike doing street photography on the literal street, the ferry offers no escape neither for you from your subject nor for them from you. This creates an interesting dynamic, as you can’t be as brazen as you might be on the street.

The passengers shift from mainly work commuters during peak hours to a mix of tourists and commuters outside those times. The general way people interact with the ferry changes depending on who is on board. Work commuters tend to be more blasé about the trip, as it’s part of their daily routine. Most are on their phones, with a few chatting to acquaintances or friends. For tourists, however, the ride is a novelty and an exciting experience. They are often with children or family, and their interactions on the ferry are much more animated, playful, and enthusiastic compared to the regular commuters.

As a photographer, the lighting on the ferry is a delight. Sunset and sunrise last much longer than they do in the city, where the sun is often blocked by tall buildings depending on the time of day. The ride has roughly a 50–60 degree bend, so the light shifts from one side of the ferry to the other during the trip, becoming especially pronounced during golden hour. This gives the photographer the opportunity to shoot people on both sides, as most passengers tend to stick to one side for the journey. Reflections are also very prominent, and the windows create great opportunities for layering. Passengers inside are wonderful to photograph from outside, as the windows reflect the scenery and create beautiful layered compositions around the subject.

Since the ferry is relatively small, there’s only a limited area to explore, and the range of ideas you can photograph is more restricted compared to the street. This creates a great opportunity to push the creative boundaries of something you shoot frequently. The limitation allows you to explore the same concepts with much greater depth, unlike the openness of the street, where you’re free to roam as you please. It becomes a more deliberate, almost enforced approach to creative constraint, rather than one that relies purely on discipline.

Projects based around Manly, Sydney.

Much of the work around here consists of beachgoers and their families as they interact with the beach and the surrounding environment. The light is wonderful to work with, and in summer golden hour lasts a little longer than it does in the city, where buildings block much of the light.

The walk from Manly to Shelly Beach offers great photographic opportunities, with people sunbathing on the rocks and jumping into the water. The Manly Corso is my favourite place to work when the light gets low and begins to trace its rays down the boulevard. This creates beautiful light illuminating people’s faces while the background darkens.

Photographing around here has presented more challenges than working in the city. While it is a beautiful place and the light is often excellent during golden hour, it is not without its social difficulties. Over the past two years of photographing here, I’ve experienced some of the worst reactions from people. On two separate occasions, security or the police were called on me—both involving situations where children were present.

In both cases, I was among crowds of people, and I’m a fairly friendly-looking person and not imposing by any means. Yet the individuals who were offended did not approach me directly to ask questions or express concerns. I understand the concerns of the general public, but I would encourage people to approach the photographer themselves rather than immediately involving authorities.

Probably the most photographed intersection in Sydney is The Mecca on Market Street. Many of Sydney’s street photographers have cut their teeth on this corner, and for good reason. The light shines straight down the corridor of buildings, illuminating people while creating a beautifully dark background.

The ceiling lights above the street add another layer to the scene, alongside the classic Mecca storefront windows, the State Theatre, and the passing cars. Foot traffic here is dense, creating an ideal environment for photographers to melt into the crowd and remain unnoticed.

I’ve called this project School of the Mecca, as this is where Matt Stuart took my workshop group for the majority of our shooting. The name also suits the location well: it truly is the Mecca of street photography in Sydney, with countless photographers returning again and again, each trying to see the place differently from the last big name who shot there (Trent Park and Sam Ferris).

This is a documentation of my partners dance company and their performances.

Performances are:

• Goth Party

• Ritual

• NYE party on the top floor of the MCA

• Aura opening party

• festival work

https://www.instagram.com/twistedelementco.official/