School of the Mecca

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).