Behind The Lens- Justin Tomlin

Jacksonville, Florida is an urban art metropolis if you've ever seen one. The lush scent of coastal air beckons you to the carefree beaches where music lives in the waves; the aromatic fare of downtown eateries make you want to stay a while, but what truly keeps this city in motion are it's thousands of local Jacksonville citizens infusing energy and life day-by-day.

Photographed by Justin Tomlin

Justin Tomlin, a street photographer, is delighted to have emerged from the abundance of creativity located in this area. Using his talents to capture people in all their honest, unaltered beauty is a respected skill- recognized by his peers, environment, and most importantly his mother (a former photographer) who prides herself on Justin's capabilities.

“You took my passion and turned it all the way up”

Justin Tomlin Photographed by Ebony McKnight

As the proverb goes, "iron sharpens iron" Tomlin found himself working alongside other imaginative minds to refine his expertise and make meaningful connections. His most popular joint project, "Deeply Rooted," curated with his dear friend and fellow photographer Ebony McKnight is a captivating collection of photographs depicting women in a natural, intimate setting. The two formed a connection through a friend who sadly passed away, yet remained united in their fondness for photography.

Justin and Ebony Photographed by Ye Vietnam

Photographed by Justin Tomlin

“Over lunch one day we decided that we needed to do something together... that night I came up with the name “Deeply Rooted” in the shower…”

Debuted in 2021 "Deeply Rooted" conveys culture, style, black influence, and it's very own ambiance that can only be found in the streets of Jacksonville. Naturally, the collab made some noise through their hometown pushing them to create "Deeply Rooted 2", a beautiful visual of men in a similar light, and strongly emanating a feeling of brother hood.

Photographed by Justin Tomlin

These projects have been a tremendous boost for Justin's self-confidence. He told us that approaching a subject is probably the most nerve racking part of the process- but that's all because of his introverted personality, which he's beginning to grow out of.

"Once I realized that they are people just like me- it became much easier to approach them"

Gradually, he has been gaining more experience and taking in ventures he didn't think possible only a short while ago. An instance of this was his attendance at an Art Basel event in Miami, which allowed him to network with some significant artists, one being rapper Denzel Curry.

I saw him and just quickly said "Hey can I get a picture of you"

From Tomlin, it looks like you can anticipate much more than just street photography in the upcoming year. With all the opportunities opening up for the young talent, he's looking forward to taking his skills beyond Jacksonville's city limits!