Faces From Hell

What pieces or projects have you been working on lately?
Faces From Hell (FFH) is an ongoing documentation of society. I’m drawn to people on the fringes—faces that tell a thousand words. I find beauty in what most overlook. I carry a camera everywhere because you never know what you’ll encounter. My work is rooted in raw, candid street photography. I rarely ask permission and also use flash; once a moment becomes staged, the truth disappears. My approach may be unorthodox, but it keeps things honest… and well lit.

I’m fascinated by the moment someone realises they’re being photographed. That split-second reaction—a smile, a laugh, sometimes hostility—often reveals more than a posed portrait ever could. Capturing it on film makes it even more special.

The idea of sonder resonates with me: the awareness that every stranger has a life as complex as your own. That curiosity draws me to people with character and stories etched into their faces. Recently I’ve started recording conversations and interactions on my GoPro to complement my images. The goal is to develop small “day-in-the-life” documentaries that show how people really live. Some of these interactions are already available to view.

I also integrate my photography into my music and clothing projects: album covers, brand visuals, campaign imagery. Everything feeds into each other creatively. In post-production, I push colour, saturation, and mood. Editing is where an image fully comes alive, where a mundane scene can become something striking.

What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on them?
Shooting film taught me to slow down and think about composition. Each frame matters. Photographing people on the margins of society has been humbling. Many of their stories put life into perspective and remind me how fragile stability can be. I always compensate people for their time and openness when I can.

Street photography also taught me how to handle confrontation. Not everyone is comfortable being photographed, and learning to de-escalate situations is part of the process. Confidence and respect go a long way.

Whilst shooting street, and specifically in the style I shoot—“shoot first, ask questions later”—I've had to learn to de-escalate hostility from people who don't like getting their photo taken. One trick I've come up with that works 99% of the time is:

Subject: “Why the f*** are you taking photos of me?”
Me: “Because I thought you were beautiful.”

That tends to work almost all the time. It's funny watching people go from borderline violent to blushing and feeling flattered within fractions of a second. Watching their faces almost instantly change is always funny to see.

More than anything, I’ve learned to observe without judgment and to recognise the humanity in everyone I photograph. I’ve faced homelessness and personal struggles myself, so when I photograph people on the margins, it’s not from the outside looking in. There’s a personal understanding there.

What words, ideas or emotions were going through your head?
Empathy, mostly. When you photograph real life up close, especially people doing it tough, it’s impossible not to feel something. My work comes from observing, feeling, and trying to understand people’s realities.

Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?
A book! As seen in my bio on Instagram: “Some argue that we are already existing in hell. These faces are their story.”

The name Faces From Hell is inspired by biblical teachings about Satan being cast to Earth and the idea that we may already be living in a fallen world. It’s not about labeling people as “evil.” It’s more a reflection on the world we inhabit—a place that can be harsh, unjust, and heavy. The faces I photograph are human stories shaped by that world.

The Book of Revelation specifically tells us this: “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (KJV)

What's been the most difficult thing you've faced recently in your creative process?
Staying motivated in an algorithm-driven world can be tough. Sometimes it feels like meaningful work gets overlooked while quick content thrives. That can be discouraging. But I don’t shoot for numbers. I shoot because I’m genuinely fascinated by people and life. Film photography still excites me—waiting for scans, rediscovering moments I forgot I captured.

Recognition is nice, but the drive to document never stops. You just keep walking forward and creating. The key is to just keep pushing. I read something recently that stated: “What do you do when you're stuck in the woods? You just start walking… You figure it out by doing, not thinking.”

Like most creatives, I go through highs and lows. My mental state often influences what I’m drawn to photograph—darker periods tend to produce heavier work, and lighter periods bring different energy. My photography is a reflection of where I am internally.

What is your favorite restaurant and what do you recommend we order?
I don’t have a single favourite restaurant. I eat out a lot and love trying different places. I’m actually a qualified chef by trade, so food is a big passion of mine. Recently I went to Elliots in Balmain specifically to try their croissant burger. Rich, indulgent, and worth it.

I’m also big on bánh mì. SIG CAF, the local spot in Redfern, newly opened, does a great crispy pork roll and fresh baguettes with a standout house-made spicy mayo. Completely different and unique compared to all the other bánh mì shops I’ve tried. Other reliable picks are Dulwich Hill Pork Roll and Destination Roll in Mascot.

For more Vietnamese, Hanoi on King does a great pho and crispy chicken. The crispy chicken is probably some of the best I've ever had. Their BBQ pork skewers are also cracker.

Try my KFC order—Zinger box, but add cheese and pepper mayo to the burger. Crispy strips with sweet and sour and supercharge sauce, plus gravy. Dip the burger interchangeably between the gravy and sweet and sour. You will love it!

And if you want something special, Blue Angel Restaurant in Darlinghurst is a standout—premium seafood, wagyu, and tableside steak tartare. A great experience overall. Maybe one day I’ll cook for you instead.

If your life were a movie this month, what would it be called and who would write the soundtrack?
It would probably be called My Way, and I'm not sure who would make the soundtrack, but “My Way” by Frank Sinatra could very well be the opening. I listen to a lot of different music—from Elvis to Frank Sinatra, from the 50s all the way through to trap. I love my Lil Durk, Lil Baby , and all the new-gen rappers. I've had a very eventful month, let alone life.

Recommend one or more artists you follow who inspire you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.
I can list you a couple of artists I follow who inspire me: Hiroino1981, Tatsuo, Bruce Gilden, Yam, Tommy Campisi, CV, Atgno, Ribal, Anton and Anne Sophie.

So in relation to the first two artists, without even thinking, these two definitely came to mind without hesitation. The way they layer and use double exposures to create images is simply beautiful and out of this world. Very unique and very much their own style. When I first saw their images I was amazed. It definitely inspired me to get more experimental with my own images and try some double exposures myself.

To be honest, I never knew who Bruce was until I posted some of my street photography in a Facebook page. People started saying how rude and inconsiderate my method was. They kept calling me a Bruce wannabe or knock-off, and not going to lie, when I looked him up I was flattered. I think we definitely have similarities in the way we shoot—both unorthodox and frowned upon in some circles, but this way of shooting is what’s allowed us to get some of our best shots. Without shooting like this I wouldn't have some of the images I have.

Yam has a way of truly capturing emotion in an image. He rarely shoots subjects—mainly landscapes—but the way he composes, grades, and edits is masterful. His images all tell profound stories. I really love his work. It is so simple yet so deep. He is from Bangladesh and is also a music producer and recording artist.

The rest of these I found by looking through my recent activity on Instagram, but nonetheless they’re still inspiring and make me want to take my art to new lengths.

I love CV's portraits—his use of saturation and colour. I really want to get more into fashion photography and editorials. I used to be a model for many years and I also have my own clothing brand. I have a very unique way of shooting and editing. I know it will only fit a select niche of people, but I also know when I'm given freedom and trust to shoot something, it will really shine through.

Atgno is a Chinese photographer with a very interesting and unique approach to portraits and what looks like street photography—very raw and gritty. I urge you to check him out.

Ribal, film director, posts very strange editorial-like imagery—high-end, fashion-esque. Definitely worth following.

Anton posts very interesting mixed media and digital art. Hard to explain his style because it’s definitely something of his own. Lots of colours, geometry, lines, and shapes mixed with various subjects. Hard to explain, but highly recommended.

Anne Sophie has a really interesting way of using colours to capture seemingly ordinary scenes and make them pop. A very unique approach to photography. I really enjoy seeing her posts come up on my feed—always interesting, quirky, and distinctly her own.