James Brittain is an award-winning photographer working from studios in Montreal, Canada, and London, UK. Over 23 years of commissioned practice he’s established an international reputation for pictures grounded in the experience of architecture. His work is widely published online and in books and magazines around the world.
Brittain uses his commissioned work to support his own photographic practice exploring the experience of architecture.
He regularly provides lectures about photography and architecture, most recently for the Daniels Faculty of Architecture at the University of Toronto and the School of Architecture at McGill University in Montreal.
Brittain has been the principal photographer for a number of recent books about architecture, including “platform.MIIDDLE: Architecture for Housing the 99%” by Canada’s 5468796 Architecture (2024, Arquiine),and a new volume about the art and architecture of the UK’s Kensington Palace (2018, Yale University Press).
He lives with his family in Montreal.
Testimonials
“I’ve been working with James for the past 20 years and every collaboration has been a complete delight. He is tireless in his pursuit of the best results”
Jonathan Tuckey, principal, Jonathan Tuckey Design, London, UK
“Over my 4 decades of architecture practice and publishing, I’ve not worked with a more talented photographer than James. He is the complete package: Creative, intellectually engaged, hard working and disciplined”
Brian MacKay-Lyons, principal, MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, Nova Scotia, Canada
“James is a consummate professional. With a masterful use of light and an eye for the perfect composition, his photographs have a rare atmospheric quality that captures the essence of a subject and brings it to life”
Susan Mennell, Historic Royal Palaces, London, UK
Exhibitions
Revisited: Habitat 67
April-August 2018: Contact Photography Festival, Toronto, Canada. Solo show, Bulthaup studios, King Street West
1-18 February 2018: Building on the Built, London. Solo show at the studios of Jonathan Tuckey Design