We asked a handful of our favourite photographers to look back at 2019 and remember it through the photographs they took. From i-D contributions to personal pictures of friends, family and strangers on the street, this is Jaden Walker: My Year in Photos.
Though he mostly works on his clothing brand, Tarragona, 20-year-old Jaden Walker has been taking photographs since he was eight years old. “I only started taking it more seriously when I was 18,” he says. “I used an old 35mm SLR until my boyfriend bought me a Contax T2 for my birthday. I became obsessed with all kinds of film cameras.” Shooting mostly personal projects, Jaden works with a lot of his friends and street cast guys. “I’ve only just shot my first job for someone else this month, which was for Cameron Dallas.”
1.
I took this photo of my friend Daniel at my favourite hotel in my hometown Riverside, California. No place like it.
2.
This was taken during a break on a shoot for my clothing brand, Tarragona, on the hottest day of spring this year.
3.
This is my friend Kevin. He let me take some nude portraits of him which was a cool bonding moment. It felt nice to have that trust between us and him allowing himself to be vulnerable with me.
4.
I took this of my friend Isaiah, eating Costco pizza in Kevin’s kitchen. Right after he ate shrooms for the first time. One of the coolest people I’ve met this year.
5.
This is my friend Gracious somewhere in LA. He wanted to see how my diamond grill cap would look on him.
6.
Polaroid I took of Daniel in Riverside at the same hotel. He’s great.
7.
I took this photo of Ian at a gas station on the way to my house from LA. Then he went to Coachella without me. Arco is my favourite gas station because it’s the cheapest.
8.
I took this of my other friend Daniel in Rubidoux, California, in front of the store I’d get my elementary school uniforms at.
9.
Ian in my room right after getting back from New York.
10.
Isaiah in his bedroom in Fontana, California, right after finishing the right side of his stick and poke heart. He recently added ‘heaven’ on the other side of his ribs and I don’t know how I feel about it. Maybe it’ll grow on me.
11.
I took this photo of Cameron at a dairy farm in his hometown, Chino, California. I was real excited to meet up and shoot with him because I secretly loved him when I was in middle school. He’s super nice. Thanks Ian.
12.
The first time I met Daniel. We stood there in my garage talking for hours after I used all my film. He’s my favourite subject.
Credits
All images courtesy Jaden Walker