Description
Photography Talk:
Have Camera, Will Travel

An evening of stories and striking imagery from photojournalist Jake Simkin, sharing two decades of travel, conflict, and human connection through his lens - presented by Westend Photography as part of the Wyndham Learning Festival.

Date & Time
5 September 2026 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Venue
Westend Photography Studio, Level 1, 44 Watton Street, Werribee

Organised By
Westend Photography Studio,

About Jake

Jake Simkin is a photographer, filmmaker, content creator, and adventurer. He's the founder of No Wukkas Agency, a digital content company specialising in personal branding, business content, and event management, and he's a brand ambassador for several motorcycle and travel brands.

Jake's storytelling career began behind the camera on music videos, films, and branding work - until he realised he needed to travel further to understand more. A one-way ticket to Banda Aceh in 2004, to document the aftermath of the Boxing Day Tsunami, changed the direction of his life. It was there he saw the real power photography and video had to document injustice and tell the stories that mattered.

That moment led to a career spent documenting human injustice, global poverty, and conflict across Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, and Syria. He spent six years in Afghanistan - first hosting the travel series The Extreme Tourist, then founding his own production company, Development Pictures, working with NGOs, governments, advertisers, and journalists. While there, he helped set up Skateistan, teaching Afghan kids to skate and create art, and helped bring rock concerts and TEDx events to the country.

As war broke out in Syria, Jake moved into journalism full-time, relocating to Turkey to cover the conflict from the revolutionary front lines, the Kurdish liberation movement, and the rise and fall of ISIS. After years of sustained physical and mental strain, he returned home to Australia - working as a motorcycle tour guide before coming back to his first love: creating engaging, honest content.

Jake leads with empathy and a deep love of food, culture, and people. He's currently finishing his photobook, Have Camera, Will Travel, and has featured in numerous documentaries and podcasts, and spoken at events on his travels and views on global human issues.

More from Jake: https://nowukkas.agency/

Have Camera, Will Travel is a storytelling talk, not a technical workshop. Jake will take the audience through his photographic journey - from his first plane ticket to a disaster zone in 2004, to six years living and working in Afghanistan, to documenting the Syrian war from the revolutionary front line.

Through a curated selection of his own images, Jake will share the stories behind the photographs: the people he met, the risks he took, and what he learned about humanity along the way. Expect honest, unscripted reflections on conflict, culture, resilience, and why he keeps choosing to travel toward the hard stories instead of away from them.

This is a chance to sit with a working photojournalist and hear what really happens behind the lens - beyond the headlines and the highlight reel.

Who This Talk Is For

Photography lovers and aspiring photographers

Travel enthusiasts

Content creators

Anyone curious about storytelling, journalism, or life beyond the everyday

Attendees leave inspired by a firsthand account of visual storytelling in the world's most challenging environments — and with a fresh perspective on what it means to truly "capture" a story.

Join us for an evening of stories, images, and insight - presented by Westend Photography for the Wyndham Learning Festival.