Human Puppet – Harley Brown
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It’s not always about the gear.
Sometimes it’s the mud, the missed turns, the 4am call times or the conversations that happen in between. The moments behind the shot are often just as powerful as the image itself.
In this series, we speak with photographers from all walks of life about the stories behind their work; the behind-the-scenes chaos, the spontaneous camera rigs held together with tape, the interactions with strangers, and everything that got them there. Sometimes you gotta go out of your way to get the shot.
Human Puppet – Harley Brown
Okay so a bit of a haphazard and spontaneous approach to a shoot was just a few weeks ago. The plan was a photo of our good friend and fantastic musician, suited up, boots and all, floating down a river on his back, gazing up at the camera above. Jesse Witney’s his name, and the photo to be cover art for his new single, The River (check it out!).
Drone? Check. Velvet suit? Check. Handsome musician? Check. Was it bloody cold in the water? Oh, uh, check! Did the current of the river move way too quickly for us to be able to communicate and ready the drone? Oh boy… Check.
After attempt number one, two, and maybe even three, we waved him over. He paddled in, sodden, shivering, and his jacket at least twelve kilos heavier. But all smiles! I had a plan – I ran back to the van to grab a towel and some rope.
We strung him up by the ankles like an inverted puppet, I climbed, slipped and stumbled over the cascades and boulders upstream, and trawled him into position with the maniacal reverence of a conductor before an ensemble, arms flailing like a madman.
A child with a human kite. It’s showtime, baby! I signalled the drone. We got the shot, and our talent narrowly escaped sleeping with the yabbies. Just kidding – he actually is sleepi- just kidding again. Thanks for the commitment, Jesse, the camera loves you!
Harley Brown is a commercial lifestyle photographer based south of Sydney, creating imagery that’s equal parts considered and candid, blending artistic clarity with a documentary feel. With a background in finished art, he brings a sharp eye to every shoot, favouring natural light, genuine moments and a sense of place over heavy styling or spectacle.
His work spans from music festivals and boutique tourism stays to portraiture and product campaigns, always with a focus on story. Whether it’s a black cockatoo in flight or a muddy crowd at Bluesfest, Harley’s images are built on trust, timing and quiet observation. A self-proclaimed ‘professional presser of buttons,’ he knows that capturing the shot is only part of the process; it’s the people, the narrative, and everything before and after that make the story worth telling.
Jesse Witney is a singer songwriter based regionally on Bundjalung country (Northern NSW) who blends indie/acoustic soul/roots and Brazilian music, singing in both English and Portuguese. His debut full length album, Animal Cities, was recorded in Rio de Janeiro and Melbourne, and was released digitally and on Vinyl in March 2023. He has been played nationally on radio stations such as JJJ, Radio National, RRR, 2SER, PBS Radio as well as community radio all around the country. The Darkness was aired several times on ABC’s RAGE. His Australian performance highlights include Woodford Folk Festival, Splendour in the Grass, Island Vibe and the National Folk Festival as well as opening for artists such as Nahko and Babe Rainbow.
His live show includes guitar wizardry on the Nylon and Electric guitar, feet beats with his own invention ‘The Dance Box’, harmonica, melodica and looping, topped off with a voice akin to Jeff Buckley. Jesse’s live performances are intricate, intimate, courageous and enlivening. There is an infectious warmth in both his nature and his voice held by articulate guitar lines and ‘ear worm’ song-writing. When Jesse plays, you want to lean in, listen deep and sip on some old- fashioned truth with him.
2025 will see Jesse releasing new music, starting with ‘The River’ on May 30th. Make sure to follow Jesse on his Instagram account to stay up to date with all the news.
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It’s not always about the gear.
Sometimes it’s the mud, the missed turns, the 4am call times or the conversations that happen in between. The moments behind the shot are often just as powerful as the image itself.
In this series, we speak with photographers from all walks of life about the stories behind their work; the behind-the-scenes chaos, the spontaneous camera rigs held together with tape, the interactions with strangers, and everything that got them there. Sometimes you gotta go out of your way to get the shot.
