Evan Maclean Photography

26/05/2026

Client: 'Do we want the students in the shots?'

Photographer: 'Teenagers? I don't know. They're moody at the best of times.'

There's always this question on whether to have people in architectural photos. Including them depends on what you need to get out of the images.

People give a building scale. They show how a space is actually used. And for education projects especially, they bring warmth and life that empty corridors just can't deliver.

But teenagers? They're not models. Most of them don't want to be photographed. And their interactions when paired with someone they don't know, can be (amusingly) awkward.

On this shoot at for , I got lucky. A teacher on break agreed to step into a few frames. Sometimes the best shots come from who happens to be available and willing, not from a casting brief.

My recommendation: plan for both. Shoot the architecture clean first, then bring people in. One shoot, two libraries.
And working with teens? As most parents know, just go with the flow. 😆

19/05/2026

Affordable housing done right.

A recent shoot with is Sydney.

22/01/2026

When I first saw the first images of the Bradfield City First Building, I desperately wanted to photograph it.

And now, seeing it in use nearly a year after opening, it’s clear how much care has gone into making it both sustainable and adaptable.

Thanks to the Bradfield Development Authority, I had the chance to photograph the building and spend time understanding how it actually works as a space, not just how it looks.

Designed by Hassell, built by Taylor, with sustainability advice from Cundall, the project brings together strong environmental thinking with a modular layout that can adapt over time.

There’s also a deep connection to Country, shaped by the landscape of the Cumberland Plain and developed with First Nations design consultants Djinjama.

I focused on photographing how sustainability shows up across the site, from the landscape and roofs to the way light moves through the building. It’s honestly one of the best buildings I’ve photographed, and I felt a bit of job envy imagining what it would be like to work inside the AMRF every day.

If this is the direction sustainable design is heading, I can't wait to see what comes next.

Smashing it!
bda

27/08/2025

Sometimes thoughts get in the way of creation.

And when they do, simply feel your way through the process.

I was in Nara, Japan, a few weeks ago and on a photo mission.

Because I had lived in Osaka in my early 20s, I had already visited Nara on a number of occasions and captured much of the main tourist sites (which are epic).

I wanted to photograph something new but didn’t know where to start.
I got off the train and racked my brain for 20 minutes, and nothing came.

So I just started walking.

I weaved in and out of small lanes, between rows of houses, stopping at the odd temple and little craft shop.

As I did, I let the things I came upon continue to guide me. I didn’t know where I was going, but I felt there was a destination.

That’s when I came across a pamphlet in one of the shops, and I knew instantly that was where I was headed.

So I hit the streets again in the sweltering 35-degree sun and humidity and
followed the roughly sketched Japanese map to the final location…

Enjiki Knives.

Upon entering the shop, I was greeted by Tadataka Maruyama, one of Japan’s best knife sharpeners.

My Japanese is rubbish, and he had very basic English, but he invited me into his shop to look around.

I was loving it.

And having my camera on hand, I couldn’t help myself and asked if I could photograph him and his shop.

He gratefully accepted and got to work showing me how he performs his craft.

For the next 10 minutes I captured everything I could to tell the story, while he explained his process. (Thank you Google Translate)

He sources his knives from the famous Japanese blacksmith, Satoshi Nakagawa, and sharpens them on a massive stone wheel, before adding a wooden handle to complete them.

They are a thing of beauty.

I had to buy one.

And this is the best part…

It turns out he had just opened his store a day before, and I was his first sale.

So when you’re stuck in a rut creatively, let go of the end goal and trust in the process.

That’s when magic like this happens.
knives

26/08/2025

Passive House isn't just about efficiency. It’s about how the space feels. 🌱📸

I recently had the pleasure of photographing this Fairfield West home for and and loved how they had retrofitted it to the passive house standard.

Not only was it designed for efficiency and comfort, but Courtney Herbert had created a beautiful and welcoming design throughout the home.

And what struck me most wasn’t the systems hidden in the walls and windows.

It was the quietness of the spaces.

Here’s what caught my eye:
➡️ The soft light on the timber and tile.
➡️ The green of the kitchen bench that feels part of the garden
➡️ The large windows that allowed a natural flow between inside and out.
➡️ The overall sense of calmness and mood from the natural light spilling in.

I'm sure the performance of Passive House is impressive.

But in the photographs, it’s the peaceful atmosphere that stays with you.

That's what I like to capture.

P.S. A big thanks to Sophie from Envirotecture for her help with styling on the day!

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This project also helped protect 30 sqm of Australian habitat through my conservation partnership. 🌿

20/08/2025

🙏 The hands that built Ren’gejo‑in Temple are long gone but their craftsmanship still stands.

I was recently in Japan on holiday for 2 weeks (My first solo trip without the kids. So good.) and what can I say about the country? It’s amazing, but a land of contradictions.

Most of their modern homes are built to last only 30 years but then have some of the oldest and most beautiful structures in the world.

One perfect example of this is a temple I stayed in the mountain village of Koyasan, where Ren'gejo-in is one of many Buddhist temples constructed in the last 12 centuries, dedicated to Shingon Buddhism.

When you’re in a place this old, there is something that grips your awareness and invites a sense of stillness and awe.

As you walk across floorboards that have been smoothed over centuries of use, you are drawn to every detail incorporated into its design; hand-carved wooden panels, ancient bronze bells, exquisite calligraphy, and the simple, yet intricate Japanese garden.

And you wonder, why can’t we build like this anymore?

The fact that this place still exists, is a testament to the reverence we place on beautiful design. It has a life of its own and it’s very apparent when you’re there.

Is it still possible to create something like this or have we lost that spark for something greater?

02/06/2025

30/04/2025

I was down on the NSW Far South Coast last weekend and got out for some landscape action. No matter where you go in this country, there is always something beautiful to photograph.

15/04/2025

After a separate shoot in the city, I came across the Capella Hotel looking fantastic in the evening light, so I busted out the camera to capture this epic heritage building.

construction

02/04/2025

Kangaroos and Coffee Cups

A shoot with at the beautifully designed Array. Not just a looker but also achieved a 5-Star Green Star certification. Nice!





These licensed photos helped to protect 60 square metres of critical Australian habitat. Forever! -