The word ‘Annica’ is used to describe impermanence. In a city that has experienced many transitions throughout its history, Knox Bertie documents the latest incarnation of life in Sydney by capturing moments of reflection shared by commuters struggling with their daily routines.
The recent growth of the city and its population presents new challenges as affordability, and the cost of living make it one of the most expensive cities in the world and, for many, a difficult place to live.

“Photographers can either look out at the world or they can look inward and use it as a mirror. I felt that I was doing both at the same time,” Knox explains. Working with traditional film, darkroom, and digital technologies, Knox captures his experiences as an immigrant living in Sydney’s Inner West and his travels to and from Australia to his native Canada.

“…I’ve been shooting in Sydney for so long, and my perspective has probably changed. I came to Sydney originally not knowing that this would be the place I would end up living in for the rest of my life. I consider myself local now. And that does change the perspective of how you shoot a place. I don’t feel as much of an outsider any more. The thing that’s changed the most for me is the faces that I see passing by. I live in a part of Sydney where people are commuting from the city out to the western and southern suburbs, and the times that people are commuting and the amount of people doing so has changed dramatically. I think that’s a reflection of how the city has changed. Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in the world, and I think there are a lot of people commuting from faraway places. A lot of my photography is centred on people living that kind of lifestyle, day to day.” (via leica-camera.com)