Stephen Wilkes
Stephen Wilkes is a fine art photographer best known for his groundbreaking Day to Night images, which compress hours—or even days—into a single frame. Blending patience, technical mastery, and storytelling, his work reveals the hidden rhythms of iconic places and moments across the world.
Chief Innovator
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Time Capsule Creator
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Image Visionary
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Chief Innovator • Time Capsule Creator • Image Visionary •
More about Stephen
One of the most iconic and innovative photographers of our time, Stephen Wilkes
has borne witness to a changing world for the last four decades, documenting historical moments in time that have shaped our collective experience: Nike’s launch of Air Jordan 40 years ago, world-changing moments such as 9/11, and climate change up close through the eyes of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.
Stephen’s most defining body of work, Day to NightTM, began in 2009. TASCHEN published his corresponding photography book, Day to Night, in 2019 with a second edition in 2023. The epic cityscapes and landscapes featured in Day to Night and portrayed from a fixed camera angle for up to 30 hours, capture fleeting moments of humanity as light passes in front of Stephen’s lens over the course of a full day. Stephen then blends the images into a single photograph, a process that takes months to complete.
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His editorial work has appeared in and on the covers of The New York Times Magazine, Time Magazine, and National Geographic. A frequent speaker, Stephen has delivered three TED Talks. He also shoots advertising campaigns for leading companies, including Netflix, American Express, and Nike. Stephen’s directorial debut, for the documentary Jay Myself, premiered to a sold-out crowd at DOC NYC in 2018. His numerous awards and honors include the Alfred Eisenstaedt Award for Magazine Photography and Photographer of the Year from Adweek. His monograph Ellis Island: Ghosts of Freedom was named one of Time’s “5 Best Photography Books of the Year.”
Speaking Topics
Conservation
Innovation
Nature
Culture
Watch Stephen in action
Presentations
America at 250
Stephen Wilkes has borne witness to history in the making—from Nike’s Air Jordan launch to 9/11 and the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. In his latest talk, he celebrates America’s 250th birthday, capturing five decades of its people, landscapes, and culture, offering a powerful visual reflection on change, resilience, and the moments that define us.
Unlocking Creativity to Drive Innovation
Businesses face constant pressure to innovate, yet routine thinking, fear of failure, and siloed perspectives often block creativity. Iconic photographer Stephen Wilkes has worked with leaders to develop core principles that unlock team potential, helping companies move from reactive to visionary. His approach drives fresh ideas, momentum, and growth, boosting relevance and securing market leadership.
“Photography can be described as the recording of a single moment frozen within a fraction of time.”
– Stephen Wilkes