Thinking About: Tim Walker's Instagram

The best thing in my little corner of the Internet.

May 07, 2025

I’ll start this issue of Thinking About with a quote within a quote from Jim Jarmusch with notations by Tim Walker. On his Instagram, Walker shared:

“There’s a Jim Jarmusch quote that goes ‘I don’t believe in originality. You take inspiration from whatever moves you, and you find your own voice in those things.’ I think that is the essence of a scrapbook: finding a place to put things that move you.”

Generally, this sums up Thinking About—I love sharing what moves me with you. I’m constantly searching my mental, physical and digital archive for those things, both as a sharing exercise but to remind myself (now at 31) of the vast mental archive I’ve literally been building since I was 14 to reinspire myself, and honestly, and Tim Walker’s Instagram was the perfect way back into that for me, as it happens.

Tim Walker, if you don’t know him, is a photographer who, for many years, has remained elusive to me, and probably to many. His ‘Wonderful Things’ exhibit stopped by the Getty in 2023, featuring his work that had been heavily influenced by his adventures diving into the archive at the Victoria & Albert Museum—I was delighted to be able to visit it. I’ve collected and ripped out his photographs from magazines since my fashion obsession began in early high school–that one Vogue Italia Lindsey Wixson doll shoot, and his iconic shots with Karlie Kloss—I’d also dig through internet archives for scans of his early shoots and post them to my blog, Obsessee. I’m still always so excited and surprised when I find a scan of something he shot that I haven’t seen before. Something within his work clicks for me. I still get sooo excited anytime he releases anything new and collect what mags he’s featured in that I can (especially if they involve Tilda Swinton).

A couple of months ago, though, I noticed he was on Instagram, music to my ears, delight to my eyes, and something for the senses. I feel like it’s not often we get to see behind the curtain of someone whose work has become so synonymous with print magazines, but also creating whimsical worlds with a certain British sensibility to them, too. He has the ability to bring some of the world’s biggest stars into the most creative settings and completely transform them year after year.

I recently dove back into his feed after the reveal of Chappell Roan on W’s newest Pop issue. Walker shares the storytelling and thought behind his work through BTS photos, archival images, notebook shots, and heartfelt captions. I think it’s so special that he’s taking the time to share these things and let folks enjoy his work further. Many legends could remain behind a wall, but why not create a dialogue around the work and let the fans enjoy it?

Below, I’m sharing some selects from his Instagram and a few shots I took at the Getty exhibit back in 2023, hoping that Walker’s works will inspire you, too. My next step? Adding the titular book from the exhibition to my library, which I of course remember seeing on the front coffee table in the lobby at Luke Edward Hall’s Hotel Les Deux Gares in Paris which was my version of the ultimate living room, which, case in point, means I need the book. Included that pic too bc I’m feeling sentimental for that trip right now, lol.

Do you have a favorite Tim Walker photograph? Tell me in the comments :)