Wilkes is widely recognized for his fine art, editorial and commercial work. Through his photographs and video, Wilkes helped secure $6 million toward the restoration of the south side of Ellis Island. His book Ellis Island: Ghosts of Freedom, was named one of TIME magazine’s 5 Best Photography Books of the Year. His photographs are included in several museums including Fenimore Art Museum, George Eastman Museum, James A. Michener Art Museum, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Jewish Museum of NY, 9/11 Memorial Museum and numerous private collections. Day to Night, Wilkes’ most defining project, features epic cityscapes and landscapes, portrayed from a fixed camera angle for up to 30 hours, capture fleeting moments of humanity as light passes in front of his lens over the course of a full day. Wilkes’ directorial debut, Jay Myself is an in-depth documentary into the world of photographer Jay Maisel. Wilkes directed a short film on the rare total solar eclipse in Antarctica in December 2021 for The MSG Sphere, the music and entertainment arena in Las Vegas.