Kids, 2016
‘For me, street photography is it. It's what I want to do. It's almost impossible to run out of subjects as something different happens on the same street every day. London is full of surprises.’
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Pug Life, 2016
‘I started off using a Canon 450D and a long lens (50-200mm). It took me a while to build up enough confidence to ditch the lens and use a regular 18-55mm, getting closer to the people I wanted to photograph.’
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Sister Ray's, 2016
‘The Canon is a lovely camera but it’s bulky and people do see you coming when you’re using it, so a couple of years ago I switched to an Olympus EM5 which I absolutely love.
It’s smaller and easier to use and has a flip screen, so you can shoot from the hip and see what you're doing.’
It’s smaller and easier to use and has a flip screen, so you can shoot from the hip and see what you're doing.’
Pride, 2016
‘I’m fine with waiting for a person to notice me and photographing their reaction, but I'm not into the intrusive kind of street portraiture practiced by Bruce Gilden, which to me is all about sticking your camera right in someone's face – I wouldn't do that!’
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Metamorphosis, 2014
‘Two of my favourite street photographers are Martin Parr and Joel Meyerowitz. I could see from their work that street photography is not just about photographing people walking down the street.’
Dave's strut, 2016
‘It's about so much more – their surroundings, the light, the colour and humour in different situations. I didn't set out to emulate them, but I did have an idea of what I should be looking for when I was out shooting.’
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Singing in Shoreditch, 2015
‘As a city, London is fairly friendly to photographers. Most people I come across are very happy to have their photo taken – if they even see me doing it.
I've had a couple of instances where people have been very angry. The first time it happened it really put me off going out shooting and it took a while to go out on my own again.’
Red Stripe, 2016
‘I think maybe it helps that I’m female – I do know a few male photographers that have been in physical fights with people who didn't want their photo taken!’
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Distracted, 2015
‘If I were to give advice to aspiring street photographers, I would say practice, practice, practice. Getting out as regularly as you can builds your confidence and sharpens your eye.’
Skater Girl, Brick Lane, 2016
‘Photograph in a way you feel comfortable with at first then slowly push yourself out of your comfort zone - get closer to people, wait for eye contact, that kind of thing. Find your own style and don't let other people tell you what to do.’
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Shake a tail feather, 2016
‘And London is full of characters that are waiting to share their stories – and people who are less happy when you catch them doing something they shouldn't be! It's a fantastic city full of colour and diversity and I hope I'm shooting it for a long time yet.’
Shadow dancers, 2014
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Chapel Hill Market, 2012
Happy Shoppers, 2013
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Happy Coppers, 2014
Thinking caps on, 2013
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It's lit, 2012
City views blow away the blues, 2016
More photos
How do you sum up a city that changes its look as often as its underwear and always has plenty to say? It sounds impossible, but that’s the challenge we set ourselves when we decided to draw up a definitive list of the best photographs ever taken of the capital. In making our selection we had help. We couldn't do it all by ourselves, obviously. So we enlisted people like Wolfgang Tillmans, Juergen Teller, Nick Waplington, Dorothy Bohm and Eamonn McCabe. Those are just some of the names among the world-famous photographers who shaped our selection. We also picked the brains of the top London photography brass at museums including the Tate, V&A, Museum of London and Imperial War Museum. So it's not just our taste, it's their taste too. The result: a celebration of London’s architecture, its icons and its geography, but also of us: Londoners at work, at play, protesting, rising to a challenge and always ready for our close-up.
With thanks to: Dorothy Bohm, Michael Hoppen, Charlie Phillips, Dennis Morris, David Chandler, Helen Trompeteler, Tina Barney, Bruce Gilden, David Campany, Nick Waplington, Wolfgang Tillmans, Rob Greig, Simon Baker, Eamonn McCabe, Jim Dow, Alona Pardo, Martin Barnes, Brett Rogers, Juergen Teller, Fariba Farshad, Michael Benson, Anna Sparham, Hilary Roberts,
By Gabriel Coxhead, Matt Breen, Phoebe Trimingham and Martin Coomer
Intrepid Londoner Paul Talling has been exploring the city's run-down buildings for twelve years now and sharing his findings on his website, Derelict London. Here are 21 highlights from the hundreds of amazing photos and stories he's gathered. Some of the buildings have now been demolished, redeveloped or even restored, but their pasts are just as interesting than their presents.
Paul Talling runs regular walking tours which include visits to some of the venues on the website. Visit Derelict London for details and to book.
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