Photography · Street portraits · Project

UK street portraits

A personal project: walking up to strangers on high streets across eight UK towns and cities, and photographing around 457 of them.

420 of the 457 portraits, about seven a second, ordered by the time of day they were taken, from midday to after dark. Every photo is cropped so the eyes sit in exactly the same place. A few people who may have been under 18 are left out. Fast cuts: lots of images flash past.

UK street portraits: Leicester market — Leicester market

UK street portraits: Northampton, the church tower behind — Northampton, the church tower behind

UK street portraits: Oxford, a red beret — Oxford, a red beret

UK street portraits: Gloucester, against the brick — Gloucester, against the brick

UK street portraits: Leicester, a red star-print jacket — Leicester, a red star-print jacket

UK street portraits: Northampton, red hair — Northampton, red hair

UK street portraits: Northampton, under the clock tower — Northampton, under the clock tower

UK street portraits: Gloucester, red lanterns — Gloucester, red lanterns

UK street portraits: Gloucester, bleached hair and tattoos — Gloucester, bleached hair and tattoos

Type: Street portraits · Project
When: 2021–2022
Where: 8 UK towns and cities
Photographs: Joseph Carey

In 2021 and 2022 I went to eight towns and cities, Shrewsbury, Coventry, Leicester, Northampton, Oxford, Gloucester, Manchester and Bristol, and stopped strangers on the high street to ask for a portrait.

Every portrait was made the same way: one lens, the background thrown soft, eye level, and a conversation first. Around 457 people said yes. The set is a picture of the British high street just after lockdown, one face at a time.

The story behind it is in the journal: 457 strangers, 8 cities.

The index of faces

420 portraits, midday to after dark

Every portrait from the montage, still, in order of the time of day I took them, from 12:01 to 19:59. Each one is cropped so the eyes sit in the same place. Point at a face, or tap one, to see it in colour. A few people who may have been under 18 are left out.

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