Brick Lane in London

Images of life, love, humour, and the surreal on London's Brick Lane form the basis of this sumptuous catalogue of photographs.

Today Brick Lane is a favourite tourist destination, famous for its street art and theatre, and colourful market stalls. For centuries it was a hub for immigrant communities entering Britain through the nearby docks on the River Thames. Sonya and David Newell-Smith, whose careers began in professional news photojournalism, have spent decades recording the changing streetscape and vibrant personalities of this East End district.

This publication serves as a tribute to their passion for street photography, for capturing a 'decisive moment', and for documenting everyday lives and diverse cultures, their interactions, and emotional connections.

Scholarly texts accompany over 170 photographs curated by Sonya in memory of David (1937-2017).