Description
The idea was inspired by photos I took of shop-keepers in Varanasi, India years ago. I did more of that on a subsequent trip to Old Delhi under the direction of Martin Parr and when I returned to London, started to photograph shopkeepers closer to my home.
I love seeing a person in their environment, surrounded by the things they sell or make. In the case of many independent stores these things represent their passion and their livelihood. Everything they have was wrapped up in this one little shop.
In 2020 I discovered Camden Passage, a little street close to my home filled with independent shops and market traders. Each one of them has a story to tell. From there it wasn’t long before I turned my camera to the shoppers, the coffee drinks and the passersby.
After four years in the making, this project has come to represent not only this street but in many ways every High Street and community. It’s about the diverse people who shop, eat and drink on our High Streets and the local business owners who offer not just products but a sense of belonging, safeguarding the essence of community. Streets like this matter. They are the beating heart of local communities where people come together to shop, relax, catch up and support one another. They should be treasured, nurtured and supported by us and when necessary by the government. If we lose them to developers and online shopping giants we’ll lose a vital pillar of community life.
