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).