I have recently discovered the work of Paul Harrison, a street photographer based in London. Although street photography has not been my genre of choice in the past, I have always been intrigued by the work of those who capture the nuances of life and their surroundings.

About the Artist

Paul stands out from the crowd due to the unique connections he captures between image elements. A prime example of this is evident in images documenting his work within London’s National Gallery. These images focus largely on the chance interactions between visitors and the works of art they are viewing: a pose that’s echoed in the stance of the observer; garments that are reflected both in a painting and the visitor, or striking similarities between art being viewed and onlookers.

Paul knows the gallery well and often walks the same route or waits by a favored picture waiting for the right moment. He explains ”I have certain paintings in my head that I make sure I spend a few minutes with each time I go in, or I look for the right person and follow them. But it’s also a living breathing thing so, it’s not always the same because paintings will be moved or there’ll be different people.”

I find this gallery work striking and a world apart from what may be considered ‘standard’ street photography. But that is not to say that Paul is lacking when it comes to capturing key moments outside of the gallery. His keen eye for finding the ‘decisive moments’ all street photographers strive for further amplify the scope of his work.

Source of inspiration

I have recently wrote about my long-standing attempts to capture meaningful moments on the street. Paul’s work has led me to a greater understanding of how interactions and mimicry can help the viewer connect with the image, and encouraged me to view the genre with a fresh eye. I will be certain to follow this key discovery on future visits to my local city and beyond.

Artist showcase

I will leave you with a sample of Paul’s work.

For deeper insight I would highly recommend viewing the YouTube interview with Paul conducted by Mike Chudley, linked below.

(26) "The street is theatre." | The Street Photography of Paul Harrison - YouTube

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