10 UK street photographers you need to know about

There’s nothing purer than an expertly crafted street shot which carries a poignant message. To celebrate the ingenuity that goes into capturing the everyday and turning it into something beautiful, we’ve chosen 10 famous UK street photographers you need to know about.

1. Linda Wisdom

As London street photographers go, Linda Wisdom is up there with the best. As a famous street photographer, her credentials speak for themselves – she won the ‘Best Street Life’ category at the 2016 British Life Photography Awards. She was commended again in 2018 when her image was exhibited at the Royal Albert Hall for two months.

Linda also works with Airbnb as a London photography tour host and tutor. In fact, she was the first ever street photographer asked by Airbnb to become an ‘Experience Host’. Her other clients include Panasonic, Jessops, Amateur Photographer and Huffington Post UK. Find out for yourself why she’s so highly thought of.

2. Simon Buckley

In the world of popular street photographers, the name Simon Buckley might ring a bell, especially if you’re from Manchester. Simon’s stunning photograph of Deansgate in the rain went viral a few years ago, and the best part of the story is that he took this on an iPhone 6s. If ever there was an example of the skill involved in street photography, this is it.

Simon has photographed just about every corner of Manchester – as you’ll see – and has a real talent for turning the everyday into something extraordinary.

His ongoing Not Quite Light project epitomises these talents. You can learn more about the venture by clicking the ‘Simon Buckley’ hyperlink above.

3. Nico Goodden

Nico Goodden specialises in a wide range of photography, but street photography allows him to hone in on some of London’s weird and wonderful elements. As he puts it: “Street photography is my visual diary of daily life in London. I observe the city, Londoners and tourists around me and capture what others may dismiss or not even notice.”

Nico’s ability to think outside the box and his passion as an urban photographer has attracted adulation from far and wide. He has more than 90,000 followers on Twitter and Instagram alone and has worked with Adidas, Sony and Heineken. He can take a picture of just about anything and make it compelling, as you’ll see from checking out his Instagram page.

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4. John Farnan

Based in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland, John lives within commutable distance of Glasgow. His affinity with the city is represented through his photographs, which chronicle an array of places and people. John has captured all facets of Glasgow and its surrounding areas, from cobbled streets and bridges to tenement blocks and boarded homes.

As you’ll see from visiting his website, John is a man of many talents and experiences. He has also lived in Bucharest and has an impressive portfolio of pictures from the Romanian capital, while he has also shot in Berlin and Venice. As one of the UK’s top urban photographers, his work encompasses some intriguing spots in many of the world’s most famous cities.

In addition to his street photography endeavours, John specialises in landscape, wedding and portrait photography. You can explore more of his work by visiting his Instagram page.

5. Nick Turpin

There’s something intrinsically raw and spontaneous about Nick Turpin’s photography. As one of our favourite city photographers, his eye for the aesthetic, attention to detail and ability to react in a split second exemplify what great street photography is all about.

Whether it’s two men in suits passing two men in high-vis jackets in perfect symmetry or a man sitting at the top of a double-decker bus who looks like he’s having his portrait done, Nick has captured it.

Nick’s refined photography is the result of more than 30 years of experience in the industry. His work has been exhibited at museums and festivals worldwide and featured on Sky Arts and BBC Radio 4, among others.

Nick has imparted his wealth of knowledge to other street photographers by creating this handy guide to street photography.

6. Steve Coleman

Steve Coleman hails from Kent but has made Liverpool his home, having lived and worked in the city for more than 20 years.
Steve, also a Breakfast Show Producer at BBC Radio Merseyside, specialises in different areas of photography. But, as he puts it, street photography is “the purest of all forms”.

His litter bin shot of Liverpool offers a unique, unorthodox and thought-provoking perspective of not just the city itself, but street photography in general. It can best be explained by a quote from Steve himself: “Photography is photography; an image can be defined by its composition, beauty or style by the viewer; there’s no need to be told what it is”.

7. Ronya Galka

Ronya Galka moved to the UK from Germany and worked in marketing. During this period, she took a photo that would change her life. It Must Be Monday Morning, a (literally) damp reflection of the morning commute in London, was submitted to the Sony World Photography Awards. As a result, Ronya was nominated for Best Photographer.

From here, she became one of the UK’s most popular street photographers. She took up street photography full-time and has been nominated as one of Britain’s top 10 street photographers by the Interactive Design Institute.  You can read our urban photography tips interview with Ronya here.

8. John Robinson

A fantastic city photographer, if you want a snapshot of everyday city life in Newcastle, John Robinson’s Instagram will give you that and more.

Come rain or shine – in the most literal sense – John is there with his camera. The Tyne Bridge at sunset; a crowded bus queue in the rain; a puddle reflecting a local landmark; the iconic Knife Angel overlooking Gateshead. All of them become works of art thanks to John’s creative eye and are compelling representations of what it’s like to come from the North East.

As you’ll see from visiting John’s Instagram page above, he has taken street photographs around the world. But Newcastle will always be his home.

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9. Callum Cole

When you scroll through Callum Cole’s Instagram, you struggle to comprehend that he’s only in his early 20s and has been part of the UK street photography fabric for years. In the world of street photographers, his photographs demonstrate a maturity beyond his years, showcasing everything from the eerie to the serene.

The above shot of a tram gliding through an empty Manchester city centre during a foggy morning perfectly combines the two. Callum is proud of his Mancunian roots; his pictures tell a thousand stories of the city. But he’s also taken stunning photographs of London, New York and beyond.

If his works to date are anything to go by, Callum has a promising future in photography ahead of him.

10. Emmanuel Cole

Emmanuel Cole is right up there with the best urban photographers in the UK. Born and bred in London, he is passionate about urban landscapes and their inhabitants. He has an innate ability to capture incredible portraits, resulting in thought-provoking photographs focused on ethnicity and identity.

His work has been featured in many publications, including the Guardian. “An extreme dance on top of a bus shelter”  is a photo that captures a trio celebrating at Notting Hill Carnival. The raw beauty of this picture demonstrates Emmanuel’s ability to capture everyday urban life.

Specialist photography insurance through Ripe

Suppose you’re an aspiring street photographer inspired by our list of the top street photographers in Britain—you may want to consider protecting your camera and accessories with specialist photography insurance.

Through Ripe, you can cover up to £60k of equipment for theft and accidental damage, so you can head out into the city to snap some shots with peace of mind. Get an instant online quote today.