The people of Soho
I’m catching up on a few things that have caught my eye recently. I’ve been adding various interesting links to Instapaper and then coming back to blog about them. It’s becoming an overwhelming list but this one definitely deserves a mention. Portraits are especially hard in my opinion and there’s a few people who are good at it but I definitely admire a good one. Pete Zelewski has been shooting a series of portraits around Soho recently. I’ve added a few of my favourites below along with a description of his project. Well worth checking out the rest of his shots on Flickr.
Since my arrival on these British shores many years ago, Soho has always been, for me, the true heart of London. Although historically synonymous with the sex industry, the Soho I know and love today will always be the centre of Bohemian London with its culturally diverse mix of inhabitants living and working in a place that never closes and where anyone can be whoever they want to be.
In early 2011, I began a continuing street portraiture project called ‘The People of Soho’ photographing local characters who I thought captured the true essence of the area. From stylish shop assistants to arty media types, to street savvy students and the casual passers-by, the people I met and photographed were the ones I felt made Soho the unique and vibrant place that it is today.
All images © Pete Zelewski