Telling the diverse stories behind London’s people and places, from grime to gentrification – see why you should hit ‘follow’ on these emerging Instagrammers
A few weeks ago we spotlighted the London-based female photographers who were killing it. With that out in the open, it would be unfair to exclude their male contemporaries, those helping to tell the stories behind life in the UK capital, and beyond. From portraits backdropped against the changing face of Peckham to the next batch of grime talent, forget hightailing it through the streets like a misguided tourist and hit 'follow' on these emerging names instead.
EAMONN FREEL (@ZEEL_FREEL)
One-half of hyperreal duo Freel & Gorse (whose second-half can be found here), Freel's feed is a mix of digital, analogue, humour and BTS shots. Shooting for some of our favourite mags like the Berlin-based Indie and London titles Pylot and Polyester – hit follow and enjoy your fall down this rabbit hole.
MEET THE LOCALS (@MEET_THE_LOCALS)
Brad Hobbs and Asher Herr spend a lot of their time in south east London. In fact, it might be all they do (okay, they probably do other things.) But anyway, it’s all with good reason because their ongoing project “Meet The Locals” is a fascinating and striking docu/love letter to the people of Peckham, backdropped by the borough's inevitable gentrification.
WOT DO YOU CALL IT (@WOTDOYOUCALLIT)
What Ewen Spencer did for grime's first gen, photographers Marco Grey and George Quann-Barnett are hoping to do for its new wave. From Bow to Croydon, grime is ingrained in London. As the youthquake continues to reverberate across the Atlantic with artists like Drake and Kanye West tapping it, @WotDoYouCallIt is one to watch.
JOSHUA OSBORNE (@JOSHUAOSBORNE_)
Joshua Osborne's street photography and portraiture lifts the lid on some of London's most interesting faces, often caught off guard on the street.
JUAN JOSÉ ORTIZ ARENAS (@ORTIZARENAS)
There's a story behind everyone of Juan José Ortiz Arenas' images. Or, even if there's not, it's okay because that's how they make you feel. An intriguing mix of framing and angles make his street observations (in cities like London, Sweden and NYC) all the more pleasing.
