35 Fabulous Photographs of Londoners

Never in my life have I lived in such close proximity to so many people of so many different backgrounds, ages, religions, nationalities, etc. If there’s one thing that continues to amaze me about London after living here for five years, it’s definitely the people. They are both the best and worse thing about this city.

There are times, like last night, when I was crammed into a tube in rush hour with about nine people touching me all at once when I wished there were less of us, but then I looked at the bar I was holding onto and saw about five other hands holding the same bar and the diversity just in our hands was incredible.

Some hairy, some smooth, some male, some female, some young, some old, some with fingernails painted, some with cuts and scratches, some with large veins, some with none, one white, one black, one brown, and two others somewhere in between. And I bet each one of us came from a different country, could speak a different language than the rest. You look around a tube carriage and it’s a fantastic sample of the world that inhabits this one city.

Looking at photos of Londoners is always incredible to me. Everyone has a different story, a different history, different beliefs and values and yet we can all be in the same place at the same time. These posts of people have become some of my favourites to set up on LLO. No one ever seems to be photographed twice. These people all have such a strong character. Some of them are the result of the popular 100 Strangers street photography project that encourages photographers to interact with their subjects, finding out a bit about them and then the faces really start to come to life.

But enough rambling. Here are 35 more Londoners plucked out from a city of 8 million. Hope you enjoy the work of these photographers and their fabulous subjects are much as I do!

Photo: Street artist Jimmy C finishing up one of his latest pieces by Joseph O’Malley

Photo: London street portrait by 67Jewels

Photo: Mark, a native of Zimbawbe, but currently based and known throughout London as ‘Baliva’, a hip hop artist spreading the word of Christ by Jonathan Campenni

Photo: Hilda, a blogger and designer from Sweden by Ray MeFarSo

Photo: Alex at work in the Leake Street graffiti tunnel by World of Tim

Photo: Marq, born in Hackney, living in Islington, hustling in Shoreditch (click through for his story) by Jonathan Campenni

Photo: Mr A Boulamatsis is from the small Greek island of Spetses. He’s been in the UK for 25 years now and works as a painter/decorator by Roj Whitelock

Photo: Green sounds by John Kortland

Photo: University student Bethany by David Travis

Photo: Jack, practicing parkour moves with his friends on the north bank of the Thames by World of Tim

Photo: Milk shake by takphoto

Photo: Fisherman’s Friends by John Kortland

Photo: London Nights by Paki Nuttah

Photo: It never grows where you need it by John Kortland

Photo: Purmala from Nepal on Carlton Road in Ealing by Stretch1000

Photo: Petteri is a photographer from Finland by Jonathan Campenni

Photo: Business never stops by John Kortland

Photo: Lisa Carrodus is a celebrity – a TV presenter, wrestler with the British Pro Wrestling Foundation FWA UK, a model and has even appeared on Holby City by Roj Whitelock

Photo: Jude sells paintings, vinyl records and vintage clothes from a garage in Shoreditch on weekends by Jonathan Campenni

Photo: Lauren lives in Walthamstow and works as a Membership Office Assistant at Lords Cricket Ground by Roj Whitelock

Photo: Jonathan was photographed in Camden Market by Mark McConnochie

Photo: Abigail, originally from South London is 25 and works for a non-profit helping disadvantaged youth by Jonathan Campenni

Photo: Well red man by John Kortland

Photo: Allesandra by Dave McGowan

Photo: Jay lives in Woolwich and studies business management at university by Roj Whitelock

Photo: Alan and his harmonica on Old Kent Road by World of Tim

Photo: Esther was photographed on Camden High Street by Jonathan Campenni

Photo: Annabelle is a politics student and was photographed in Pitshangar Park, Ealing by Stretch1000

Photo: The redhead by Dennis Owen

Photo: Shona, an art and design student was photographed by Roj Whitelock 

Photo: G-Shocked in Covent Garden by John Kortland

Photo: Rukaiya, originally from Canada, has lived in the UK for six years. She works in marketing near Liverpool Street and has a cupcake business called Cuppidy Cakes by Roj Whitelock

Photo: Mark was photographed on Belvedere Road, Waterloo London by Stretch1000

Photo: Nicoli from Romania in Canada Water by World of Tim

Photo: Gazing in Stamford Hill, N16 by Dennis Owen