portraits | Little Observationist Scrapbook

Checking in on the Flickr pool, I see Pete Zelewski‘s up to his usual magical photo outings around London. Every time I see his work, it amazes me how he is able to forge a connection with all of his subjects who are usually strangers he meets in the streets. People just seem to open up to him. I admire him for being able to walk up to just anyone! His work also makes me miss London – for it’s diversity and photographic opportunities around every corner…

These four are a few of his latest.

Shopaholic Erika in the Seven Dials, Covent Garden, Central London

Darren the Brighton Mod, Manager at Sherrys, Ganton Street, Soho, Central London

Maddy, Sales Assistant at Fred Perry in Mercer Street, Covent Garden, Central London

Photographer Rocio moves to the other side of the camera in Stacey Street, Soho, Central London

Have you ever walked up to a stranger and asked if you could photograph them?

Alongside Graham, Pete Zelewski is one of my absolute favorite street photographers.

Their styles are completely different, but both produce stunning images of people. Pete works a lot more in central London while Graham conquers Camden and while Graham brilliantly (and sometimes hilariously) captures people as they are acting in their natural environment, Pete takes the opposite approach and tries to get to know a little about his subjects before he takes out his camera. For Graham, it’s the spontaneity I love. For Pete, it’s those connections he forges with the people in the streets that really shine through in his work and make it so incredible.

He added a few photos to the Flickr pool so I could share them with you. This is Mbali, Patrick and Mishael below.

Fashion student Mbali in Carnaby Street, Soho, Central London.

Kind hearted Patrick strikes a pose in St. Martin’s Place, Central London

Mishael, economics student and sales assistant at Nigel Hall Menswear in Poland Street, Soho, Central London.

I promise you it would be 15 minutes well-spent to browse Pete’s portfolio on Flickr through the link at the top. (And no, he did not tell me to say that…)

I interviewed Pete for my old photography blog way back in February. You can read that here.