Amazing analog photos of London's unseen history revealed in new book

London Unseen
(Image credit: James Artaius)

As the capital city of the United Kingdom, London has always been a melting pot of multiple cultures and classes. A 15-year photographic project documents the unique evolution of this storied city via analog images – and it's collated in the photo book, London Unseen

The project is the work of photographer and native Londoner, Paul Anthony Scane, who spent a decade and a half documenting the unseen side of the city using some of the best film cameras ranging from 35mm to medium and large format, including Leica, Hasselblad, Linhof 4x5 and Mamiya 6x7.

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Away from the tourist trappings and well worn beats of Big Ben and Trafalgar Square, Scane headed out on foot and on his bike to document London's lesser seen side – from campy dry cleaners and abandoned tanks to a double decker bus appearing to maneuver a miniature golf course.

Mile End, 2014 (Image credit: Paul Anthony Scane)

Clapham, 2011 (Image credit: Paul Anthony Scane)

Wandsworth Bridge Road, 2010 (Image credit: Paul Anthony Scane)

St Martins-in-the-Fields, 2009 (Image credit: Paul Anthony Scane)

Westminster Bridge, 2010 (Image credit: London Unseen)

Piccadilly Circus, 1950s  (Image credit: London Unseen)

Petticoat Lane, 1950s (Image credit: London Unseen)

Notting Hill Gate, 1960s (Image credit: London Unseen)

Bermondsey, 2010 (Image credit: London Unseen)

Stoke Newington, 2010 (Image credit: London Unseen)

Hackney, 2014 (Image credit: London Unseen)

London School of Ballet, 2010 (Image credit: Paul Anthony Scane)

The collection truly is a celebration of the beating pulse of the city, capturing the character and soul of the real London with the affection of a real Londoner. Moreover, it's a wonderful collection of 35mm and medium format photography.

London Unseen is available now as a beautiful hardback volume consisting of 208 pages from publisher teNeues Books (ISBN number 3961713847). You can order it from Amazon using the link below. 

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James Artaius
Editor

James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus / OM System, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and he loves instant cameras, too.