Near Dark

Photographed in London, Near Dark ventures into a mysterious territory, reflecting a less harmonious city mood, a fever dream of anxiety and unpredictability. London is just as alluring as ever but now everyone is taking shelter, keeping out of sight.

"A London many of us know well, yet somehow more beautiful + more Orwellian. Grittier + more nostalgic than Mollica's Moon City. Buy both." the eve team

Photographed in the hours just before sunrise or just after sundown. Very detailed and shot in super high resolution composite format, the photos explore decaying modernism, post industrial landscapes, council estates in a fugue state of sleep and serenity, monumental London landmarks wreathed in a painterly haze.

The images have been made over the last ten years during which London has experienced Olympic euphoria through to pandemic and chaotic government policies. The emphasis is on mood and an attitude amassed over 40 years of picturing London.

Chris Dorley-Brown set up his Hackney-based darkroom off Mare Street in 1984 documenting east London. Concentrating on social housing, public places, hospitals, workplaces and architecture, he has since established a substantial archive of colour photographs, supporting himself working variously as sound editor, producer, event promoter, teacher, historian and cameraman. Since 1997 he has prioritised his photographic work, exhibiting internationally and creating books with a wide range of publishers.

Diane Smyth is the editor of BJP. She also edits the Photoworks Annual and has written for The Guardian, FT Weekend Magazine, Aperture, FOAM and Apollo, plus catalogues and monographs. Diane lectures in photography history and theory at the London College of Communications and has curated exhibitions for The Photographers Gallery and Lianzhou Foto Festival.