Near Dark by Chris Dorley-Brown

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.

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. At present Chris’s office and archive is based in a tower block in Newham’s Carpenters Estate. Chris lives and works in London and is represented by Robert Koch Gallery (San Francisco) and The Photographers Gallery (London).

Diane Smyth is the editor of BJP, returning for a second stint on staff in 2023, after 15 years on the team until 2019. 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.