Orlando, what's your first memory of Soho?
Before I moved here, we came to London on weekends. My first first memory of Soho is an alleyway going through the sex shops and then seeing the records shops of Berwick St (Ambient Soho, Vinyl Junkies) around 1996.
Before I moved here, we came to London on weekends. My first first memory of Soho is an alleyway going through the sex shops and then seeing the records shops of Berwick St (Ambient Soho, Vinyl Junkies) around 1996.
Beckton
Isle of Dogs
"There's no planning.
I shoot what catches my eye"
Orlando Britain
I shoot what catches my eye"
Orlando Britain
Hackney
How do you go about shooting these fantastic London locations?
I decide on an area that I have never been to before and then I go for a walk on the side streets. There's no planning. I shoot what catches my eye. It’s an exploration.
I decide on an area that I have never been to before and then I go for a walk on the side streets. There's no planning. I shoot what catches my eye. It’s an exploration.
West End
Stratford
Swanscombe
What do you do with the pictures?
The primary output is my Instagram. I have a plan to release the pictures in the order of a walk, eventually.
The primary output is my Instagram. I have a plan to release the pictures in the order of a walk, eventually.
West Ham
Are you a professional photographer?
No. Photography is my hobby. I work for a broadcast supplier. We supply equipment to the film industry. I also write music in my spare time. I do website design too.
No. Photography is my hobby. I work for a broadcast supplier. We supply equipment to the film industry. I also write music in my spare time. I do website design too.
Orlando's main photographic output is for social media. You can see his work on Instagram @exploring_urban_wastelands.
Perhaps the most shocking aspect of the photos is how everyday they are. This is London here and now. Many of the pictures were taken recently during lockdown but the reality will transcend lockdown. There is a whiff of Clockwork Orange in them. But this is no film location or art direction.
The urban wastelands are dotted here with with Soho and West End photos among them so we can take a respite and return to a comfort zone, to remind us that we are in London.
Orlando also composes music and designs websites. For commercial use of his photos or for music and websites please email him on [email protected] . Respect his copyright.
Soho
Olympic Park
What photographic equipment do you use?
I use two cameras. When I go around inner London and when I need to be inconspicuous I use a small Ricoh GRII , which is a compact digitial camera. It’s a recent purchase. I needed something small. When I do landscape and when I go to the Thames I use my second camera, a Sony A68.
I use two cameras. When I go around inner London and when I need to be inconspicuous I use a small Ricoh GRII , which is a compact digitial camera. It’s a recent purchase. I needed something small. When I do landscape and when I go to the Thames I use my second camera, a Sony A68.