Sonya and her late husband, David Newell-Smith, documented the evolution of London’s famous Brick Lane over decades. This publication features their photographs capturing life, love, and humour.

Images of life, love, humor, and the surreal on London’s Brick Lane form the basis of this sumptuous catalogue of photographs. Today Brick Lane is a favorite tourist destination, famous for its street art and theater, and colorful market stalls. For centuries it was a hub for immigrant communities entering Britain through the nearby docks on the River Thames.

Sonya and David Newell-Smith, whose careers began in professional news photojournalism, have spent decades recording the changing streetscape and vibrant personalities of this East End district. This publication serves as a tribute to their passion for street photography, for capturing a ‘decisive moment’, and for documenting everyday lives and diverse cultures, their interactions, and emotional connections. Scholarly texts accompany over 170 photographs curated by Sonya in memory of David (1937–2017).