David Barrett , Street Photographer, Self Portrait , 2022
David Barrett is a formally educated photographer who grew up alongside a skyline of shipbuilding cranes in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, his work is influenced by the British social documentary tradition which he discovered during his teenage years.
The work of renowned local practitioners helped him to see how his 1970’s teenage life in Walker , Wallsend and Byker looked when photographed …
Formal study expanded David's knowledge of the medium's history as well as developing his technical skills. Working as a commercial / industrial photographer until the millennium year served to refine those skills and has had a lasting effect on his current photography.
David's recent work consists of self-directed projects that possess social awareness, strong design skills and a acute visual wit. In a typical example, we see a heavily pregnant women in a clinging yellow dress while from the edge of the frame a pair of arms hold out a yellow football. The compositional triangle is completed by a boy walking out of shot with his hand on his head as if dismayed. There are many such examples, confirming a level of perception and skill rather than a reliance on luck !
With social media currently saturated with me too urban photography, David's work shows there is plenty of scope for innovative socially aware “street” photography.
The State Of Play project explored English leisure time between 2012 -2016 , this was David’s first serious personal project , it was created as a personal tribute to the late great Tony Ray Jones , a project shot during better times …
The State Of Britain series 2016 - 2022 explores everyday life during the Brexit & Covid era and gives visual insights into British identity , aspirations & divisions ...
David photographed the pandemic crisis on a day by day basis during 2020 , the Testing Times pictures are his personal record of the Covid crisis ….
His latest series Limboland, a state of mind … reflects on the isolation & insecurities of life in England during the ongoing uncertainties …
The in progress “and then there were no tomatoes to throw” , Collection features a mix of pics that were created before & during “The Great British Tomato Shortage” , enjoy …
Davids one off , stand alone “Street” observations are featured on this site under the Street Sketches title …
Only the highlights from these deep projects are featured on this website .
The UK Street Photography Blog has been recognised as the UK’s No 1 Street Photography blog by Blog . feedspot.com .
He is based in the South West of England .
Recognitions & Exhibitions
Benson & Hedges Gold Awards Highly Commended 1988
British Landscape P.O.T.Y Awards Commended 2008
British Life Photography Awards Highly Commended 2015
i-Street, Group Show, Dublin Exhibited 2015
Obscure Street, Group Show, Dublin Exhibited 2016
Photo Oxford Festival , Exhibited 2017
Lensculture, International, Street Awards, Finalist 2017
Lensculture , Street awards, San Francisco Exhibited 2017
Alghero Street Photography Awards Street Photo, Winner 2018
The Voies Off Festival , Arles, France Exhibited 2018
Blog . feedspot.com No 1 UK Street Blog 2022
All images copyright 2011 -2023, David Barrett All rights reserved.
All blogs copyright 2011 -2023 , David Barrett , All rights reserved.
This Profile / Bio copyright John Meehan, 2017, All rights Reserved