About

Black and White London Fine Art Street Photography by Frank John

Background

This Website launched on 8 April 2024 and includes some photos from 2023 and a few from my very early endeavours way back in 2017. Historically a former Celebrity Photographer that specialised in Female Celebrities that has decided to take a different road on his photographic journey and now specialises in Urban and Street Photography in London especially Black and White Fine Art Street. A complete change from Colour to Black and White but women still feature predominantly in this new direction of work.

A totally different and monochrome look at the streets of London and London life featuring abstract, blur, reflections and a more artistic view of London. and it's urban landscape. No more Instagram for this photographer...it's not for me. All photos now appear here at PavementPulse.com. Main website featuring colour work including Female Celebrities, Editorial, Candid and Portraits, Street Style and Fashion and Beauty and more at Frank John Photography. An old dormant associated Instagram account is still around at Frank John London

Pavement Pulse and the owner Frank John Sixteen FAQ’s answered

  • Where are you based?

    • London and Hertfordshire UK

  • How long have you been photographing?

    • Since a kid but not really seriously until 2012 when I ended up in a press pen and photographed celebrities professionally on a daily basis. Photography found me and not the other way round. I’m afraid it’s a long story! see my other website

  • How would you describe yourself?

    • Just a bloke with a camera

  • Who has been a major inspiration for your work?

    • Daido Moriyama (recently I switched from colour to black and white), Saul Leiter, Ernst Haas and Brassai (Paris by Night especially)

  • How does your work differ from theirs?

    • I would say my work is heading in the direction of high contrast dense blacks and blown out highlights of Daido Moriyama but more reflections, silhouettes and slightly more abstract of Ernst Haas and Saul Leiter. A fusion of those elements from those three photographers….. but look like neither

  • What photographers have had less influence on your work but you admire none the less?

    • Garry Winogrand, Vivian Maier taught me to get close with your subject and Henri Cartier Bresson I would say influenced my work more in the earlier celebrity days, not so much now

  • What painters inspire you if any?

    • Marc Chagall and Gerhard Richter

  • How would you describe your photographic style?

    • Moody, Gloomy with shafts of piercing light. a battle between light and shadow. Creating beauty out of banality with some deeper meanings going on that maybe I’m not even aware of.

  • How would you say this portfolio website represents you?

    • It really is just a reflection on how my work has changed and what genres interest me these days. Street is probably my favourite at the moment, it’s as close as you can get to a blank canvas and probably the hardest form of photography out there. I relish the challenge.

  • What do you look for on the street?

    • People that have something going on beyond what they are wearing or doing something out of the ordinary. Sometimes it may be a glimmer of light down an alleyway that catches my eye. Basically anything, it’s hard to describe but you know it when you see it!

  • What makes you different from other photographers?

    • The ability to see the unseen or what is missed by most and not following the latest trend. I go my own way

  • What camera do you use mostly at the moment?

    • A cheap old Nikon S9100 compact camera. You can pick them up for under £50. I call it “The Daido Camera”. It does the job and you can carry it anywhere. If it's good enough for Daido Moriyama...it's good enough for me!

  • What photo books are in your photo library collection?

    • A very small collection of 4 books. Forever Saul Leiter by Saul Leiter, Magnum Contact Sheets by Kristen Lubben (huge heavy thing) Daido Moriyama A Retrospective, Daido Moriyama The World Through My Eyes…… That’s it

  • What future plans do you have?

    • To carry on shooting to the grave and maybe produce a couple of books, but the fame and fortune thing I think I’ll pass on if it ever comes my way.

  • What do you recommend to new photographers trying to find their way?

    • Henri Cartier Bresson said “Your first 10,000 photos are your worst”. Think about that and you will then know what to do!

  • Where else can we find your work?

    • The main website at Frank John features Female Celebrity Photography in London. Wildlife Photography is another passion from in and around London and features at Wildlife London