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Chris Steele-Perkins

 

Chris Steele-Perkins: Humanity in Everyday Britain

Chris Steele-Perkins (b. 1947, Burma/UK) is a British photographer and long-time member of Magnum Photos, known for his powerful documentation of British life, identity, and social change. From his seminal work The Teds — chronicling British youth culture in the 1970s — to his later projects across Africa and Japan, Steele-Perkins’s images combine compassion, structure, and a sharp sense of storytelling.

Camera Gear

Chris Steele-Perkins has used a range of cameras throughout his career — from classic 35mm film systems to digital full-frame setups — always prioritizing realism, immediacy, and intimacy.

Film Era

  • Leica M4 – He stated he liked his Leica camera because it was "tough, simple and small" and mentioned using a Leica M4 for his work from The Teds project to his work in Afghanistan and Japan.

Leica M4

  • Canon F-1 was another camera he was known for using

Canon F-1

  • Kodak Tri-X 400 Film – A constant choice for its rich grain, contrast, and adaptability to low light.

  • Nikon 35mm and 50mm Lenses – Favored for natural perspective and light weight during long days of reportage.

Digital Era

  • Canon Eos 5D : For his digital work on projects like Fading Light: Portraits of Centenarians and The New Londoners, he used Canon DSLRs, including the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon Eos 5D Mark II
Canon Eos 5D Mark III

Lighting

  • Available Light & On-Camera Flash – Prefers natural light but occasionally employs subtle flash for balance in indoor settings.

  • Minimal Post-Processing – Color correction and tonal balancing to preserve documentary integrity.

Style & Technique

  • Documentary Realism – A direct, empathetic approach rooted in observation rather than intrusion.

  • Sociocultural Focus – Explores identity, class, and belonging through both individual portraits and collective scenes.

  • Balanced Composition – Classical framing combined with spontaneous human gestures.

  • Emotional Resonance – Finds dignity and humor in everyday life, particularly in British and Japanese settings.

  • Long-Term Projects – Often revisits communities and subjects over years, allowing deeper narrative continuity.

His best-known works — The Teds, The Pleasure Principle, and England, My England — capture the evolution of modern Britain with empathy, humor, and an unflinching gaze.

Legacy

Chris Steele-Perkins’s contribution to documentary photography lies in his ability to make the ordinary extraordinary. His body of work stands as a mirror to social and cultural life across decades and continents. As a Magnum photographer, his influence continues to shape the next generation of visual storytellers who seek meaning in the everyday.

Books Featuring Chris Steele-Perkins’s Work

  • The Teds (David Bailey / Dewi Lewis, 1979)

see it on Amazon

  • England, My England (Northumbria Press, 2009)

see it on Amazon

  • Fuji: Images of Contemporary Japan (Mitsumura, 2007)

  • The Pleasure Principle (Cornerhouse Publications, 1990)

  • Humanity (Trolley Books, 2003)

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