Richard Hook's photostream  

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Photography helps me to understand the world in which we live.

Photographs bear witness to a human choice being exercised in a given situation. A photograph is a result of the photographer's decision that it is worth recording that this particular event or this particular object has been seen.

If everything that existed were continually being photographed, every photograph would become meaningless. - John Berger

My initial obsession with the urban landscape has taken my work in two separate directions. The initial one concerns aesthetic based photography, looking at form and beauty in an urban context; particularly where this relates to architecture, urban decay, and generally the non human aspects of the urban landscape.



The second approach is what I consider to be the most important to my development and recognition as a photographer.

Initially my social documentary based approach was developed through street photography.

In the most general sense, street photography might best be described as an exploration of urban life, with equal attention paid to human and environmental elements. It can be undertaken as a solitary, virtually anonymous venture, or one in which the photographer becomes known, and perhaps accepted as a temporary presence.

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My practice often involves being an opportunist so I always have a camera at hand, I try to deal with the seemingly every day and mundane aspects of how we live and perceive each other. I endeavour to prepare for moments that involve the subtleness of comedy or tragedy, moments when strangers come together for that split second, which signals me to instinctively hit the shutter, I always approach my subjects with empathy and respect.

Over the past few years I have started to concentrate on a true documentary style which involves long term dedicated projects that explore the very essence of the human condition.

I have been inspired not so much by individual photographers , although I do have my favourites such as Fan Ho, Henri Cartier Bresson, William Eggelston, Paul Graham and so on bla de bla.

The world around us and its absurdities such as fear, injustice, human suffering, the west’s unsustainable demands on poorer nations, status anxiety and conformist behaviour, selfishness, greed and vanity influence my work in ways I can’t fully understand.

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All of my photographs are Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved. They may not be used or reproduced in any way without my permission. If you'd like to use one of my images for any reason, please contact me :




If you make unauthorized commercial use of my copyrighted images, you hereby agree to a licensing fee of £5,000 per image, per use.







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"Richard’s work challenges the relationship between the Artist and the Subject, asking us to consider where the line is with regards to privacy, voyeurism, and personal moral judgement."

"Its seems that many of Richard’s images are concerned with the socially isolated individual and the moments of personal contemplation we go through while observing."

Richard is best known for his Social Documentary work and Street photography

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