Living The Changes is the title of my exhibition of the environmental portraits and in-depth stories I have been shooting along the Lea Bridge Road for the last four years. The River Lea was bridged in 1745 as the road grew into a main commercial route into London. Today a journey down the same route offers a wealth of diverse culture, food, social change, faith, industry, commerce, migration and leisure. But unless you are a proud member of this community, it can go unnoticed, as people travel from Waltham Forest into Hackney along the A104 during their daily commute.

As a documentarian I wanted to photograph people who belong to this community, listen to their stories, ask them what they most like about the Lea Bridge Road and what changes they had noticed. To create a comfortable negotiated space to take pictures, I use vintage cameras, shooting black and white film. I then record the opinions of those photographed to capture their voices and thoughts. I’ve also tried to ensure that everyone I photographed have been given a free print. The goal is to create a body of work that offers future generations an insight into the community of people living and working on the Lea Bridge Road, who might otherwise go unheard and unseen.

As you scroll down, I have included a mixture of pictures, some are copies of the A1 panels that are part of the exhibition itself and some are pictures that were not seen at the exhibition. If you click on the story panel picture it will take you to the in-depth story in full.    

The craftsmen of K&H Timber Supplier work in a haze of sawdust and noise producing hand crafted wooden sash windows, doors and woodwork needed for the building trade. The business has existed for over 45 years and is jointly owned by brothers Ahmet and Hasan Kasim. Click on picture above for story.

Barbara Miller, who has lived in Malta Road just off the Lea Bridge Road for over 31 years, waits to cross the road as she returns from a shopping trip November 3, 2024. What she most likes about the area is that it’s friendly and nice people live around and about. What she most dislikes is the increased traffic, the cycle lanes and the e-bikes that she hates.  

Tyre fitter Karim Zabih who works at Penn Brothers MOT & Car Repairs stands by a stack of used tyres on the junction of Lea Bridge Road and Russell Road.

Robert St. Rose, who is 87 years-old says he has lived on Lea bridge Road, London for over twenty years September 27, 2024. What he most likes about the area is that it’s a very friendly and quiet place and he feels safe going out day or night. he added there’s nothing he dislikes. The biggest change he has noticed while living here is that there are more people from different areas have come to settle here and that everyone harmonises with each other.

May 1, 2025, in the Old Bailey the trial of Renai Belle and two others charged in relation to the murder of father of two Josh McKay, 33, starts. Josh, was stabbed in the neck on Lwhile getting his hair cut on Lea Bridge Road, on the afternoon of July 6, 2024 and died of the single stab wound. A temporary memorial of flowers, pictures, balloons and other personal tributes were put up by friends and family at the scene. As the weeks and months passed, I have documented this memorial as part of my ongoing project that examines the slow changes taking place in this community. I have created a combination image of nine pictures, shot over nearly a year, puling this transformation together. The memorial was finally cleared in February, for me a sad and poignant transition. My thoughts are with Josh’s family and loved ones.  

Since 2020, The brothers project has been providing hot meals to some of the most vulnerable within the community during the 30 days of Ramadan. What started as a self-funded initiative among friends during Ramadan in the COVID-19 pandemic has now grown, serving up to 2,000 hot meals every single day. Everyone involved is a volunteer and it’s completely funded by public donations. The project has grown from producing about 100 parcels of food to 2,000 packs every day during Ramadan 2025. Food and water is purchased before dawn, Chef Waseem Ahmad arrives at 10.00am and starts to cook. Other volunteer team members arrive and the hot food is put into cartons, fruit is cut up and drinks and a sweet dish are all bagged up to make food parcels. Volunteer drivers take some food parcels to locals who are too infirm to make it to the mosque. Then at 17.15 the food parcels are handed out for free outside the Jamia Masjid Ghousia Mosque on Lea Bridge Road. At the same time, other volunteers are preparing the mosque for iftar, the breaking of the fast, where more hot food is served up for free. Once this has all been cleared away the volunteers pray and then feed themselves. They then do it all again the following day.  If you click on the picture above it will take you to the story in full.

Stephen Barrett, manager at Savers Health Home and Beauty store on Lea Bridge Road takes a break to get some fresh air October 8, 2024. He said what he most likes about the area are the nice people but what he least likes are the not so nice people that sometimes hang around. The biggest change he has noticed are the improvements in the infrastructure. 

Kelly Payne, who is at university studying to be a nurse and her mum Helen leave The Potters House after the Sunday morning service at the Christian Fellowship Church on Lea Bridge Road September 29, 2024. What they both like is that there’s lots of shops and went on to say that everything is perfect and accessible. They added there is nothing they dislike about the area. 

People play cricket on the North Millfields Recreation Grounds at the Hackney end of Lea Bridge Road. 

Tony Bailey sits with his father Sonny Bailey outside a pub on Lea Bridge Road enjoying a drink in the autumn sunshine September 21, 2024. Tony said what he likes about the Lea Bridge Road are all the improvements that have recently taken place. He added that he wanted to leave the area but now wants to stay. What he dislikes the most is the traffic. The biggest change he has noticed is the increased diversity , he enjoys all the different food and culture this change has brought to the area.    

Henry Stuart, sorts and cleans chairs at the business Office Clearance 4U on Lea Bridge Road, August 28, 2024. He likes the vibe of the area and the fact that as well as everyone knowing each other they all look after each other. What he least likes about it the traffic noise and congestion.  He added that the biggest change he’s noticed is that there’s a lot of new construction, coffee shops and bistros that are improving the area. 

Marloes Haarmans outside her flat as her partner Aimee Blowers leaves for the airport September 4, 2024.

Marloes Haarmans and her partner Aimee Blowers smile at each other as they hold a black and white picture of them taken September 4, 2024 outside the flats on Essex  Wharf that overlook the river on Lea Bridge Road. What they most like about the area is the hustle and bustle and the diversity. What they least like about it is the increase in crime, especially the phone snatching.

The Bakers Arms that’s sited on the corner of Lea Bridge Road and Hoe Street is covered in scaffolding August 8, 2024. The first record of it being used as a pub was in 1868. The pub closed in 2010, and the premises now operate as a Paddy Power betting shop.  

A woman carries her shopping as she leaves Archi Express off licence on Hilllstowe Street that runs parallel to Lea Bridge Road in London August 7, 2024.

Awa Tangara with her dog Loue on lea Bridge Road August 8, 2024. Awa likes the area as people are friendly, there’s lots of shops and parks for her dog . What she least likes is that everything closes too early.

Robert Andrews and Dee (DeeLeeLive) who are both photographers pose for a picture.

A worker waters hanging plant baskets on Lea Bridge Road during a spell of hot weather in London.

Sonia Lawrence stands by her front door on Lea Bridge Road with dustpan and brush as she takes a break from working on her front garden June 27, 2024.  Sonia, who has lived on Lea Bridge Road for more than 20 years, says what she most likes about it is that her neighbours are nice, it’s central, the shops are near and the transport is good.

Sonia Lawrence holds a black and white print July 12, 2024 of a picture of her taken outside her home June 27, 2024 on the Lea Bridge Road, London.

Zac Naz, who works at a mini cab office, leans on the door of his offices on the Lea Bridge Road. What he most likes is the cultural mix of the community but what he least likes is the increase in crime. 

Set up on the site of a carpet factory the Jamia Masjid Ghousia Mosque, known as the Waltham Forest Islamic Association (WFIA) serves the large Sunni community on the Lea Bridge Road. President Abdul Majid, Treasurer Ali Akbar and Senior Teacher Allamah Mohammed Islam Qadiri and their team work hard to serve the community, offering space for prayers, funerals, weddings learning and education. They also support local community initiatives such as The Brothers Project. Visits from local non-Muslim schools is encouraged so others can learn about Islamic teachings and worship. Over the years the presence of the mosque, halfway along the Lea Bridge Road has shaped the local community bringing in businesses who serve the growing Muslim population. The mosque has one of the largest prayer halls dedicated for the use of several hundred women, is a registered charity, and reliant on donations. Click on the picture above fo be taken to the full story.   

Sidra Shokat jumps off a rock as she and her family wait for a bus in Hackney, London on the Lea Bridge Road May 18, 2024.  

A car, parked under the railway bridge, that is covered in bird shit also has a parking ticket under the windscreen wiper May 18, 2024. 

A man strides past metal railings and a post box on Rigg Approach just off Lea Bridge Road, London.

A worker standing on a ladder passes a bucket to a roofer who is working on the roof of Boleyn car and van hire business just off the Lea Bridge Road in London, April 27, 2024. 

Morgan Ekeugo in his charity shop Human Relief Welfare Second-hand Furniture on Lea Bridge Road, London, March 6, 2024.

Cousins Andrea and Sandra take selfies sitting at a bus stop outside Aldi super store as they wait for a bus on the Lea Bridge Road, London, 20 April 2024.

Anne Mondesir, who lives on Whitney Road, waits for a bus on Lea Bridge Road August 23, 2022.

Owner of Le Chic hair & Beauty salon Delise Clarke stands at the door of her shop on Lea Bridge Road, London August 17, 2022.

Kousar Arif outside her second-hand clothing shop on 372 Lea Bridge Road August 17, 2022.

A man wearing headphones is refelcted in a mirror in a shop window as he walks along the Lea Bridge Road, London November 13, 2021.

People load washing in the Launderama Launderette on 305 Lea Bridge Road December 4, 2021.

Barber Murad is seen through his shop window as he works in Imza Traditional Turkish Barber on the Lea Bridge Road November 26, 2021.

Luke Cay, who works for J&S motorcycle clothing and Accessories on Lea Bridge Road takes a break from work November 13, 2021.

A discarded lottery ticket stand outside a grocers shop as man delivers goods on a sack trolley on the Lea Bridge Road in London December 4, 2021.

Receptionist at AestheticBabe on Lea Bridge Road, looks out from her salon November 13, 2021.

A woman takes a long draw on a cigarette as she pauses on the Lea Bridge Road to look at her phone November 26, 2021.