Profile of UK grime photographerfrom @gsnwilliams

Transcript

Before grime became one of the biggest sounds out of The UK, Simon Wheatley was already there documenting it. This is Image Makers, a series about the artists who shaped the industry behind the camera. You see, Simon spent over a decade documenting East London, starting before grime had even broken into the mainstream. His work was focused on London and the people living there. After getting his work into RWD Magazine, it started opening doors. Artists wanted to be in the pages, which meant Simon suddenly had access to some of the biggest names coming out of the scene. We're talking Wily, Dizzy Rascal, Roll Deep, and Crazy Titch. All while this scene was still growing around him. Alongside RWD Magazine, he was documenting youth clubs, pirate radio stations, and the estates that actually made up the world around grime. And even though he took all of these shots, Simon never really saw himself as part of that world. He's always described himself as an observer, and I think that's one of the main reasons people allow him to get so close. And because of that, he's ended up with this incredible archive of grime before anyone really knew how important tier scene would become. And a lot of his work over the years eventually became his good, Don't Call Me Urban. And I think the best way to describe it is as a time capsule of teenage life in London during that period. Not to mention the influence of these photos go way beyond grime. His photography became a visual reference for Toppoint. While Clint four one nine loved the book so much, he eventually worked with Simon through Cortese, which is why if you didn't know Simon Wheatley's name, there's a good chance you've already seen his influence. Follow for more stories behind fashion and culture.