Candid amateur photos taken on streets of Britain show the colourful and crazy side of life in Blighty
Chris Porsz, 65, has spent years snapping the British public since he developed a passion for photography in Peterborough
AN amateur photographer has published an incredible series of pictures captured over eight years snapping the colourful characters of the British public.
Paramedic Chris Porsz walked hundreds of miles around 25 cities since 2010 taking quirky pictures of everyday life, from pensioners and party-goers to buskers to bikers.
The 65-year-old from Peterborough has now published a book, Streets Of Britain, featuring more than 350 pictures from UK cities.
The photos offer a unique snapshot of life in Britain today, with pictures of people singing, screaming and scooting.
Chris said: "I have walked many miles over the years, unsure exactly what I am looking for but I just know when I see it and then 'snap!'.
"It's usually something surreal, bizarre, someone a bit eccentric who stands out from the madding crowd or everyday people caught up in some humorous interaction."
Chris caught the photography bug after buying a camera when his first child Simon was born in 1978.
He began walking the streets of his home town of Peterborough for inspiration and quickly developed a passion for street photography. He later decided to hone his craft by visiting other cities.
Chris said: "Some cities were full of characters, such as Brighton, and it was easy to get lots of good pictures, but others I had to keep returning to until I got what I needed. I've tried to capture a snapshot of a day in each of the cities."
He added that sometimes it would be frustrating if someone walked in front of the camera at the wrong time or he missed the moment, but other pictures would then make up for it.
He added: "My near misses would fill another book, but any moments of dejection and self-doubt are soon forgotten when I see a man in Newcastle wearing a pink suit and a horse's head, or a pensioner walking around Nottingham with an owl on his arm, as you do.
"I cannot resist snapping the drunken hens and their inevitable 'here I am, tadar!' pose. Every town too has its fire and brimstone brigade so I just wait patiently for a 'sinner' to come along to make a lucky juxtaposition."
Chris said his work as a paramedic at Peterborough City Hospital helped with his street photography as he was able to "reassure complete strangers" and "react instinctively to the unexpected."
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Sometimes Chris would talk to the subjects of his photos and discover an even more exciting story - the front cover of his book is one of his favourites.
He explained: "The lady was about 90 and lived in Peterborough and was describing how as a young girl on Bonfire Night she set off a rocket and it went through the window of a policeman's house and burnt it down.
"Although it looks like she is giving the finger, she is actually putting her finger up to demonstrate the rocket going in the air."
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