The 150 photos on show currently at the National Portrait Gallery were hidden from public view for over sixty years. Interestingly curated by subject style rather than chronology it does cause a bit of disorientation at times.

Using a narrow depth of field with a plain background he has softened the edges of many of the women he has photographed. Showing a sense of humour in some of the photographs – particularly the lady with the big organ pipe, oo er missus –  we also identified a darker almost sinister edge to a number of the possibly posed street photos.

Using a hidden camera he captured some unusual views of people. Would he get away with that today?

Most striking for me was a view in the underground (where I felt like I was inside a snake); a nude with very dark triangular background shapes and lighting used so the back of the head was almost fading away; the real Peter Pan and the delightful face which reminded me of Tamara Lempicke’s work on a portrait of a commonly used painter’s model of the time.

A great exhibition of photos. Not much more info in the display than is on the website which is worth reading before you go.