In this age when many famous fine art photographers and
photojournalists strive to capture the mundane, the banal, the everyday
reality of our existence, it is like a breath of fresh air to come upon
this unique collection of inexpensive snapshots taken by inexperienced
camera operators.
These are truly delightful photos of ordinary day-in-the life experiences
taken by the men and women who deliver the mail throughout Great Britain.
This project — conceived, managed and edited
by the young photographer Stephen Gill — offered the free use of
disposable cameras to every member of the Royal Mail. Hundreds took him
up on the offer, and as a result, Gill painstakingly reviewed over 30,000
images to end up with the best of the best. It is apparent that everyone
had fun in the process.
The goal was to create intimate documentary views of the UK that are rarely
seen except by postal carriers, utility workers, garbage collectors, and
so on.
Why? Because it might be interesting to see a country, more or less in
real-time, from such a privileged vantage point.
How to get everyone on board with the idea? Promise to publish a tightly
edited book and sell lots of copies to benefit a charitable organization.
In addition to a wonderful collection of photos (printed and sequenced
beautifully), the reader is rewarded by thoughtful essays, and hilarious,
heart-warming hand-written notes that accompanied the cameras on their
return to the organizers of the event. You can (and should) buy it online
from the Royal Mail.
— Jim Casper
Book review
Unseen UK
In this photobook conceived and edited by Stephen Gill, mail carriers from the Royal Mail share their unique views on British
society and culture along their postal routes.
View Images
Book review
Unseen UK
In this photobook conceived and edited by Stephen Gill, mail carriers from the Royal Mail share their unique views on British
society and culture along their postal routes.
Unseen UK
In this photobook conceived and edited by Stephen Gill, mail carriers from the Royal Mail share their unique views on British
society and culture along their postal routes.

