Street photography thrives in London today. It documents themovement, diversity and seeming incoherence of the most multiculturalcity in the world. Its defining characteristic is the keen eyeof the photographer catching the moment of a chance encounter,a fleeting expression or a momentary juxtaposition in a decisiveclick.However, photographing life on London's streets is nothing new.The first instantaneous' London street scenes were taken in theearly 1860s, and by the 1890s candid street photographers weresnapping Londoners unawares. The 20th century saw many photographers,famous and lesser-known, continue to capture thedaily life of London.London Street Photography showcases the Museum of London'sunique historic collection of photographs. It contains the work ofmore than seventy photographers and is a fascinating view ofLondon street life of the last 150 years. It includes the work of wellknownphotographers such as Paul Martin, John Thomson,Humphrey Spender, Bert Hardy, László Moholy-Nagy, RogerMayne and Tony Ray-Jones as well as the work of many anonymousphotographers whose contribution has been just as importantin recording the story of the city.The book includes an introduction by Mike Seaborne, SeniorCurator of Photographs at the Museum, in which he outlines thehistory of street photography in the capital, exploring the shifts inapproach as well as the impact of new cameras that allowed photographersto capture the wealth of detail to be found in London'steeming streets.