Black+White Photography

Rags to riches

When Paul Reid quit his humbrum job and became a professional photographer, he forged the career he’d always dreamed of. In B+W 302 he talks to Roderick Field about building a community and the launch of his first book, ‘Monochrome Portraits’.
Image: ©Paul Reid

‘There’s a saying that many men live their lives in quiet desperation. I used to joke with my co-workers, asking if anyone else cried in the shower every morning before heading to work.’

Quitting the 9-to-5 to follow the dream is a story many of us aspire to, but Paul didn’t opt for the conventional route of odd-jobbing, or freelancing. Instead, he set out to capitalise on what came naturally – walking the streets and capturing intense and beautiful black & white portraits of strangers with his Leica.

Read our interview with Paul Reid in B+W 302

Subscribe to read more