Allan Graham-Tay

City Rhythm in Black and White

ABOUT


The Unseen Chronicle:
Gritty Black & White Street Life

Currently based in Vancouver, Scottish-born artist Allan Graham-Tay studied art in Edinburgh, incorporating photography into his foundational practice. Over decades of working across America, Asia, and Europe, he has established a distinct, uncompromising lens for contemporary urban life.

"I was born in the late fifties, part of a large family in a small fishing town on the East Coast of Scotland. As a kid I would always be fascinated by the family piss up, I would find a corner and quietly sit and wait for their drink to kick in and observe the changing group dynamics. The drunker they became the more exaggerated their facial expressions and body language would become. These childhood memories would develop my interest and style in photography in later life."

Working exclusively in high-impact black and white, Graham-Tay captures the raw pulse of street life, inner-city grit, and striking coastal vistas. His modern documentary work centers on character-driven portraits and complex crowd interactions—observing the unobserved because, in his words, "every one of them has an untold story to tell."





Copyright ©Allan Graham-Tay
ABOUT image

STREETLIFE

I’m an observer, character faces and interactions, life moments grab my attention. I read somewhere that the best piece of equipment a photographer can have is an eye for a picture”

TRAVELS

My love of street photography allows me to travel around the world, capturing unique images in different cities, these are just a few samples

SAN FRANCISCO

LUCCA, ITALY

“Inspiration is everything in photography, so in 2021 when travelling seemed safe, and a window of opportunity opened, I grabbed my gear and took a flight and travelled to Italy (Lucca) to be re-inspired and capture street life. This amazing unique walled city and the locals were just the inspiration I needed, cobbled lanes, cafe culture, shadows and, noise and interaction, and lets not forget the amazing food and daily glasses of spritz”

LATEST WORK

After two years of covid, new country and new home, restricted travels, I finally get back to what I love doing, capturing you.

LIFE'S A BEACH

“I lived in an old cottage by the sea. grew up and raised my children by the sea. I feel a bond with it, there's a history. Whenever I need to stop and take a breath, I love nothing more than walking along the beach with my family and my dogs....the sea and me”

COVID - MY PERSONAL LOCKDOWN

“Covid affected everyone, from isolation, routine, group interaction, simple things like hugging or kissing a friend or loved one. I tried to document my personal covid lockdown locally with my camera by wandering around the quiet streets, empty roads, closed businesses so that in years to come I have my work to visually remind me of how crazy life became and how much the world changed"

Contact

  • San Francisco, CA, USA
  • 415-305-1523