London at Dawn

Introduction to London at Dawn
In 2002 photographer Anthony Epes published London at Dawn, a collection of his photographs accompanied by contributions from writers and London personalities about this exciting city at this unique time of the day. Originally published by Metro Publishing in 2002/3, Anthony Epes will be updating the book with new contributions and photographs for June 2012.

Original contributors for London at Dawn included Simon Callow, Mo Mowlam, Antony Sher, Iain Sinclair, Sarah Lucas, Melvyn Bragg, Alexei Sayle, Benjamin Zephaniah and Alain de Botton, who wrote about their own individual experiences of London in the early morning hours. See below for extracts from the original book.

Collaboration with John Bird and The Big Issue
The idea for London at Dawn was conceived by Big Issue founder John Bird who slept rough on the streets of the city in the 1960’s. John met Anthony in California in 1999, and he started developing the idea for a book that drew from his desire to document a side of his beloved city that people don’t often see.

Anthony has sold over 250 limited edition prints from the project, giving 20% of the proceeds of the print sales to The Big Issue. The updated book will also contribute 10% of all net proceeds from the booksales to the vital work The Big Issue does to help the homeless help themselves.

About London at Dawn
The dawn hours of London, particularly in summer, are often a hidden time. Sometimes we have the pleasure of arriving home in the early hours, or perhaps the displeasure at having to get up at dawn, but these hours are the quietest time in this exhaustingly busy city.

London at Dawn reveals a view of the city that is rarely seen by its inhabitants. Local people are amazed by the emptiness of the streets, the beauty of the dawn light and the calm that pervades the views of our beautiful capital. The book encouraged great conversations and memories, both from the contributors and those who purchased it – from meeting the dawn’s hour after the birth of their first child, to walking home after meeting a great love or leaving for a great trip. Everyone has a dawn story.