One of the most beautiful, honest, well sequenced, downright lovely photography books ever made in my opinion is Tom Wood’s Photie Man.

cover of Photie Man, 2005
© Tom Wood

For 25 years Tom Wood lived in New Brighton, just across the river Mersey from Liverpool. He became known locally as “photie man” because everyday he was out on the streets with his camera. Most of the pictures collected together in this book were taken within 5 minutes walk from Wood’s home. The work focuses on the inhabitants of the town and its regular visitors, from Liverpool day-trippers to clubbers who attended the Chelsea Reach nightspot. Wood’s images are a dazzling selection of cocky youths, friends, lovers, fathers, mothers and babies that provide insight into the area, it’s inhabitants and the rites of passage inherent in growing up.

Here are a few spreads from the book:

spread from Photie Man, 2005
© Tom Wood

spread from Photie Man, 2005
© Tom Wood

spread from Photie Man, 2005
© Tom Wood

spread from Photie Man, 2005
© Tom Wood

spread from Photie Man, 2005
© Tom Wood

spread from Photie Man, 2005
© Tom Wood

spread from Photie Man, 2005
© Tom Wood

spread from Photie Man, 2005
© Tom Wood

spread from Photie Man, 2005
© Tom Wood

spread from Photie Man, 2005
© Tom Wood

Pick up a copy for yourself here.

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