Setanta Books has published a striking new photography collection titled "The Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets" by acclaimed street photographer Bruce Gilden. The book presents an uncompromising and raw portrait of England, showcasing the country through the lens of one of street photography's most fearless practitioners.
Gilden's work takes readers on a journey from Liverpool's football terraces to the troubled corners of Kings Cross, from surreal nights in Newcastle to harsh encounters in Welsh mining towns. His signature intensity captures the tension, humor, and unease of everyday English life with unflinching honesty. The photographer draws inspiration from Tony Ray-Jones' classic work "A Day Off," but Gilden deliberately chose to explore England not through its picturesque postcard views, but through its grit, danger, and the people living on society's edge.
The stories behind Gilden's photographs are as vivid and compelling as the images themselves. His experiences include being forced out of Anfield stadium by police on his birthday, dodging pickpockets in crowded streets, navigating drug-fueled confrontations, stumbling upon a faded boxing legend, and witnessing chaos unfold in working men's clubs. These encounters paint a picture of an England far removed from romantic stereotypes.
This is decidedly not a romanticized vision of England. Instead, it presents a place where taking photographs often wasn't safe, where street smarts proved as essential as camera skills. Gilden's photographic approach transforms voyeurism into direct confrontation, exposing the surreal theater of public life through moments that are simultaneously violent and tender, absurd and unsettling.
The resulting publication sits uniquely between documentary photography and personal diary, creating a jagged and unforgettable journey into England's shadows. Every frame captures the collision between danger and humanity, offering viewers an authentic glimpse into a side of England rarely seen in mainstream media.
The book is published as a hardback edition with a gold dust jacket, measuring 300 x 230 mm with 108 pages containing 54 images. It's available in a limited edition of 750 copies. A special edition is also offered, featuring prints in editions of 20 numbered and stamped copies, signed and numbered by Bruce Gilden on the verso. These special edition prints are produced on Hahnemühle Pearl paper, measuring 28 x 19 cm (11 x 7 inches) with a 1.5 cm (0.6 inch) white border.
