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Photos of the week: Britain through a lense

We’ve all got our own ways of looking at the British Isles, but acclaimed 20th century photographer Edwin Smith had a talent for capturing glimpses of everyday life…

BRITAIN magazine — Clothes line, Glencaple, Scotland, 1954. Credit: Edwin Smith, RIBA Photographs Collection

The 20th century photographer Edwin Smith lived from 1912 until 1971 and during this time he became famed for the way in which he documented Britain and the lives of everyday Britons.

His evocative urban scenes, moody landscapes and atmospheric interiors in black and white are now being shown as part of the Ordinary Beauty: The Photography of Edwin Smith exhibition, which is currently on at the Architecture Gallery in London.

This is the first major retrospective of the acclaimed photographer and features over 1,000 of his black and white photographs.

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Kentish-Town-station,-London-1936-(c)-Edwin-Smith,-RIBA-Library-Photographs-Collection — Kentish Town station, London 1936 Credit: Edwin Smith, RIBA Library Photographs Collection

Lyne-Church,-Peebles,-Scotland-1967-(c)-Edwin-Smith,-RIBA-Library-Photographs-Collection — Lyne Church, Peebles, Scotland 1967. Credit: Edwin Smith, RIBA Library Photographs Collection

St-Columba's-Wells,-Londonderry-(Derry)-,-N-Ireland,-1965-(c)-Edwin-Smith,-RIBA-Library-Photographs-Collection — St Columba’s Wells, Londonderry (Derry), Northern Ireland, 1965. Credit: Edwin Smith, RIBA Library Photographs Collection

St-Lawrence,-Didmarton,-Gloucestershire,-1962-(c)-Edwin-Smith,-RIBA-Library-Photographs-Collection — St Lawrence, Didmarton, Gloucestershire, 1962. Credit: Edwin Smith, RIBA Library Photographs Collection

Valeria Carullo, RIBA co-curator of the exhibition said:

“Edwin Smith’s images provoke an immediate emotional response and at the same time offer the opportunity for observation and reflection. This exhibition offers a timely reappraisal of his exceptional work and emphasises the prominent place he deserves in the history of British photography.”

The exhibition runs until 6 December 2014.

Find out more about the Ordinary Beauty: The Photography of Edwin Smith exhibition.

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