Behind the Scenes of the British Underworld: Jocelyn Bain Hogg and “The Firm” at Leica Gallery London
The dark and mysterious atmosphere of British underworld crime is brought to the streets of Mayfair through the lens of Jocelyn Bain Hogg, one of the respected figures of documentary photography. The photographer’s iconic series “The Firm” meets art lovers at Leica Gallery London with its original analog prints from July 10 to September 2, 2026.
A Dangerous Journey Beginning on a Soho Night
The birth of the project began with an assignment for Bain Hogg to photograph two figures from the London underworld for British Elle magazine. A sincere conversation about father-son relationships over drinks at a club in Soho enabled the photographer to step into this closed world. Originally planned as a one-month feature for Japanese GQ magazine, the work transformed into a massive archive series as the artist continuously documented this uncanny atmosphere for three full years.
Honesty and Stark Reality
Bain Hogg emphasizes that he never lied to the people he photographed nor acted like he belonged to their world. Unposed, unscripted, and completely free of complicity, these shots lay bare the harsh, unfiltered reality of the underworld. Showing every photograph he took to his subjects day by day, the artist managed to maintain a balance of trust thanks to this honest approach.
Original Prints Emerging from Yellow Kodak Boxes
Carrying a distinct value in the digital image era, this special selection was retrieved from yellow Kodak boxes stored for decades. Printed by Bain Hogg himself in the darkroom with his own hands, these vintage works serve as historical documents of documentary photography with handwritten notes, signatures, and stamps on their backs.
