Union Street

Union Street is an iconic part of Aberdeen’s history and identity, but the pandemic brought business closures, declining footfall and growing negative perceptions of its urban environment.

In response, I created a photographic project exploring the street through bold colour, atmosphere and visual energy. Rooted in my wider street photography and social documentary practice, the work challenges these perceptions, capturing the character of a familiar place while offering a renewed sense of optimism for the city and its residents.

Person wearing a red top and a patterned skirt standing at a counter inside a restaurant, seen from behind. The restaurant has yellow tiles and warm lighting.

A man wearing a black and white striped shirt is sitting at a table inside a restaurant. The image is taken from outside through a glass window with a blue frame, reflecting part of the street. Inside, there are other customers and a sign on the wind

Reflection of a woman with a cap looking at her phone inside a shop or cafe, with buildings and blue sky visible through the window.

A woman with long hair wearing a brown jacket, looking at her phone, sitting at a bus stop, with a large bag on her lap. Behind her, a young man with dark hair in a dark jacket and hoodie, talking, and other people waiting at the bus stop. The scene

A person with short blonde hair wearing a yellow jacket is standing at a crosswalk with a red traffic light visible nearby, in an urban street scene with buildings and signs.

People walking near a construction site with green safety fencing, viewed through a glass door with white polka dots and reflections of buildings and sunlight.

A display window with mannequin dressed in white pants and a red jacket, with a white textured fabric at the bottom and some green plants and yellow flowers outside.

A young man and a young woman standing at a bus stop, looking at a timetable. The young man is holding a paper shopping bag, wearing a white t-shirt and khaki pants. The young woman has braided hair, wearing a black t-shirt and black pants, with her

Blurred image seen through a textured glass or plastic surface, possibly a frosted or ribbed window, with some faint hints of colors and shapes behind it.

Person with red shirt and backpack standing in front of a bus window, looking at a phone, with reflections of street scene and multiple people in the background.

A woman standing on a city sidewalk holding a purple bag and a smartphone, with buildings and a double-decker bus in the background under a clear blue sky.

Reflective glass window showing mannequins inside a store, some with sports jackets, and buildings outside.

Back view of a woman with blonde hair, wearing a leather jacket and a shoulder bag, standing on a city street with buildings and cars in the background.

Young woman with long hair wearing white headphones, holding a smartphone, standing at a train or bus station with people and buildings in the background.

Reflection of a person taking a photo in a glass window, with a city street, bus, and buildings in the background.

Union Street

© 2025 Lee Garson