There are few photographers from the last seventy years whose work is as recognisable as the work of veteran photojournalist John Bulmer. His seminal book The North has been re-published with additional new photographs illustrating ordinary lives with extraordinary photography.
In 1962, the Sunday Times Colour Section was launched. At that time, almost all newspaper photographers worked in black and white and were unprepared for the switch to colour. John Bulmer immediately made the necessary adjustment, pioneering the use of colour in photojournalism and his work featured prominently in the the Sunday Times and other magazines.
The Sunday Times Colour Section marked John's transition into colour. Two years earlier, in 1960, Granada Television had introduced its groundbreaking Coronation Street, which perpetuated the visual image of the North as predominately urban, monochrome and bleak. Bulmer's photographs gave a counter-balance to this stereotyping. His beautiful use of colour presents a softer, more subtle and sympathetic view.
John had already established his reputation with gritty monochrome images for magazines such as Town, Time and Tide and Image. His early assignments to the North of England captured a critical time in the region's history as traditional industries collapsed, creating high unemployment and a bleak future.
The North was originally published in 2011. The book was an instant success and went into several reprints. John, working with Image & Reality, has revisited his archive and re-edited the original book to include some 40 new images from the original assignments.
The Copyright of the images in The North belongs to Paul Popper Ltd, trading as Popperfoto.
The North will have a new Foreword written by Simon Hill CPhot., HonFRPS, the President of the Royal Photographic Society.
The North is available for pre-order now, for delivery in February 2026.
The North will be 240 pages, printed as a hardback in landscape format, 290 mm x 260 mm, ISBN: ISBN 978-1-9193805-0-6.
There are few photographers from the last seventy years whose work is as recognisable as the work of veteran photojournalist John Bulmer. His seminal book The North has been re-published with additional new photographs illustrating ordinary lives with extraordinary photography.
In 1962, the Sunday Times Colour Section was launched. At that time, almost all newspaper photographers worked in black and white and were unprepared for the switch to colour. John Bulmer immediately made the necessary adjustment, pioneering the use of colour in photojournalism and his work featured prominently in the the Sunday Times and other magazines.
The Sunday Times Colour Section marked John's transition into colour. Two years earlier, in 1960, Granada Television had introduced its groundbreaking Coronation Street, which perpetuated the visual image of the North as predominately urban, monochrome and bleak. Bulmer's photographs gave a counter-balance to this stereotyping. His beautiful use of colour presents a softer, more subtle and sympathetic view.
John had already established his reputation with gritty monochrome images for magazines such as Town, Time and Tide and Image. His early assignments to the North of England captured a critical time in the region's history as traditional industries collapsed, creating high unemployment and a bleak future.
The North was originally published in 2011. The book was an instant success and went into several reprints. John, working with Image & Reality, has revisited his archive and re-edited the original book to include some 40 new images from the original assignments.
The Copyright of the images in The North belongs to Paul Popper Ltd, trading as Popperfoto.
The North will have a new Foreword written by Simon Hill CPhot., HonFRPS, the President of the Royal Photographic Society.
The North is available for pre-order now, for delivery in February 2026.
The North will be 240 pages, printed as a hardback in landscape format, 290 mm x 260 mm, ISBN: ISBN 978-1-9193805-0-6.
Image 1 of 27
Image 2 of 27
Image 3 of 27
Image 4 of 27
Image 5 of 27
Image 6 of 27
Image 7 of 27
Image 8 of 27
Image 9 of 27
Image 10 of 27
Image 11 of 27
Image 12 of 27
Image 13 of 27
Image 14 of 27
Image 15 of 27
Image 16 of 27
Image 17 of 27
Image 18 of 27
Image 19 of 27
Image 20 of 27
Image 21 of 27
Image 22 of 27
Image 23 of 27
Image 24 of 27
Image 25 of 27
Image 26 of 27
Image 27 of 27