Toby Binder is a social documentary photographer based between Argentina and Germany, his long-form documentary projects explore working-class life, post-war crises, and the social, environmental, and political issues shaping everyday experience.
Photo © Toby Binder, all rights reserved.
Binder has been documenting working-class life in Britain for over a decade, focusing heavily on youth culture. In March 2019, he released an incredible body of work titled “Wee Muckers – Youth of Belfast”, published by Kehrer. The images from the series were photographed in six different areas of Belfast, focusing on teenagers in six other Protestant and Catholic neighbourhoods. The photos provide an intimate insight into the daily lives of an entire generation in the city.
Photo © Toby Binder, all rights reserved.
A large body of Binder’s work focuses heavily on street football culture in Scotland – with young people playing ‘fitba’ on pitches, backyards and in the street in every corner of the country.
“For me, there is no other nation in Europe suffering a larger gap between passion-created expectations on the one hand and success, or better, failure, on the other. I keep my fingers crossed that the Bravehearts will finally qualify again for the World Cup!” – Toby Binder.
Photo © Toby Binder, all rights reserved.
"When I first came to Scotland in 1996, I was fascinated by the Scots' enthusiasm for football and its importance in the community despite the country's lack of success at the international level. I love this street football mentality and believe it belongs much more to this sport than any youth academies of big clubs. It represents the essence of sport and teaches essential life lessons; one doesn't have to be successful to love something or feel passion for it."
- Toby Binder
Photo © Toby Binder, all rights reserved.
Binder’s photographs capture something special; you can see his genuine connection to his subject, which comes through in each photograph. The images in his ever-expanding archive will become necessary documentation of football and street culture in the UK.
His work has been internationally recognised, receiving awards such as the Gomma Grant by LensCulture, the Felix-Schoeller Award, and the Sony World Photo Awards.
Photo © Toby Binder, all rights reserved.
Photo © Toby Binder, all rights reserved.
Photo © Toby Binder, all rights reserved.
Photo © Toby Binder, all rights reserved.
Photo © Toby Binder, all rights reserved.
