Every day, as he worked on his master’s degree in documentary photography and photojournalism, he practiced the furtive art of street shooting wherever he went.

“My camera was a reason to explore more, walk more, observe more and learn more about the city,” he said, “and specially about East London.” He also honed his craft as he peeled back East London’s layers. He discovered that the East End’s angles and architecture made magic with light and shadow, and that its colors and multiculturalism offered a trove of artistic possibilities.

More than five years and thousands of images later, “Documenting East London” reveals his part of the city and his confident visual style. The play of light and shadow and the highlighting of single images within a frame make his photos look almost like oil paintings. (In fact, he considers the Baroque master Caravaggio, who combined human scenes with dramatic chiaroscuro lighting, a major inspiration.)