Steve Best
"The fact is no one takes photos of comedians like Steve. Why? Because he knows us, because he’s one of us. No one captures the atmosphere backstage like him because no one has the access - to us he’s just Steve, and he’s got his camera with him again, we stop trying to impress or be funny - no mean feat for a comic - and CLICK! he’s got us.
When I look at these photos I’m right back there in the clubs, in the theatres, that happy vibrant scene, the camaraderie, the thrill and the fight - because it doesn’t matter how big or successful you are or how many people have bought tickets to see you, we are all, at the end of the day exactly the same thing - stand up comics and on any night any one of the people in this book can die or be the best in the world. Only we know this and only Steve is able to nail it."
Harry Hill
Comedian
Sean Lock
R.I.P
1963 - 2021
"Steve has a fantastic eye for catching the moment. Being a comedian himself he totally gets the timing of comedy and the nuances and idiosyncrasies of the comedians. He also understands the Comedy Store, the best comedy club in the world (I would say that wouldn’t I?)
His pictures document the ever changing world of comedy and comedians. With this collection of photographs he has not only given us so much visual pleasure but also a superlative historical pictorial documentation of the best live comedy scene in the world.
Don Ward
Founder, Executive Producer & CEO of the Comedy Store
Phil Jerrod
R.I.P
1979 - 2021
“You’re used to posing for photographs in this line of work, so a lot of photos we have of ourselves have a self awareness about them. Steve always captures us in the most natural positions. This photo of me for example, this is the first and last time I will ever strike this pose. I imagine it’ll be the photo they use at my service when I actually die on stage in my 70’s (a psychic told me once, that’s how it’s going to happen.)"
Jayde Adams
Steve has photographed over a 1000 comedians for two photography books: Comedy Snapshot and Joker Face.
Steve's exhibition 'Comedians: Back to Front' is at the Observatory Photography Gallery. This was chosen by the Guardian's critic Jonathan Jones as one of Five of the Best...Exhibitions to see.