The portraits capture a mix of regulars and transient visitors, many of whom had spent their lives working in tough industries such as fishing and shipbuilding. The images are straightforward and unsentimental, showing men with lined faces, heavy coats, and strong hands, as well as younger drinkers and occasional visitors. The pub was known for its openness to all, including sailors from visiting ships, which added to its diverse clientele. The series reflects both the camaraderie and the hardships of those who spent time there.

Rather than staging or interfering, Jedrzejczyk worked with available light and the natural atmosphere of The Jungle, allowing people to present themselves as they wished. The result is a raw and honest record of a community that was already beginning to change, as industries declined and social landscapes shifted. The series remains an important document of working-class life in North Shields at a time when traditional livelihoods were under pressure.

Isabela Jedrzejczyk is a documentary photographer whose work explores the lives and landscapes of working-class communities, particularly in the North East of England. Born in London, she studied at Nottingham Trent University before moving to Newcastle in 1977 to work at Side Gallery. She soon became a member of the Amber Collective, contributing to the growing AmberSide Collection.

Originally known for her landscape photography, Jedrzejczyk turned her focus to people and places with strong social and historical significance. In 1980, she produced Jungle Portraits, a series of portraits taken at the Northumberland Arms in North Shields, a pub known locally as The Jungle and a gathering place for the fishing community.

Now living in a village near Carlisle, Cumbria, Jedrzejczyk is known for work that reflects an interest in capturing the character and atmosphere of everyday spaces.