Fed-up with forking out a fortune to live in a boxroom? Tired of being kept awake at night by the sound of gunfire? Sick of dodging drunks on your door step?

It could be worse - you could be living in Manchester.

New York-born photo-journalist Sebastian Meyer spent 18 months in the self-styled capital of the north west, working as a snapper for the Manchester Evening News.

In that short time, the 26-year-old built up an impressive body of street photography, spending his spare hours taking pictures of the urban decay his paymasters were keen to gloss over, a collection that can be seen at the Platform 1 Gallery at Wandsworth Common Station from Friday.

"My bosses wanted to paint a certain picture of Manchester that didn't ring true with my own experience of the place," said Meyer.

"They wanted to focus on all the new shops and luxury apartments going up in the city centre, or on the glamorous Cheshire-set living in Alderley Edge.

"In reality, the place is still struggling to come to terms with the end of the industrial revolution. Up until the mid-1990s it was a city very much in decline, but that gives it a charm that far outweighs the glossy image my paper was trying to portray."

Meyer spent time wandering the man-made canals of Manchester, built to ferry trade during the boom years, but long since redundant.

He has also captured the life lurking in the back streets and railway arches, with scenes of graffiti and deprivation common to all major cities.

Filmed in black and white, Meyer presents a dank and dark view of a city which doesn't necessarily mirror his own sentiments for the place.

"It may be dismal, but a lot of that is down to the weather - it does rain a lot in Manchester," said Meyer.

"Saying that, I loved every minute of my time in Manchester - because of the people.

"I have travelled a lot and the Mancunians have the best sense of humour of anyone I have met.

"They have such a dry wit. Watch Shameless, Phoenix Nights or even Coronation Street. That humour comes from the city itself.

"It's like that old adage - if you don't laugh, you'll cry."

The Manchester Series, Platform 1 Gallery, Wandsworth Common train station, November 3-16, Mon-Fri 4-7pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm, free. Visit platform1gallery.com.