Street Photography - DPChallenge Forums

12/17/2025 07:35:08 PM · #1

Of all the many different styles of photography, Street Photography is my favorite.

Street Photography: What is it?

Street photography is a genre of visual art that captures everyday life and "unmediated" moments in public spaces. Unlike portraiture or fashion photography, it is generally candid and unstaged, focusing on the random interactions between people and their environments.

While the name suggests a city street, the genre actually encompasses any public area—beaches, parks, subways, or even rural roads.

What are its Characteristics?

The Decisive Moment: A term coined by pioneer Henri Cartier-Bresson, it refers to capturing a fleeting second where all elements—subject, light, and composition—align perfectly.

Candid Nature: The subjects are usually unaware of the camera, preserving their authentic behavior.

The Mundane: It finds beauty or interest in "ordinary" scenes that most people walk past without noticing.

Juxtaposition: Many street photos rely on irony or contrast—for example, a person standing next to an advertisement that seems to comment on their situation.

How to do it:

If you’re interested in trying it yourself, you don't need expensive gear. Most street photographers prefer prime lenses (fixed focal length like 35mm or 50mm) because they are small and force you to move your body to get the shot.

Start with "Street Scenes": If photographing strangers feels intimidating, start by capturing the light, shadows, and architecture of the street without people.

The "Fishing" Technique: Find a background with great light or interesting geometry, and wait for the right person to walk into the frame.

Dress Inconspicuously: Wear dark or neutral colors to blend into the crowd.

Don't appear to be a voyeur: Be an active participant in the "scene." People will be more receptive to you and your camera if you are part of the action rather than a simple observer. Your results will be more exciting as well.

...stay tuned for more...

12/18/2025 08:11:11 AM · #2

Eugene Atget - 1857-1927

Often called the "founder" of street photography, Atget spent decades documenting the disappearing architecture and street scenes of "Old Paris." Though he saw himself as a simple documentarian, his work’s moody, surreal quality inspired generations of artists.

Eugene Atget (Wikipedia)
Eugene Atget (MoMA)
Eugene Atget (International Center of Photography)
Eugene Atget (National Gallery of Art)

Eugene Atget (Masters of Photography - Video)
Eugene Atget (Developing Tank Biography - Video)

Message edited by author 2025-12-18 11:05:11.

12/19/2025 10:09:06 AM · #3

Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004)

As I was studying street photography in my younger days, my favorite photographer was Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004). He was a French photographer often hailed as the father of modern photojournalism. He was also a co-founder of Magnum Photos along side Robert Capa, David Seymour, and George Rodger.

Cartier-Bresson’s technical "rules" helped define the look of street photography:

Be unobtrusive: He almost exclusively used a small, handheld Leica 35mm rangefinder with a 50mm lens. It was silent and discreet, allowing him to be a "fly on the wall."

No Cropping: He famously refused to crop his photos in the darkroom. He believed the composition must be perfected in the viewfinder at the moment of the shot. He often printed his photos with a black border to prove he hadn't cropped the image.

Black and White: He viewed color as a distraction, believing that black and white allowed the viewer to focus on form, light, and geometry.

Henri Cartier-Bresson (The Decisive Moments of Street Photography Master - Video)
Henri Cartier-Bresson (International Center of Photography)

12/22/2025 07:58:45 AM · #4

Hey there, thanks for all of this info, street photography is one of my faves too. I went out the other day to shoot street photos for a recent challenge and had a blast. Hoping to get back to it now that I've started fiddling with photography again. 😊 I'll check out all of the links above and note the tips.

12/22/2025 04:25:18 PM · #5

Originally posted by kichu:

Share some of your stuff with us!

12/22/2025 04:39:54 PM · #6

Photo taken on 1/21/2005

One of my favorite street photographers of the modern era is Joel Meyerowitz. I had the pleasure of meeting AND photographing him at one of his gallery displays and talks about his experiences having been given nearly unrestricted access to ground zero in lower Manhattan after the 9/11 attacks. Joel hoofed through that rubble with emergency workers with a huge 8x10 large format camera to document the aftermath and recovery of that event.

Joel Meyerowitz - Personal Website

12/25/2025 03:38:40 PM · #7

Angel Mateo - Spain

This guy on Flickr has an amazing body of work from modern day Spain...

Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra

02/27/2026 10:09:48 AM · #8

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Angel Mateo - Spain

This guy on Flickr has an amazing body of work from modern day Spain...

I somehow missed this a couple of months ago but saw it yesterday and agree, I adore his work! I followed him on flickr and cant wait to do a deep dive into his work. He liked some of my photos and the ones he chose collectively look like a gallery presentation of fine art in my notifications. He somehow managed to turn liking someone else's photos into art! What an eye.

Tiberius

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

02/27/2026 12:33:28 PM · #9

Hugo P

02/27/2026 12:54:47 PM · #10

Originally posted by Tiberius:

Hugo P

nice! following, thanks

Barroness

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

02/27/2026 05:04:55 PM · #11

"I somehow missed this a couple of months ago but saw it yesterday and agree"

Thank you for bringing this around again Nancy. I almost missed it and this work is so valuable for learning and a way to see the world as it is, a sign of the times, what art is really meant to be. John Thank you for sharing!