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The Beauty Of Street Photography

By Andrew Gibson, December 14th, 2008 in Inspiration | 122 Comments | Forum

By Andrew Gibson and Smashing Editorial Team

Street photographers strive to capture the life and culture of city streets, searching for what Henri Cartier-Bresson, probably the most famous street photographer of all, termed the ‘Decisive Moment’.

When it comes to street photography, many photographers traditionally choose to work in black and white, focusing the viewer’s attention on the subject by eliminating the distraction of colour. Wide angle lenses are used by photographers who like to get in close to the action, a method that encourages interaction between the photographer and subject. Another technique is use a lens with a long focal length to take photos from a distance and throw the background out of focus.

Smashing Magazine celebrates the diversity and livelinesss of the world’s streets by presenting you 50 excellent examples of street photography, urban photography and photojournalism. There are links to the photographers’ websites and also some useful links to articles and tutorials at the bottom of the post.

Please notice: we didn’t feature Garry Winogrand, Bruce Gilden, Martin Parr, Henri Cartier-Bresson and other famous photographers — their works deserve a single post.

You may be interested in the following related posts:

60 Incredible Street Photos

Narelle Autio
Lisbon, Portugal.

Nils Jorgensen

Egill Ibsen
Madrid, Spain.

Paulete Matos

Craig Martin
Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Ransom Riggs
Dublin, Ireland.

Sion Fullana

Könrad

David Solomons

Matt Stuart

Nick Turpin

Pierre Choiniere

~ fernando

Claude Renault
Patna, India.

Massimo Camocardi

Adriana
Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Claude Renault
Chennai, India.

Richard Ford
Beijing, China.

Stefan Nielsen
Venice, Italy.

Umberto Verdoliva
Italy.

Richard Ford
Beijing, China, but it could be everywhere.

Jimmy Dovholt
Stockholm, Sweden.

Mario Jean
San Francisco, United States.

Moses Stell
Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Nino Cannizzaro
Savoca, Sicily.

Giuseppe Squillacioti

Last Click

Hamed Masoumi
A photo of Curig and Esther, a beautiful Iranian couple.

Resources

Documentary and Street Photography
Street photography tutorial from Luminous Landscape.
Street Photography
Tutorial by Philip Greenspun at photo.net.
Joel Meyerowitz on Street Photography
New York City pro photographer Joel Meyerowitz gives a video tutorial on street photography.
iN-PUBLiC
iN-PUBLiC - a home for street photographers.
Raw Street Photography
Official website of the Flickr group Raw Street Photography.
Masters Of Street Photography
Masters Of Street Photography
50 Master Photographers
The Real Street Photography Flickr Pool
Just Street Photography Flickr Pool
Extreme Street Photography
Street Or Studio Flickr Pool
5 Fav Street Photography
Street Noir Flickr Pool
WNYC’s Street Photography Challenge
hello, stranger Flickr Group
Hardcore Street Photography
Street Noir Flickr Pool
Street Photography: The Suchness of Life

Famous Street Photographers

Henri Cartier-Bresson
The French photographer who coined the term ‘The decisive moment.’
Bruce Gilden
American street photographer famous for getting extremely close to his subjects.
Martin Parr
Quirky and colourful photography from a master documentary photographer.

You may be interested in the following related posts:

About the author

Andrew Gibson is a photographer and writer. He has a photoblog called Andes where he displays his best photos from the South American Andes.

Published in Inspiration, December 14th, 2008
Tags: inspiration, photography, street

1.

Furkan (December 14th, 2008, 2:46 pm)

That’s great inspiration post. Thanks for this post. More beatiful is David Solomons.
2.

cnager (December 14th, 2008, 2:57 pm)

#10 with the little girl dancing.. good stuff
3.

A u d e e (December 14th, 2008, 3:03 pm)

Wow, this is cool :D Great for my monday morning inspiration!
4.

www.galaxyspectrum.com (December 14th, 2008, 3:03 pm)

The collection is so real - you can FEEL them inside
5.

Mediumjones (December 14th, 2008, 3:29 pm)

Nice collection… seems a lot of photographers over-baked their images in post production… Very talented shots though!
6.

Lawrence Anderson (December 14th, 2008, 3:35 pm)

Awesome post. Really inspiring.
7.

tubadei (December 14th, 2008, 4:07 pm)

Narelle Autio is Australian not “Lisbon, Portugal” and makes photos mainly in Australia, at least those shown were made there… just like her husbands’ - Trent Parke, Magnum Photos member. great post :)
8.

Jonathan (December 14th, 2008, 4:42 pm)

Some of those pictures gave me so much emotion! I feel strange now.
9.

DKumar M. (December 14th, 2008, 5:56 pm)

Nice collection of inspirational street photography.

DKumar
Link [www.instantshift.com]
10.

Jhay (December 14th, 2008, 6:00 pm)

Love this type of photography very inspiring. I like the dove shot!

Great post!
11.

Rames (December 14th, 2008, 6:10 pm)

Love this post! Thanks :)
12.

Aleso (December 14th, 2008, 6:16 pm)

amazing collention, thanks

Link [www.3dand2dmag.wordpress.com]
13.

ilovephotoblogs (December 14th, 2008, 6:35 pm)

Wow…what a great collection of street photography/photographers…This is definitely more photography than I can digest at one sitting…a must-have bookmark…I have featured a short post of this wonderful article on my Link [www.ilovephotoblogs.com]…thanks again.
14.

ethan (December 14th, 2008, 7:18 pm)

great photos! thank u for sharing!

Link [www.eleventhshot.com]
15.

Ryan Dury (December 14th, 2008, 9:32 pm)

This is a great collection. They are all wonderful in their own journalistic sense; Photographs that encapsulate moments of purity, a snap of time as if the camera wasn’t even there.

Link [flickr.com] (Feel free to add me as a contact)
16.

Sion Fullana (December 14th, 2008, 10:06 pm)

Thank you SO much for the inclusion of my picture on your list. It’s a big honor to be featured among such amazing photographers. And thanks to all of them, too, for the great inspiration provided by their photos when I’ve seen them.

Sion.
17.

Andris (December 14th, 2008, 11:07 pm)

Nice collection. Love the picture of Moses Stell.
18.

Bruno (December 14th, 2008, 11:46 pm)

The last click makes me believe in a better world…
thanks for the fantastic post smashing magazine!!!
19.

Hayfa (December 15th, 2008, 12:27 am)

Beautiful pictures.

I especially like Matt Stuart’s and Nick Turpin’s photos. They have brought the word “pun” to another level through images. Very English humour :)
20.

Jaden Nyberg (December 15th, 2008, 1:03 am)

Fantastic set! I’ve been waiting for one like this for a long time.

Jaden
21.

sven jens (December 15th, 2008, 1:56 am)

#10 Zwarte piet :D Dancing fantastic
22.

John (December 15th, 2008, 2:18 am)

Why not just say great photos.
A train is not a street, nor is a seaside cliff or an art gallery or a cafe or bar ……

BTW, they are great pgotos
23.

isabelle_yang (December 15th, 2008, 3:16 am)

my favorite set would have to be misterkey’s. the last pic with the shadow… looks as if they shadow was about to tap on her shoulder, when it’s actually her hand near the wall. pretty good angle!
24.

Tom Sawyer (December 15th, 2008, 3:25 am)

Should’ve been 40.
25.

sheepsound (December 15th, 2008, 3:51 am)

Bonjour, j’aime bien la photo du caricaturiste … Les autres sont biens mais celle-ci est ma préférée !

Hello, I like the photo of the cartoonist … The others are property, but it is my favorite!

Link [www.skateparkmontbriz.tk]
26.

Steve (December 15th, 2008, 4:13 am)

Truly beautiful collection you guys. It’s articles like this that keep me coming back.

@ John who posted at 2:18 am

Among the many accepted definitions of the word Link [dictionary.reference.com] are:
- the inhabitants or frequenters of a street
- coarse; crude; vulgar</cite
27.

Mark Pearson (December 15th, 2008, 5:14 am)

“The Decisive Moment” was not the book’s original title but that of its English language version.
Its original French title, “Images a la Sauvettee”, means images taken on the wing, on the fly, stolen images, a somewhat less positive connotation,
28.

Nathan Beck (December 15th, 2008, 5:58 am)

That is, in my opinion, the best photography post I’ve seen yet on Smashing Magazine. Absolutely love it and will be forwarding on to friends.
29.

Alain (December 15th, 2008, 6:05 am)

I completely agree with Nathan.
Great pictures…Most are B&W by the way.
30.

danny garcía (December 15th, 2008, 6:18 am)

oh nice pic`s
31.

josh (December 15th, 2008, 6:20 am)

some of these are kinda “blah”
32.

Larry Bradshaw (December 15th, 2008, 6:30 am)

This is great inspiration for us amateur photographers who want to be more pro-like.
33.

Allen (December 15th, 2008, 7:15 am)

Not a bad collection, a few good ones in there, some “urban landscapes”, some that seemed poised or setup which throws out the whole “Decisive Moment” mantra.

Look at any Magnum photographer for more fine examples of Street Photography
34.

Allan (December 15th, 2008, 7:25 am)

These photos are really amazing. There’s just so much vibrancy and life here.
35.

neil (December 15th, 2008, 8:21 am)

Great post thanks! Here is a load more from another guy i found on flickr. Some of them are simply great! Link [www.flickr.com]
36.

Rex (December 15th, 2008, 9:37 am)

Wow!… Isn’t photography awesome?!!!!
37.

tracy (December 15th, 2008, 10:07 am)

Great post. Inspiring stuff. Definitely need to step my game up.

Link [93autumns.com]
38.

David (December 15th, 2008, 10:51 am)

What’s the deal with model relseases for street photography? I was always under the impression that they were necessary.
39.

Ann (December 15th, 2008, 3:40 pm)

These photos are truly amazing and I think the best part about them is the moments they capture, you really feel like you are there.

After my fiance proposed to me with a gorgeous diamond engagement ring from Link [www.idonowidont.com] we are looking for a photographer who can get natural moments photographed, where its just us just being us, not formal.

We would totally love to find someone who can take the knowledge of capturing street photography and translating them to our engagement photos!
40.

adams (December 15th, 2008, 10:30 pm)

nice pict’s :)
love it all…
41.

Sion Fullana (December 16th, 2008, 2:46 am)

To ANN:

Congratulations on your engagement!!! I don’t know if you would consider my style fitting, but if so, I would gladly try my best to make you guys proud of your union and get your complicity put into images…. you can check my style at my Flickr page… available if you click on my picture on this post…

Thanks!
42.

KAte (December 16th, 2008, 6:06 am)

Fantastic post and many of these photographers are just the sort of people I would get n with.

I too am a urban photographer and have my own website about the subject of urban photography and its beauty. If any one is interested it is at Link [www.urban-photography-art.com]
43.

Tracy (December 16th, 2008, 8:42 am)

Another one that you missed. Link [www.markkitaoka.com]
44.

Camilla (December 16th, 2008, 9:42 am)

Great post - really beautiful shots. I love this type of photography x
45.

Nikki (December 16th, 2008, 10:58 am)

These are so nice. Its amazing what you can do with a camera and just the right moment in time. It’s sometimes hard to find the perfect moment to capture and better yet, be ready for it when it actually happens. Beautiful.
46.

Bischita (December 16th, 2008, 2:00 pm)

Impresionantes!!

Awesome!! wow!!
47.

Michelle (December 16th, 2008, 9:40 pm)

Whoa, whoa, whoa

Is that just black and white, or is that clown in blackface…?!
48.

Rakesh.S (December 17th, 2008, 4:53 am)

No words to describe my surprise !! Really cool post.
Expecting such posts in future also.
49.

Ignatz Horowitz (December 17th, 2008, 7:20 am)

Some of these might be considered “street” photography; some are not, and, what’s worse, some are posed. But better than the hideous “Fantastic HDR” nonsense.
50.

irq506 (December 17th, 2008, 8:38 am)

Hi the link to my flickr stuff above is incorrect try this instead

Link [www.flickr.com]

thanks for the exposure.
51.

Walker (December 18th, 2008, 6:50 am)

I am just getting started. You are an inspiration.
52.

Nehal Charania (December 18th, 2008, 7:06 am)

i need help,im trying to become a photojornilst can someone help?
53.

nasri (December 18th, 2008, 7:18 am)

Stumbled into smashing magazine and wow.. Gorgeous pictures! Hope to pick up the techniques that you have shown so beautifully… =)
54.

Rebecca (December 18th, 2008, 9:21 am)

Wow! Great photos. If you love street photography and travel, you could write about it. I’m sure you’d have interesting articles. By the way, I really liked the Venice, Italy and Stockholm, Sweden photos.

You may want to check out Travel-Writers-Exchange.com. You could combine your love of photography with writing. It’s another way to reach many people.
55.

Jimmy ;D (December 18th, 2008, 12:31 pm)

Thanks, Rebeca!

And thanks to Andrew for including me in this very fine collection of streetshooters. It´s not every day my images get 15 minutes of exposure ;D

/Jimmy

You´ll find a nice compilation of some of my images at Onexposure, Link [1x.com]
56.

z (December 19th, 2008, 2:32 pm)

another of the best Link [www.laurencemillergallery.com] [http://www.laurencemillergallery.com/levittlist.htm] and someone might be interested in my own: Link [www.i-am-z.com] [http://www.i-am-z.com/photoz.html]
57.

Thodoris (December 21st, 2008, 11:42 pm)

You can also see a few other photographs that I’ve found! Link [rippedangelwings.deviantart.com] and Link [rippedangelwings.deviantart.com]
58.

وفا (December 26th, 2008, 9:32 am)

that’s grates. like before
59.

Robert M Johnson (December 26th, 2008, 6:15 pm)

A very nice group of street photos!

My 70’s Street Images…

Link [www.www.fullframeimages.com]
60.

Robert M Johnson (December 28th, 2008, 8:57 am)

link correction…

Link [www.fullframeimages.com]
61.

Christian (December 28th, 2008, 9:06 am)

Great choice of photos - gives the essence of real street-photography
62.

Omar Ramírez (December 30th, 2008, 10:14 am)

Very nice collection!!
Congratulations!
63.

Nico Ouburg (January 5th, 2009, 1:06 pm)

Hi Andrew,

I ad a link to your site on my site because I like your site :-)

grtz, Nico

Link [www.xs4all.nl]
64.

Photo Layout (January 10th, 2009, 7:07 pm)

Killer, I love street photography, Nice gallery
65.

paras (January 15th, 2009, 10:57 pm)

hey its beautiful photography……….thnx a lot……
66.

Danielle (January 27th, 2009, 12:14 pm)

this sucks
67.

ER Images Eirwen Rogers (January 28th, 2009, 3:06 am)

As the article stated some truly awe inspiring images.
68.

Marco (January 29th, 2009, 8:51 am)

reminds me of his photo’s: Link [www.vanilladays.com] check de menu: recently
69.

Robert Brown (February 1st, 2009, 5:47 am)

Beautiful selection of street photography. Many favorites here, especially work by Trent Parke and other In-Public photographers. Bravo!

My street work can be seen here:
robertbrownimages.com
70.

VoteAudrey (February 1st, 2009, 9:16 pm)

There’s something so magical about street photos…now I’ve got to check out the links included above…
71.

peter (February 2nd, 2009, 2:22 pm)

Wow, wow, wow, absolutely beautiful shots…where is my camera, I’m going out!!!
72.

Be_Ba (March 8th, 2009, 1:05 pm)

I Like them all, no hipshot fucko’s…well framed.

Thank You
73.

yasar (March 21st, 2009, 10:40 pm)

the phote so so so cute
74.

moses stell (April 25th, 2009, 7:05 am)

thank you for showing this beautiful street photography….and thank you for posting!
75.

Richard Ford (June 17th, 2009, 2:07 am)

Thanks for publishing some of my pics. One digital (bleah) and one my lovely TMAX-400!

@ John

Street shooting isn’t about being on the street. It is just a label. Street shooting is about creating or freeze framing the random and fleeting juxtapositions of real life.

I also second the fact that Mark Kitaoka should be looked at. He is one of my influencers and is a damned sight better than I.

Link [www.markkitaoka.com]

Cheers,
RF.