Street photography is more than just a photographic genre, it’s a visual language that captures fragments of everyday life, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary images. Emerging alongside the development of lightweight cameras and evolving throughout the 20th century, street photography has been shaped by photographers with a keen eye for interpreting society through an ironic, poetic, or candid lens.
From the pioneers who explored the chaotic rhythm of cities to contemporary masters who reinterpret urban space with modern sensitivity, the history of street photography is rich with stylistic and technical innovations. In this article, we will explore the work of ten photographers who left an indelible mark, influencing generations of artists and redefining the way we see the world through the lens.
Joel Meyerowitz: The Master of Color in the Streets
6 March 1938 (age 86), The Bronx, New York, United States
When Joel Meyerowitz began photographing the streets of New York in the 1960s, color photography was still viewed with skepticism in the art world. Street photography, inherited from Magnum masters and the pioneers of black and white, seemed firmly tied to a monochromatic tradition. But Meyerowitz, inspired by the work of Robert Frank and Henri Cartier-Bresson, chose a different path by exploring color as a narrative tool.
A defining moment in his career came when he watched Robert Frank work on a set. Struck by the freedom with which Frank moved through the scene with his Leica, Meyerowitz decided to buy a camera and dedicate himself to street photography. This decision led him to develop a fluid, instinctive style, characterized by visual overlaps, movement, and an extraordinary sensitivity to color.
Over the years, Meyerowitz refined his technique, using color film to capture the energy and nuances of urban life. His book Cape Light (1978), though not strictly street photography, revealed the depth of his vision, while Bystander: A History of Street Photography, written with Colin Westerbeck, became a fundamental text for understanding the genre.
Today, Meyerowitz is regarded as one of the great innovators of street photography, capable of transforming everyday scenes into vibrant and poetic compositions. His vision redefined how color can be used in the genre, inspiring generations of photographers to view the city through a new lens.
All photos © Joel Meyerowitz
Garry Winogrand: The Tireless Hunter of Images
Birth: January 14, 1928, New York, New York, United States
Death: March 19, 1984, Tijuana, Mexico
Garry Winogrand was one of the most prolific and relentless photographers in street photography. Armed with his Leica M4, he roamed the streets of New York with the energy of an urban explorer, capturing everyday life with a spontaneity that, while seemingly chaotic, was guided by an impeccable sense of composition and timing.
A curious anecdote tells of how he accumulated over 300,000 undeveloped negatives by the time of his death in 1984. This obsession with the act of photographing was central to his approach: Winogrand wasn’t concerned with immediate results, but with the act of freezing life in motion. He believed photography could reveal more than the eye could perceive in real time, and often let months or even years pass before developing his rolls, viewing them with fresh eyes.
His images, characterized by dynamic angles, unconventional framing, and subjects captured in expressive gestures, depict the America of his era with overwhelming vitality. Elegant women on Madison Avenue, posed politicians, restless crowds, and ironic moments all found their way into his relentless stream of visions. His book The Animals (1969), which portrays life at the Bronx Zoo with an ironic yet melancholic gaze, and Public Relations (1977), which explores the relationship between individuals and the camera, are among his most renowned works.
Winogrand revolutionized street photography with his feverish, spontaneous approach, leaving behind an immense archive that continues to be studied and interpreted today. His legacy is not only in the images he captured, but in his unending desire to explore reality, one frame at a time.
All photos © Garry Winogrand
