Street photography is incredibly versatile. Not only does it rely on perfect framing and careful composition, but it also requires being in the right place at the right time.
From cultural diversity to glimpses of different eras, The Street Photographers Foundation consistently selects the most captivating shots taken by the world's most talented street photographers. If you believe you have a worthy shot, entries for the 2025 competition are now open, and anyone can apply!
But before you submit, take a look at some of the incredible past submissions below.
More info: Instagram | streetphotographersfoundation.com | Facebook | x.com
#1
Photo by Adam Shon.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
Bored Panda reached out to Maria Adriani and Snehasis Choudhury, two photographers who were featured on this list, to learn more about them and their photos.
First of all, we asked them to tell us more about their background.
Maria, who took this amazing photo, wrote: “I lived in Jakarta, Indonesia. I work as a physician at a private hospital in Jakarta. Photography has been my serious hobby since 2012.”
#2
Photo by Edeoy For.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#3
Photo by Snehasis Choudhury.
Image credits: professor____snape
We were wondering what initially drew Maria to photography and how her approach to capturing candid moments evolved over time.
She responded: “I knew photography since when I was a kid. My dad has a Canon AV-1 & I borrowed it if I went with my friends. Later, my parents bought me a Fuji MDL-5 so I don't have to borrow my dad's camera anymore. The tight lecture hours during university stopped my photography hobby. While working in Flores in 2010, I bought my first DSLR camera & in 2012, I started to take my photography hobby seriously. For me, photography is a way to relieve fatigue and boredom from daily routines. I can meet a lot of people with different backgrounds, work, experience, etc. My approach in capturing candid moments must be through practice, learning from those who are more expert, and looking at many photo references to enrich knowledge. From what is learned, it must be able to develop according to our taste in art.”
#4
Photo by Mirko Saviane.
Image credits: kromirko
#5
Photo by Paulo Volkov.
Image credits: pavelvolkovphoto
We asked Maria to tell us more about her featured photo, to which she wrote: “Roda Gila or Tong Setan, which people called the attraction. It's a dangerous attraction for the rider. Not all riders are willing to be photographed, even if I paid more. For a week, every day, I came to the night market to approach the riders so that they would be willing to be photographed. This was the 2nd rider who finally agreed to be photographed. When we arrived, we chatted first, and it turned out that we were both from Java, & the approach became easier by chatting in Javanese. I asked the rider's permission to be photographed, I informed him where I was, I asked if I was allowed to adjust the lighting in the tent. I brought a friend to give money to the rider to be taken.
To get good photos, we must understand and be able to calculate the character & capabilities of the camera, the speed of the motorbike, the local people who were watching, etc., because the moment taken happened so quickly. Of course, at the end, I gave a tip for the good attraction as I promised him in the beginning. Nowadays, this attraction is hard to find.”
#6
Photo by Maria Adriani.
Image credits: maria_adriani
#7
Photo by Kurt Hutton.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
As for the challenges, Maria shared her point of view regarding photography.
“The biggest challenge in photos is height & body balance. I have problems with my spine, and my body balance is not good. So if I am told to climb or descend a hill or cliff to get to a photo spot, I will definitely look for a guide or local resident to help me. Nowadays, drones help me a lot to take photos.”
#8
Photo by Rui Palha.
Image credits: rui_palha
#9
Photo by Kazik Stazewski.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
Maria wrote what she hopes for people to take away from her photos: “I want people to see the other side, but according to my taste.”
Lastly, she added, “Thank you for enjoying and appreciating my work. It is truly an honor for me.”
#10
Photo by Lucy Maratkanova.
Image credits: gunganima
#11
Photo by Jeremy Paige.
Image credits: eatenbyflowers
As for Snehasis, he shared about his background: “I am a software engineer working at an Investment bank.”
He also told us what drew him to photography and how his approach to capturing candid moments evolved over time.
“I started to get drawn into photography as my friends were shutterbugs themselves, and I would use their gear, looking through the small viewfinder opened up an entire world for me where I can focus on my creativity.”
#12
Photo by Ilhami Cetin.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#13
Photo by Lous Faurer.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
The image Snehasis took is of the back of one man perfectly aligned with another person's face. He shared more about the photo.
“Captured on the ghats of river Hooghly, where life and death converge; Hindus perform sacred last rites of their loved ones - the men by shaving their heads, offering prayers and taking a dip in the river. The photo captures a barber at work, reflecting the fragile balance between life and death, steeped in tradition.”
#14
Photo by Sam Felix.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#15
Photo by Vina Rakotondrainibe.
Image credits: vina_from_the_street
Regarding challenges that street photographers face, Snehasis commented: “The biggest challenge is being one with your surroundings. I identify myself as more of a street photographer than a travel photographer, and it gets challenging when there are so many things going on around you and you need to be at the right place at the right time, as you will never get that moment back again.”
#16
Photo by Ekaterina Kutikova Bgantseva.
Image credits: katkutikova
#17
Photo by Steve McCurry.
Image credits: stevemccurryofficial
Lastly, Snehasis added, “The way I look at a street photo is, does it tell a story. For me street photography is an unique way of telling stories that is frozen in the moment forever.”
#18
Photo by Julie Hamlin.
Image credits: sacred_sage_photography
#19
Photo by Sandor Kereki.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#20
Photo by Daniel Dunlop.
Image credits: the__stash
#21
Photo by Henri Cartier Bressom.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#22
Photo by Vineet Vohra.
Image credits: vineet_vohra
#23
Photo by Steve McCurry.
Image credits: stevemccurryofficial
#24
Photo by Mohammed Alim.
Image credits: apyfz
#25
Photo by Hannes Caspar.
Image credits: caspar.jade
#26
Photo by Matew Evor.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#27
Photo by Heike Frielingsdorf.
Image credits: heikefrielingsdorf
#28
Photo by David Rathbone.
Image credits: david_rathbone_photo
#29
Photo by Jordham Mond.
Image credits: jordhammond
#30
Photo by Navin Vatsa.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#31
Photo by Erdal Yazici.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#32
Photo by Ivan Put.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#33
Photo by Iam Mccolm.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#34
Photo by Luca Regoli.
Image credits: luca_regoli_street
#35
Photo by Jens Mathiasson.
Image credits: jens_m_photo
#36
Photo by Evelyn Hofer.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#37
Photo by Vlad Sidorak .
Image credits: vladsidorak
#38
Photo by Gabor Arion.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#39
Photo by Steve McCurry.
Image credits: stevemccurryofficial
#40
Photo by Subhodeep Mondal.
Image credits: theboywith16mp
#41
Photo by Fan Ho.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#42
Photo by Sam Gregg.
Image credits: samalexandergregg
#43
Photo by Mike Meyers.
Image credits: mmeyers76
#44
Photo by Nicolas Monnot.
Image credits: nicointhestreet
#45
Photo by Jim Lasouille.
Image credits: jim_lasouille
#46
Photo by VSW Soibelman Syndicate News Agency.
Image credits: streetphotographersfdn
#47
Photo by Yalım Vural Photography.
Image credits: vuralyalim
#48
Photo by Paul Kessel.
Image credits: streetskessel
#49
Photo by Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb.
Image credits: webb_norriswebb
