{"id":2848,"date":"2025-01-05T11:06:47","date_gmt":"2025-01-05T11:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tobelikethis.org\/?p=2848"},"modified":"2025-01-05T11:06:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-05T11:06:48","slug":"the-subgenres-of-street-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tobelikethis.org\/?p=2848","title":{"rendered":"The subgenres of street photography"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In many different street photography forums, one or two individuals seem to think that they can judge other people’s street photographs against some kind of undocumented standard that they carry in their own heads. The feedback is, not infrequently, delivered with little consideration for the intention of the original image maker, and has been described by others as ‘brutal’. I felt it might help to consider the wide range of different styles or ‘subgenres’ of street photography as feedback from someone whose preference (if not entire practice) is on one style may not appreciate the work of another whose interest lies elsewhere.

What follows is NOT a random list. I have synthesised ideas drawn from a range of sources rather than a direct reference to any single work. Many of these ideas originate in classic texts on street photography, which explore its various approaches and styles. For instance, Eric Kim\u2019s Street Photography 101<\/em> offers insights into diverse methods and ways of working within the genre, while David Gibson\u2019s The Street Photographer\u2019s Manual<\/em> provides a detailed exploration of specific approaches, such as minimalist and narrative photography. Similarly, Colin Westerbeck and Joel Meyerowitz\u2019s Bystander: A History of Street Photography<\/em> traces the historical development of the field, highlighting how styles have evolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain subgenres align closely with the work of iconic photographers. For example, Henri Cartier-Bresson exemplifies classic street photography with his decisive moment technique. Saul Leiter and Alex Webb are renowned for their vibrant use of colour, inspiring what is now often termed colour-focused street photography. Vivian Maier, on the other hand, represents the more documentary style, capturing candid moments of daily life with a focus on narrative and human emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online platforms and communities also contribute significantly to defining and evolving subgenres. Blogs such as Petapixel and Fstoppers, along with publications like Street Photography Magazine<\/em>, regularly feature trends such as abstract and minimalist photography. In addition, forums and collectives such as In-Public and LensCulture, as well as Flickr groups dedicated to street photography, provide a space for photographers to experiment and refine their approaches, often leading to the emergence of new subgenres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, theoretical works like Susan Sontag\u2019s On Photography<\/em> and John Szarkowski\u2019s The Photographer\u2019s Eye<\/em> offer broader perspectives on photography as an interpretative medium. These texts help in understanding conceptual and abstract approaches to street photography, which extend beyond capturing fleeting moments to engage with deeper ideas and themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, then, is my list of fifteen different approaches (‘subgenres’ or ‘styles’, if you prefer) to street photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Classic Street Photography<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Captures candid, everyday moments in public spaces, often in black and white. This subgenre emphasises the “decisive moment” and natural composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exemplars:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n