You’d be hard-pressed to find a better description of street photography than that of National Geographic photographer Benjamin Lowy, who described it as, “A harsh name for a beautiful pursuit.” Its purpose? “To tame the chaos. To frame the cacophony of modern life. To capture what it means to be alive.”
While the legality of taking pictures of people (without their express consent) in public to sell as fine art has stirred considerable debate, it continues to be protected under the categorization of artistic expression and free speech. Here are some of the best street photography that Flickr has to offer in its vast pool of talent:
The timing of this photo suggests that angels are all around us. London, UK. FlickrA child takes in the sights from the best seat on the bus. Venice, Italy.FlickrThe sky is the limit for this skateboarder in Dublin, Ireland.FlickrThe framing of this photo looks as good as putting your feet up feels. Cologne, Germany. FlickrA ferris wheel glistens against the obsidian sky. FlickrA woman waits for her ride, solo. Antwerp, Belgium. FlickrA pedestrian bridges the gap between new and old architecture. Glasgow, Scotland. FlickrA man is photographed with his best friend. Bremen, Germany.FlickrPure joy found near a water sprinkler in Singapore. FlickrA woman peers from a doorway in Hoi An, Vietnam.FlickrThere's always something to get distracted by when you're out walking in the urban jungle. New York City.FlickrAs this street shot suggests, you are never as alone as you feel.FlickrA man acts as the living and breathing manifestation of "multi-tasking." Chow Kit Market, Malaysia. FlickrNegative and positive space convenes in this minimalist photo. Rotterdam, Netherlands. FlickrA man plays the saxophone to his shadow. Portland, OR.FlickrA brilliant composition of subject and surroundings. Copenhagen, Denmark. FlickrPeople approach a bus in Singapore. FlickrPhotographer John Ragai described this shot: "Portrait of a Smoking Joe and his beautiful smoke amidst his honey dew." Chow Kit Market, Malaysia. - FlickrA candid moment over coffee. Lucern, Switzerland.FlickrHow many different kinds of stripes can you spot in this image?FlickrA couple sneaks a kiss in public. Lucerne, Switzerland.FlickrA toddler ponders street sculpture. FlickrA man ascends stairs, Zagreb, Croatia. FlickrA white rabbit entertains people in the streets of Oxford, UK.FlickrA cafe-goer offers an ambiguous expression. Tel Aviv, Israel.FlickrA biker catches some air. FlickrA one sided conversation with a worker in New Delhi. FlickrTwo very different worlds collide on a street corner in Madrid, Spain.FlickrReflections of an escalator ride. FlickrAll leading lines point to the man at the end of the tunnel. FlickrDifferent generations segregate themselves — but still remain close. Perpignan, South France. Flickr
