5 Street Photography Books That Will Change How You See a Sidewalk

Street photography requires one to learn three critical things: to time well, “anticipate” things that aren’t there yet, and wait patiently for the above points. While many young photographers get one of the three aspects correct, today, we bring a few photo books that street photographers can learn from. Let’s dive in.

In Plain Sight by Jens Krauer

Street photography is about observation and In Plain Sight Jens Krauer shares just what observation can do. The photos of people are cinematic, and require one to steady the entire frame before you build a story. The images make the reader curious, and with each page flip, you begin stitching the stories together. It is designed well, and is a photo book that makes you feel like curling up with it. It is a book that teaches you how introverted people make some fantastic photographers.

In our review, we added:

On my third look through In Plain Sight, it finally occurred to me: you need to hold this book in your hands and not put it down plain and flat on the table. Once you do, then you can understand how minor details in a frame can really define the entire landscape of the photo.

Jamel Shabazz Albums: Great for Street Portrait Photographers

Street photography goes beyond high octane moments. Sometimes, it is a way to create quiet portraits of people that stand out for you. Jamel Shabazz Albums: Great for Street Portrait Photographers is an excellent look at how prints can help one to build a long-term project, especially if you document people. The series looks at Shabazz’s photo albums, which were created to showcase to people he was about to photograph. Sure, he could have whipped out his phone, but seeing a print instantly makes you appear more mature and professional. In fact, documentary photographers can learn so much from this book.

In our review, we added:

Jamel Shabazz: Albums is a book that every portrait photographer should consider getting — and that every photographer should have on their shelf. There hasn’t been a book like this that really makes you interact with the medium to see the images for what they really are. And if anything, it should inspire you to make your own album of prints to bring around and show people when you can.

A Fearless Eye: The Photography by Barbara Ramos

Barbara Ramos has been doing street photography since the 1970s. In A Fearless Eye: The Photography, Ramos showcases how street photography also depicts the quietest moments suspended in time. The book blends these different junctions of time so well, never letting you guess how far apart the photos were shot. The black and white frames make you wonder if color could have helped some people, but what you learn is that street photography and black and white go hand in hand pretty well. The sheen of the car, the crease on the subject’s clothes, or the texture of the plant pushes one to study light more closely. The shades of grey flow like a symphony, which teaches one how they can edit their work, just with the tones alone.

In our review, we said:

The photograph of the child upside down, contrasting with the house, is so incredibly playful.

The Grind by Steve Madden

One of the most controversial street photographers of our time, Steve Madden’s The Grind is a beautiful homage to the 5 million people of London and their lives. The book showcases condensed windows but the golden light filtering through these translucent glasses create abstraction seem more like a surreal dream. The colors are vivid, playful, and hide the identity of the subjects. In fact, the latter helps readers to put themselves in the shoes of these largely faceless people commuting to and fro from work. The edit of the book also blends two photos as one, making it appear as a continuous scene. Either way, one can learn how bad weather can really lead you to do good street photography, as long as you intend it to.

In our review, we said:

Madden is treating the people of London the same way that our minds naturally treat them — that’s to say that we forget about them in the face of hazy memories. Except in this case, we’re presented with an extravagant feast of people where we understand the beauty of the moment and then simply move on. It’s just like real life. In our review, we

Joel Meyerowitz: A Question of Color Has Lots of Practical Advice

Modern street photography is riddled with questions that most colleges or workshops don’t answer. Joel Meyerowitz: A Question of Color Has Lots of Practical Advice is a tome of knowledge. As one of the greatest photographers of our generation, Meyertowitz talks about the identity crisis, the importance of prints, and how one can evolve to meet challenges. For those beginning today, this can help to take a peak into the greatest minds of photography.

In our review, we added:

It’s an educational book documenting the journey of a photographer struggling with an identity crisis, evolving, and learning to stand on his own. Without Joel, modern photography wouldn’t be what it is today.