Street Photography At Night

What makes street photography such a great genre of the medium is the chance encounter. You never really know what you will come across each time you go out with a camera. We the viewer also have to try and interpret what is actually presented within the scene we are looking at. What makes this photograph so strong is the quality of light on the girls wonderful orange hair, her legs and his arms, The slight tilt of the camera like Winogrand the great street photographer adds to the drama. That is it drama. Do they know each other? why is he gesturing in such a dramatic way? We will never know and that is the power of this photograph. We have to fill in the blanks. Great composition and technique with superb timing. Wonderful photograph. I could live with this on my wall and enjoy it differently each time i looked at it.

Out of over 2500 submissions this really was the most original image. The pose is a classic, the low angle really takes us to eye level and the off center composition works so well. What really elevates this photograph is that I have never seen a picture like this taken at night of a dog. Especially a black dog against a dark background. It is remarkable in its quality of light and the details on the animal. It really is stunning, maybe the smallest consideration would be the point of focus which is just off the eyes, but happily still sits in my top 10 because of its uniqueness. Would work wonderfully as a framed image on many a wall. Well done.

This is a classic candid street photograph - taken at night using flash makes it that little bit more special because the photographer really has to know their craft. The framing is great as it lets us the viewer see the street and darkness that they have just walked from and where they are going around the corner. Huddled together allows the photographer to capture this moment in a tight crop and the snow/rain highlighted by the flash really adds to the drama. You only get one shot at this then the subject is gone. Great capture.

This image really stood out. It's not easy to get close to a subject on the street when they are isolated. It's even harder to make such a powerful photograph so candidly without notice. Add the quality of the light on the face and arms of the person walking past and the stunning still life like composition on the cart she has in front of her and you have a winning image. We then have the stunning neutral background that compliments the colours in the foreground and given the fact the photographer had to recognise this as a potential great image then place themselves in the right area to make the image and you can then start to appreciate how much effort in a split second has gone into making this photograph. Stunning.

This image oozes intrigue. Firstly the composition between the 2 men, the light from the window or shop front and the street sign really take us the viewer around the frame. The pockets of highlights against the darker backgrounds work so well as does the single main light source from the window. Whey are they hanging around? we will never know. The black and white really elevates the mystery and what we can read into this photograph. It could be just two strangers hanging around it could also be so much more. Like a great film still it opens up to various interpretations. Lovely.

A crowded street or a group of friends leaving or arriving from a building? What makes this image really stand out is the photographers ability to isolate the most interesting part from a scene. The attention and focus only goes to one place. The stare of the blonde haired woman in the background. Who is she looking at. We will never know. It's a great story within a broader narrative. The neutral colors give a sense of time and the light-bulbs above add that extra drama but also give a hint to where the image was taken but we always end back at the eyes of the girl.

I've viewed many images like this submitted but this really stood out. The fog adds the additional mood and strange appeal of the image. Add in the photographers position in the middle of the road with the car lights heading towards, we have the element of danger and something not quite right. The neon in the fog works really well as do the low rise buildings which give us a sense of the place it is. I've seen these streets before in American films and from the photos of the great Todd Hido. This is up with them all. A classic image that offers intrigue and pleasure it viewing it.

When I look at this image it seems so perfectly normal and that's because the police man with his horse in a central street that looks like Broadway is acting so normal, so matter of fact that this a daily occurrence for him and his horse. It's wonderfully surreal. Add the stunning angle of view taking in the street and quality of the neon light just adds to the calmness of this image. I love the poster of the woman looking at us the viewer as if to say "nothing strange here" then add in the man walking past as if its just the usual thing to see. Amazing that the photographer came across this then had the ability to make such a complex and beautiful photograph out of the whole scene is to be applauded.

Regardless of where we find ourselves in the world. A person on a phone in the street not looking at what is coming towards them is a common sight. What really elevates this photograph is the clarity of the image, the wonderful space around the isolated young woman and the incredible quality of light reflected back from the phone onto her face. We see the quality of her make up and the beautiful colours around her clothes. The additional pop of neon light in the background just lifts the image and we really get a sense of a young person lost in their own thoughts and we wonder who if anyone is she texting with. Great colour, wonderful composition and a worthy 2nd place.

I can imagine the photographer seeing the girl as they walked past then doing a double take and thinking that would make a great image then taking a couple of steps back and making this wonderful photograph. It's never that easy and once you have been spotted its takes great confidence in making the photograph. Sometimes it pays off and this is one of those occasions. I love the sunglasses and the lipstick. Such a great grab shot.

This was so close to the top 10. The photographer has really had to make this image. Moving into position to place the funnel into the line of sight of the Empire State Building ( I think) It's simple but the colors work so well and yes it could be sharper but it does have that 1940s feel which I love. I could live with this on my wall easily.

This is such a powerful graphic image. The total use of contrast really elevates the formal composition as does the light coming through the flag against the darkened birds swirling around. It could be seen or viewed as a potent political comment or we can just enjoy its surreal quality and admire the photographers ability to craft such a powerful image. Lovely

It's a great capture and we have to smile. The composition is wonderful as we don't see why this image is so good immediately. It is only after we have looked around that the picture comes alive and well I laughed. The expression on the persons face who has spotted the photographer is priceless as is their gesture. This is why I love street photography because we never know what will be presented to us or gifted as many photographers refer to it. This is a great gift but the photographer has to be there in the first place and understand how to make the most of this. Which they have. Well done.

It takes real skill and understanding of the elements in front of you to make such a strong image of a detail rather than the whole scene. This is all about the reflected neon colors against the wet seat we can see. The photographer knows this and that as an abstract all these elements will come together to make a powerful photograph. Easy to walk past and not see this. This image had to be seen first then made. Great capture and clever.