The Most Incredible Street Photography On Flickr

Published March 25, 2016
Updated February 10, 2017

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:

Best Street Photography Angel Wings
The timing of this photo suggests that angels are all around us. London, UK. Flickr

Best Street Photography Child Bus
A child takes in the sights from the best seat on the bus. Venice, Italy.Flickr

Best Street Photography Dublin Skater
The sky is the limit for this skateboarder in Dublin, Ireland.Flickr

Best Street Photography Feet Minimal
The framing of this photo looks as good as putting your feet up feels. Cologne, Germany. Flickr

Best Street Photography Ferris Wheel
A ferris wheel glistens against the obsidian sky. Flickr

Best Street Photography Girl Bench
A woman waits for her ride, solo. Antwerp, Belgium. Flickr

Best Street Photography Glasgow Scotland
A pedestrian bridges the gap between new and old architecture. Glasgow, Scotland. Flickr

Best Street Photography Homeless Man Dog
A man is photographed with his best friend. Bremen, Germany.Flickr

Best Street Photography Kids In Sprinkler
Pure joy found near a water sprinkler in Singapore. Flickr

Best Street Photography Hide And Seek
A woman peers from a doorway in Hoi An, Vietnam.Flickr

Best Street Photography Leg Up
There's always something to get distracted by when you're out walking in the urban jungle. New York City.Flickr

Best Street Photography Mannequin Mirroring
As this street shot suggests, you are never as alone as you feel.Flickr

Best Street Photography Multitasking
A man acts as the living and breathing manifestation of "multi-tasking." Chow Kit Market, Malaysia. Flickr

Best Street Photography Rotterdam
Negative and positive space convenes in this minimalist photo. Rotterdam, Netherlands. Flickr

Best Street Photography Shadow Sax
A man plays the saxophone to his shadow. Portland, OR.Flickr

Best Street Photography Skate Lines
A brilliant composition of subject and surroundings. Copenhagen, Denmark. Flickr

Best Street Photography Smoking Bus Stop
People approach a bus in Singapore. Flickr

Best Street Photography Smoking Melons
Photographer John Ragai described this shot: "Portrait of a Smoking Joe and his beautiful smoke amidst his honey dew." Chow Kit Market, Malaysia. - Flickr

Best Street Photography Starbucks Love
A candid moment over coffee. Lucern, Switzerland.Flickr

Best Street Photography Stripes
How many different kinds of stripes can you spot in this image?Flickr

Best Street Photography The Kiss
A couple sneaks a kiss in public. Lucerne, Switzerland.Flickr

Best Street Photography Toddler Heart
A toddler ponders street sculpture. Flickr

Best Street Photography Up Stairs
A man ascends stairs, Zagreb, Croatia. Flickr

Best Street Photography White Rabbit
A white rabbit entertains people in the streets of Oxford, UK.Flickr

Best Street Photography Window Woman
A cafe-goer offers an ambiguous expression. Tel Aviv, Israel.Flickr

Best Street Photography Catching Air
A biker catches some air. Flickr

Best Street Photography New Delhi
A one sided conversation with a worker in New Delhi. Flickr

Best Street Photography Two Worlds
Two very different worlds collide on a street corner in Madrid, Spain.Flickr

Best Street Photography Escalator
Reflections of an escalator ride. Flickr

Best Street Photography Tunnel
All leading lines point to the man at the end of the tunnel. Flickr

Best Street Photography Generations
Different generations segregate themselves — but still remain close. Perpignan, South France. Flickr


Next, check out the world's best street art and the breathtaking wildlife photography of Will Burrard-Lucas.

author
Erin Kelly
author
An All That's Interesting writer since 2013, Erin Kelly focuses on historic places, natural wonders, environmental issues, and the world of science. Her work has also been featured in Smithsonian and she's designed several book covers in her career as a graphic artist.
editor
Savannah Cox
editor
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.