Street Photography
The essential attribute of street photography is chance — and that’s likely why we’re so drawn to it. Often, they are only meaningful for the single moment they capture.
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is wedged snugly between some of the big players of Africa. It sits humbly, quietly growing it's maize and tobacco; not violent enough to gain notoriety in the news, and it's fauna isn't extensive enough to successfully break into the safari tourism monolith. A monolith which has helped countries like Kenya, Zambia, or Botswana greatly. However, because of it's safety, friendly population and general calm it is quickly emerging as a popular 'off the beaten track' tourist destination.
Lake Malawi is known to the world with its enormous variety of the fishes. 500-1000 different species of fish are found, and most of these fish are found only in Lake Malawi. 90% of these fishes belong to the family called “Cichlid”, which includes Utaka, Mbuna, Mcheni and many other kinds. It is thought that all of these 500 different cichlids have developed from thesame origin, for about 2,000,000 years.
Marrakech
Red baked-mud medina palaces beneath the snow-capped High Atlas and a powder-pink ring of ramparts around 19 kilometres of seething souqs, Marrakech is Morocco’s most memorable experience.
Founded almost 1000 years ago on the edge of the Sahara, this southern market town grew to become one of the great cities of the Maghreb and a Unesco Heritage site to boot. But Marrakech isn’t some petrified piece of history that tourists come to gawk at, it’s bursting at the seems with an intense density of life and a modern entrepreneurialism that puts Manhattanites to shame.
This isn’t a place where you can gracefully glide through. Instead you’ll find yourself telling jokes with snake charmers, dining outdoors in the Djemaa el-Fna, hankering after the latest henna tattoos and getting a hands-on scrub down in the local hammam. Pause for unexpected beauty and banter often with multi-lingual locals, because what are the chances you’ll come this way again?
Hanoi
What makes the capital so interesting is that it feels very old-fashioned, stuck in the past with its French colonial history entrenched in its pavement cafes, architecture and wide tree-lined boulevards. Take a ride in one of the thousands of tuk-tuks swarming through the city’s streets to get a sense of the daily buzz.
Recommended Story
Stone Town, Zanzibar
Step off the boat or plane onto the Zanzibar Archipelago and you’re transported through time and place. This is one of the world's great cultural crossroads, where Africa meets Arabia meets the Indian Ocean.
Complex, rich and soulful, Stone Town, once the centre of trade in East Africa, pulses with a spirit that entices, enamours and fascinates. Nowhere else will you find this confluence of African, Arab, Indian and European cultures. You’ll see it in the distinct architecture, a reflection of ancient pasts. You’ll smell it in the enigmatic scent of exotic spices that have become synonymous with Zanzibar, the “Spice Islands”. You’ll hear it in the stirring, Muslim call to prayer and chiming Hindu bells. Just as Muslims, Hindus and Christians peacefully coexist in this small area, mosques, temples and churches stand side by side.
Recommended Story
The ancient city—declared a UNESCO cultural heritage site in 2000—is charming, but it’s basically a maze. The act of receiving directions through the town’s winding alleys usually involves a series of confusing hand gestures and head nods, and will probably not get you where you want to go any faster. There are street names, sort of, but no one really uses them. The bright side is that Stone Town is small and safe, and not knowing where you’re going is part of the experience. Locals are helpful, so you can ask for directions as many times as you want, but sometimes it’s best to let yourself get lost.
In Zanzibar, life moves pole pole – Swahili for slow. Things in Zanzibar don’t always make sense, don’t always work, or can take a while. It’s important to enjoy the calm chaos and take a cue from the unhurried pace. Your smoothie might take 45 minutes to show up, but it will be delicious and worth the wait. Lazuli, a tiny but wonderful restaurant in Stone Town is a good place to experience this.
Cape Town
Situated in one of the most picturesque spots you’ll find anywhere for a large city, there’s no denying Cape Town is good-looking. Nicknamed the “Mother City,” Table Mountain dominates the background with endless beaches to explore along the coastlines. With all of its natural beauty, it’s not surprising there’s a very outdoorsy feeling here, but along with its natural beauty, you’ll find one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world. All this is mixed in with an urban atmosphere and plenty of history, making it one of the more unique cities in the world. For street photography, you have natural beauty mixed with urban edge and some of the most beautiful light around too.
Bo Kaap, formerly the Malay Quarter, is a former township on the slopes of Signal Hill near the city center. One of the oldest sections of the city, this historical neighborhood is known for its colorful buildings, architecture and cobblestone streets. The bright colors attract visitors for pictures, but there’s culture and character found here too, which makes it an interesting spot to come explore with your camera.
Nestled between two of these affluent housing estates is the suburb of Imizamo Yethu. Imizamo Yethu (IY) is comprised of both a designated housing area and an “informal settlement” area, which is largely comprised of small shack dwellings which stretch up the steep slopes of the mountain behind it.
On 11 and 12 March 2017, a large section of Imizamo Yethu was devastated by fires that killed 3 people, destroying 3,500 homes and displacing 15,000 people.
Rio de Janeiro
Best known for its luscious landscape, breathtaking views and colorful city life, discover why Rio de Janeiro is the perfect, one-stop destination to experience Brazilian culture.
Located at the mouth of Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf Mountain is Rio de Janeiro’s most renowned peak. In order to capture this iconic Rio locale, snap a photo with this natural beauty in the background or hitch a ride on the cable car system to avoid the climb. If you make it all the way to the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the city, including the famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana.
Alaska
Even street photographers will find plenty to shoot in Alaska. The subjects are the same in almost every village: gas stations, churches, and houses where you're never quite sure whether they've been abandoned or still are home to someone.
Recommended Story
Hong Kong
There really aren’t many words that can fully describe the energy of Hong Kong, and how that energy transforms from day into night. It’s magical, the sun dips and gives way to a sea of neon signs as they flicker alive. The evening commute begins and a new energy starts pulsing through the very heart of the city.
New York
Street photography and New York City are terms that often go hand in hand. New York is a diverse city of nearly 8.5 million eclectic and vibrant souls, all packed into a tiny island and its surrounding boroughs. Each area of the city has its own unique character and flavor, and there are so many interesting, unique moments that you can see here on a daily basis. It is one of the great locations in the world for this genre of photography.
Watch your surroundings and take it all in. Explore. Find interesting compositions, look at the light, and get a feel for the people walking around. Try to go beyond only capturing the grand or iconic aspects of the city. Go beyond the images that you have seen in books. Seek out the little details and let the streets surprise you. (DPS)
