Course 2 - History of Street Photography

In the first course, we looked at how street photography evolved over time, how different eras, technologies, and cultural shifts shaped the way people documented life in public spaces. Now, we shift the focus from the timeline to the individuals who defined it.

 

This part of the course is all about learning directly from the legends. Instead of speaking in broad movements, we zoom in on the photographers who pushed street photography forward and gave it its identity. By studying their work, their decisions, and the way they saw the world, you start to understand not just what street photography is, but how it actually works in practice.

 

We begin with Henri Cartier-Bresson, one of the most influential photographers of all time and often considered the father of modern street photography. His idea of the “decisive moment” shaped how generations of photographers approach timing, composition, and intuition.

 

In this lecture, we will take a closer look at some of his most iconic photographs. We will break down the stories behind them, how they came together, and why they still feel so powerful today. More importantly, we will look at what you can actually take from his work and apply to your own photography.

 

The goal here is not to copy Cartier-Bresson. It is to understand how he saw the world and to use that understanding to sharpen your own eye.