And let’s be honest: it’s hard to get a compelling candid shot when most people are staring at their phones. Interactions are fewer. Eye contact is rare. Add in cluttered modern environments—billboards, ads, visual noise everywhere—and it’s no wonder some photographers say the streets feel less alive.
As street photographer Joel Meyerowitz told The Guardian:
“Nobody’s looking at each other. Everybody’s glued to their phones. It’s thriving but not in the way I used to do it. The best street photographers now show humans dwarfed by ad billboards. The street has lost its savour.”
Now, that’s not to say great street photography doesn’t exist anymore, it absolutely does. There are still brilliant photographers capturing powerful moments today. But it’s harder to do for the average person.
And maybe that’s what makes it worth chasing. If anything, it’s great motivation to slow down, be more intentional, and look at the world with fresh eyes.
Because one day, today’s photos might be the ones future generations look back on in awe, just like we’re doing now.
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