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30 Candid Photos That Capture Raw, Real Life Around The World By Mariana Basurto
TravelJUN 20, 2025

30 Candid Photos That Capture Raw, Real Life Around The World By Mariana Basurto

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There’s a quiet magic in everyday life — and few photographers capture it as beautifully as Mariana Basurto. Originally from Mexico and now based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Mariana uses her camera to reveal the authentic, often overlooked stories unfolding in the streets around her.
With a background as diverse as her travels — spanning over 63 countries and multiple careers as an industrial engineer and chef — her work celebrates the raw beauty of candid, unposed moments. Every image reminds us that the world is rich with nuance, human connection, and life’s quiet poetry.
Scroll down to discover a selection of her stunning photos, which document people's lives across the globe, and to learn more about Mariana.

#1

Young boy sitting on stacked bricks in a dusty environment, showcasing the unseen realities captured by a photographer.
19points

Three people and one unforgettable city shaped Mariana Basurto’s path as a photographer. Her grandfather and father sparked her sense of wonder and taught her to look at the world with boundless curiosity. Her sister — and an old white Kodak camera from the 1980s — encouraged her to pick up a camera for the first time and discover the magic of capturing fleeting moments. But it was Shanghai, China, that truly unlocked a world of stories for Mariana. In that vibrant and diverse city, she realized that photography could speak louder than words.

Since then, her work has been exhibited across the globe — from New York and Paris to Hong Kong and São Paulo — and featured in publications like All About Photo and Urban Photography.

For Mariana, street photography is much more than a passion; it’s a way to connect with the world and reveal the beauty tucked away in everyday life. Every image is a tiny story, every street corner a new discovery.

#2

Young man sleeping on a bench inside an empty train, capturing unseen realities of our world by the photographer.
15points

#3

Child with painted skull face and colorful costume wearing a large straw hat in front of historic church, revealing unseen realities.
14points

#4

A crowded marketplace scene captured by a photographer revealing the unseen realities of daily life and culture.
13points

#5

Group of children and adults captured by a photographer revealing the unseen realities of our world in a natural outdoor setting
13points

#6

Young boys playing street cricket in an urban alley, capturing the unseen realities of our world through photography.
12points

#7

Group of men carrying large baskets of bananas on their heads in a busy market scene, revealing unseen realities of the world.
12points

#8

Street vendor selling fresh vegetables at a market, showcasing unseen realities of our world through photography.
12points

#9

Two men lean through a small train window, capturing unseen realities in a vibrant, candid street photography shot.
12points

#10

Woman in a black garment walking in front of stacked bricks, capturing unseen realities of our world through photography.
12points

#11

Person in traditional Day of the Dead costume and makeup captured by photographer revealing unseen realities.
12points

#12

Elderly woman with long hair looking into a handheld mirror, showcasing unseen realities captured by a photographer.
12points

#13

Photographer reveals unseen realities of daily life as men sort and sell onions in a busy outdoor market setting.
11points

#14

Young girl wearing a headscarf illuminated in dark street, capturing unseen realities of our world through photography.
11points

#15

Person standing in a dimly lit smoky room, capturing the unseen realities of our world through photography.
10points

#16

Woman in colorful clothes laying bricks while revealing unseen realities of hard labor in the world through photography.
10points

#17

Woman in a dim room drinking from a bottle, capturing unseen realities of our world in a raw photographic moment.
10points

#18

Woman holding a white duck in a rustic room while a small dog looks up, capturing unseen realities through photography.
10points

#19

Young boys in traditional attire reading religious books seated behind blue stools, capturing unseen realities of our world.
9points

#20

Workers carrying baskets across a wooden plank onto a boat, capturing unseen realities of our world through photography.
9points
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