Who are your favourite street photographers who had the best eye for observing curious moments and details?

I've picked mine! Here they are (in no particular order):

Lars Tunbjörk

First up, let's talk about the Swedish master of finding oddities in the mundane, Lars Tunbjörk. 

This guy had a knack for taking the most ordinary scenes and turning them into something extraordinary. He also had the knack of finding the weirdest things happening! (This is not luck BTW - it's a well-trained observation filter).

If you're not familiar with his work go check it out and feast your eyeballs on the vibrant colours and, well, sometimes very absurd surreal moments.

He photographed everything from office spaces to suburban landscapes, proving it's not where you are it's how observant and creative you are (which I talk about in my workshops).

Jeff Mermelstein

Next up is the hilarious and super-talented Jeff Mermelstein.

Jeff, (and we are on first-name terms cos we once dressed the same by accident at a street photography festival in London!), always manages to find humour in the everyday normal-ness on the street.

He seems to be a magnet to the bizarre, whimsical (love this word haha), and downright funny moments that can be found in the streets of New York City (if you are tuned into seeing those things!).

And with a keen eye for the peculiar, Jeff shows us that there's a whole world of amusement waiting to be discovered, right under our noses... If only we could see it... (mindset comes into play here - do you hear yourself saying "There's nothing happening to photograph?", then nothing's gonna happen... that you will see). 

Tony Ray-Jones

The most underrated photographer who died way too young is Tony Ray-Jones.

He documented the quirks and eccentricities of British life in glorious monochrome. Ray-Jones' images have that difficult-to-achieve balance of being both intimate and humorous, capturing the charm and oddity of everyday scenes with "normal" people.

He explored seaside holidays to local street festivals, and his photos were almost experimental with the points-of-view he would take, how he cropped people, and the way he was able to avoid boring photos!

"Don't take boring photos." - Tony Ray-Jones

Martin Parr

Now without Tony Ray-Jones we probably wouldn't have Martin Parr!

Parr was deeply influenced by Ray-Jones and really picked up the baton to explore the eccentricities of British society.

And while Parr is a controversial figure you can't deny his legendary contribution to the world of photography. Parr's images are a mix of vivid colours, social commentary, and pure eccentricity.

I met him once while I was assisting the photographer who was photographing him - at one point I was holding both his glasses and his shirt as he was getting changed in the park! Then we had Earl Grey tea and lemon drizzle cake in his studio. I've never felt so British!

Vivian Maier

Now, let's talk about the enigmatic Vivian Maier.

Maier's incredible body of work was discovered only after her death. Her story is wild! She was super private, working as a nanny in Chicago taking photos of life in mid-20th century America.

She was as curious about herself as she was about other people and had a massive collection of self-portraits. She had such a great eye for detail and an almost uncanny ability to notice quirky moments.

By all accounts, she was super private so whether she would have enjoyed recognition while still alive is up for debate.

Mary Ellen Mark

And finally, let's give a round of applause for the extraordinary Mary Ellen Mark. 

Known for her powerful black and white images, Mark's street photography is all about showcasing the human condition. 

Her work often focused on the marginalized and the overlooked, giving a voice to those who are often silenced. From homeless children to circus performers, her images are a reminder of the importance of empathy and compassion in our daily lives.

And also a gentle reminder that we, today, should keep kindness to our subjects top-of-mind as we shoot on the street.

So that was my star-studded line-up of curious street photography pioneers who've made it their mission to uncover the extraordinary in the ordinary. What's yours?

Wanna join me on a street photography weekend workshop to learn more about how to NOT take boring photos ;) I will teach you The Curiosity Principle™️ and give you the Blueprint of what makes a great street photo! AND I'll help you train your observation filter...

>>> All upcoming Weekenders are listed on the website

And here are some of the most curious shots made on recent Weekenders by different participants (go check out their IG and show them some love):

Do you have a favourite?

All levels of street photography experience are welcome on Weekenders! All assignments are created to be achieved by everyone wherever they are on their street photography journey. Some photographers who join me don't even need a workshop anymore - they just enjoy the experience!

>>> All upcoming Weekenders are listed on the website

Hope to see you soon...

— Polly

p.s. Registrations for Weekenders 2025 open on Saturday 03 August 2024