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The best street photography documentaries and other videos

On this page, you will find some of the best street photography documentaries and other videos about street photography. Most of them can be found on YouTube and Vimeo. Hours of information and inspiration for the beginning and advanced street photographer. Old masters and up-and-coming talent, and various interesting videos by contemporary YouTubers. Lots of viewing pleasure, don't forget to go out and photograph yourself once in a while!

Everybody Street - Cheryl Dunn

New York is, of course, the Mecca for the street photographer. From my own experience, I know that you are never done here. There is something to photograph on every corner! Cheryl Dunn takes you past flash photographer Bruce Gilden and the fabulous Martha Cooper. Recommended.

Finding Vivian Maier

Another gem. Vivian Maier was the nanny who took huge numbers of photos but never had them developed. The video takes you along with the finder of the archive that made her world-famous. Both tragic and fantastic, this queen of selfies continues to inspire generations of photographers. So watch it!

Garry Winogrand

Garry Winogrand is the clever street photographer who seemingly doesn't understand anything at all about his camera. Superb images, a period piece and then with an actually very funny photographer. "Did he take a picture now?". Over 45 minutes of images by this artist with relaxing music underneath. Very inspiring!

The Decisive Moment

18 minutes with the master Henri Cartier Bresson. Should you be inspired by the founder of Magnum Photos and one of the most opinionated men in street photography, I have added a second video on Cartier Bresson directly below.

L'amour tout court

Another one about Henri Cartier Bresson then. In French and in low quality (because old). English subtitles; fine to follow. He is here.

Joel Meyerowitz - Street Photography

Well, what else to say about this man? His book Bystander is a kind of street photography bible and when Joel Meyerowitz talks, I get quiet and want to listen. Thickly recommended about a high-profile, elegant street photographer. Not a fan of his still lifes, but his street photographs are undeniably valuable period documents.

Walkie Talkie with Melissa O'Shaughnessy

This episode made me hooked on Paulie B.'s YouTube series Walkie Talkie. Prize for the worst name for such a series, but Melissa's energy makes up for so much. Watching, and then going straight out to shoot yourself. Very inspiring lady.

Bookmark this one too: Photoville, Joel Meyerowitz and Melissa O'Shaughnessy.

Jill Freedman at Wrong Side of the Lens

During its changes. AVG and all that. As a street photographer, it is a relief for me to hear Jill Freedman tell her story. "You sound like my f*ing mother." Not if you can't stand hefty language. Just click through to YouTube (Cannot be displayed here due to age restriction).

I came to these images through the 3.5-hour total video of WSOTL. For people with lots of free time. Definitely worthwhile.

On the street: Tatsuo Suzuki

Gunslinger from Japan, known for himself and Void Tokyo, interviewed by the affable Samual Lintaro Hopf for his Samuel Streetlife YouTube channel. Relaxed, direct, unpolished. Surely this makes me very happy.

Word on the Street - Octavian Carare and Jeremy de Salle

There has to be an Octavian Carare video in this list and if I have to choose, it has to be a video with Jeremy de Salle. The dynamic between these two and their slightly different approach to street photography adds something extra to the videos. In other videos featuring the two, the running gag is that Jeremy wants to photograph and Octavian is mostly in the mood for waffles or other snacks. Watch:

Niels de Kemp: Is street photography dead?

I first hit the streets with Niels a few years ago and Niels immediately wanted to make a video for his YouTube channel too. For posterity, because these days we enthusiastically make the podcast together 30 Minutes Shutter speed.

And finally

I'd be crazy not to include a video of my own, of course. I made a video with Pjotr for Photography Community's street photography night. This is him:

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