Courtesy: SOFIA VERZBOLOVSKIS

The best street photographs according to LensCulture

This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)

These are the best street photographs of the Street Photography Awards 2020 Contest Check out the images!

Like every year, LensCulture rewards the best photographs captured on the streets of the world with the Street Photography Awards. The platform has just announced the winners for 2020. Keep an eye on these beautiful images and follow the artists on their official websites and Instagrams.

The best street photographs according to LensCulture
Courtesy: ©Gala Font

Furthermore, the images are the reflection of a paralyzed world, because due to the pandemic caused by the Covid-19, the semi-empty streets were a constant in the participants’ photographs. In addition, there are also others captured before the start of quarantine. Moreover, what is a fact is the beauty of each of the images, be it by context or by how well they dominate the technique.

In total 39 photographers from 19 countries were awarded six main winners, the first three of the two categories that structure the contest:‘Series’and‘Single Images’. Hence, we leave you the complete listo of winners.

Series Category

First prize: Kevin Fletcher

In this category, the undisputed winner was the American photographer Kevin Fletcher with his series Avenue of Roses, in which we see semi-empty spaces where only a contemplative person stars in the scenes and interacts with space.

The best street photographs / Kevin Fletcher man sitting watching sunset
Courtesy: ©Kevin Fletcher
The best street photographs / man standing in the middle of the street in the mist
Courtesy: ©Kevin Fletcher
The best street photographs according to LensCulture
Winning Photograph | Courtesy: ©Kevin Fletcher

Second prize: Toby Binder

In his series Wee Muckers – Youth of Belfast, photographer Toby Binder presents a series of black and white photographs of a young generation of teenagers in British working-class communities. The images describe the ubiquity of unemployment, drug crime, and violence affecting Belfast’s youth.

The best street photographs according to LensCulture
Winning photo | Courtesy: ©Toby Binder
The best street photographs according to LensCulture
Courtesy: ©Toby Binder
The best street photographs according to LensCulture
Courtesy: ©Toby Binder

Third prize: Michael McIlvaney

The everyday reality of urban life in the city is the main topic of photographer Michel McIlvaney’s Subordinate series. In it, the lens artist explores the metaphors associated with this tension: vulnerability, alienation, subordination, fear, threat, isolation, infringement, intrusion, etc. The series questions the photographer’s involvement: whether as a documentary filmmaker, witness, narrator, facilitator, or voyeur.

The best street photographs according to LensCulture
Third Prize | Photo Courtesy: ©Michael McIlvaney
The best street photographs / Kevin Fletcher man sitting watching sunset
Courtesy: ©Michael McIlvaney
The best street photographs / man's shadow cast through a glass
Courtesy: ©Michael McIlvaney

Individual Category

First prize: Gabi Ben Avraham

Israeli photographer Gabi Ben Avraham won the first prize in this category thanks to a photo that portrays a little girl looking through a windshield. In this one, you can see the reflection of several bonfires celebrating Lag BaOmer, a holiday in the Jewish calendar that is celebrated with departures, bonfires, parades and other joyful events.

The best street photographs / girl looking through the windshield at the bonfires
Courtesy: ©Gabi Ben Avraham

Second prize: Stuart Paton

From Italy, photographer Stuart Paton presents this magnificent image full of contrasts. The piece entitled Anonymous displays an overlay of scenarios. In the lower part, you can see seats of what looks like a café or restaurant.

The best street photographs / Man sitting in a restaurant with reflections from the outside
Courtesy: ©Stuart Paton

In the middle of the photo, a man lies sitting with his face turned to the wall. At the top we see the roofs of two buildings. The interplay of lights, colors, and shadows results in a wonderful collage of spaces.

Third prize: Paul Kessel

The American Paul Kessel gives us a visual poem with the photo entitled Q Train. In it, we see a blonde woman listening attentively to her son who travels on her back, while the other relaxes on his mother’s lap. Kessel captured this scene in the New York City subway.

The best street photographs / Woman traveling on the subway with her two sons
Courtesy: ©Paul Kessel

Jury selection

Finally, we give you a selection of photographs that the jury considered the outstanding pieces of the contest. Don’t forget to check out another selection with the best architecture photography.

Untitled 2, Miami Night-Urban Cinema ©Erika Anna Schumacher

People crossing a street at night and an avenue with cars
Courtesy: ©Erika Anna Schumacher

Untitled 7, Miami Night-Urban Cinema ©Erika Anna Schumacher

People standing at the exit of a place chatting
Courtesy: ©Anna Schumacher

Drive-in Theater 01. Valencia, 2019 ©Gala Font de Mora Marti

Shop window reflecting the silhouette of a man walking in the street
Courtesy: ©Gala Font by Mora Marti

The Faces by Meysam Hamrang (Iran)

 Photography of men's faces from LensCulture Street Photography Awards
Courtesy: ©Meysam Hamrang

Passers-by 06 ©Wenpeng Lu

Women taking a selfie while another woman watches them
Women Taking Cortesy: ©WENPENG LU

Fass Blues ©Sofia Verzbolovskis

 Girl in blue dress holding two cans in her hands
Courtesy: ©Sofia Verzbolovskis

This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)