When it comes to my major city project and this blog, the number one question I’m asked is “What’s your favorite city for Street Photography?” From friends, family and strangers to messages and emails. The truth is I don’t deal in absolutes or favorites with most anything, especially when it comes to that. There are things I like about most cities that make them memorable in their own way, and there are too many dependents for me to pick just one above all for street photography. But I can pick some that personally stand out a little more and tell you why.

Now, after 5 years and finally passing my project goal of photographing over 100 major cities, it’s time for a 2020 installment of my Annually Updated Top 10 Cities for Street Photography. Only cities I’ve photographed during my Major city project are eligible, which finished off 2019 at 105 major cities across 75 countries. Check the list here to see all the major cities I’ve covered on the project.

2019 brought more work outside of the project, but I still managed to fit in 8 new major cities, while also growing my perspective and thoughts on all the cities I’ve covered. This brought one change to the Top 10 and I decided to include some thoughts on a couple of my favorite regions to photograph that didn’t make the list, and why. After covering 105 major cities, it’s extremely difficult to narrow them down to 10, especially while considering that I’m recommending them to you all too, but here it goes…

(You can see last year’s list here.)

My Annually Updated Top 10 Cities for Street Photography

(for 2020)

1. Istanbul, Turkey
2. Havana, Cuba
3. New York City, USA
4. Saint-Petersburg, Russia
5. Tokyo, Japan
6. London, England
7. Mumbai vs Kolkata, India
8. Odessa, Ukraine
9. Cairo, Egypt
10. Sao Paulo, Brazil

Honorable Mention:

• Marrakech, Morocco
• Paris, France
• Hanoi, Vietnam
• China, Mongolia and Central Asia
• Sub-Saharan Africa

1. Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul holds a special place in my heart so I might be a little biased here. It was the first of my 100 major cities project, and the jumping off point for this blog and mix of plans and goals I’d set for myself. I lived here much of 2015, so I got to know it better than most cities too, but personal bias aside, I can’t imagine Istanbul not being towards the top of any street photography city list. Istanbul truly has it all. 

Being the capital of three empires helps cram the city with so much to offer a photographer that other cities can’t compare. Culture, history, religion, politics, people, diversity, character, conflict, architecture, sea, sunlight, color, old world, new world, and the list goes on. It’s many worlds of atmosphere packed into one city. It’s no surprise it needs two continents to contain it.

You could live here for years and only touch the surface. The energy and atmosphere of Istanbul is what I miss the most, though. It feels more alive than other cities, with a raw beauty that I haven’t found anywhere else.

2. Havana, Cuba

If you imagined the perfect city for street photography in your head, Havana might be what you’d picture. It’s extremely walkable, full of character, color and life around every corner, as photo friendly as it gets, almost too easy to shoot in, and all with an atmosphere frozen in time. The opportunities for photography are endless here. You can just walk in any direction and explore away.

Havana is also a city that invites you in with the people like not many, so it’s a complete experience for photography. The amount of times I get invited for a drink or even into someone’s home in Havana is something that you don’t experience elsewhere, especially in a large city.

Still, while Havana is no secret among photographers, people question me about it as much as any. “It seems too hyped, over photographed, packed with clichés, every photographer’s destination,…” and so on. And while the old car type clichés of Cuba do deserve caution when here photographing, it’s mostly a bunch of nonsense. You won’t find many photographers that have been here that regret it. Most fall in love just like everyone else. And believe it or not, there’s still plenty to photograph here. So my advice is to just ignore the clichés and get over here as soon as you can.

3. New York City, USA

New York City is arguably the most famous city in the street photography genre today, so it’s not really a surprise to include it this list. Still, hype can create disappointment, but that’s not really something that should happen in New York City, especially with your camera. The place is just too special, unique and full of life and a variety of neighborhoods to explore. There’s only a few cities in the world that can compare, in my opinion. A good photographer can find interest anywhere, but if we’re being honest, photographers living in New York City might have a bit of an easier time finding it. It surrounds you around every corner. It’s not a coincidence that this city has supplied so many great photographs and photographers. 

There’s really no excuse to ever get bored with photography in New York City, as there are so many different places to explore, all with their own character and life. It’s a world’s supply of human interest packed into one city and five boroughs. There’s a grittiness to its streets and life too. You’ll see and feel things you won’t anywhere else in the world. A melting pot of people and interest.

4. Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Saint-Petersburg is probably the least hyped and talked about city on my list, so why is it up at #3? Because people just don’t know how good it is. Now, the time of year does makes a big difference, but if you go in the summer, it doesn’t get much better for street photography. The winter can be beautiful in its own way too, you just won’t have many hours of light.

The summer in Saint-Petersburg might be my favorite place to be for street photography, though. The sunlight is out 20+ hours a day and the beautiful city is full of life just as long. More than that, though, there’s just something magical about the city. The canals, pastel colors, architecture, bridges, islands, hundreds of parks, and more give it this surreal atmosphere that has to be experienced. The life and people are full of character too. Many people go about their life without any care of what others think, so it’s not uncommon to see older women and men sunbathing in their underwear. At the same time, you have many people who care a lot, so you see a variety of fashion and looks. It’s a big, magical city with a mix of so many things.

5. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is another hyped big city on the street photography scene that doesn’t disappoint. A great thing about Tokyo is how great it is for street photography, while bringing so many unique differences to the table. While feeling big with endless life and places to explore, it contains an atmosphere and character that feels completely different than other cities near its size. Tokyo has this very unique tranquility somehow mixed into the most populated city in the world (by metro area). You’ll, of course, find chaos and crowds, especially at places like the famous Shibuya crossing, but as a whole, it’s a relaxing experience shooting here in a city that is so big and full of life. I can’t think of another city that blends these usually contradicting feelings so well. 

Another aspect I really enjoy about Tokyo, and Japan in general, is its uniqueness. The rich culture here supplies so much unique authenticity, that for anyone not from here, it’s a feast for the senses. It’s full of quirks and character. Tokyo is also an extremely easy city to shoot in due to safety and the friendliness of the people. The latter should be taken with the disclaimer that part of the photo friendliness comes from the culture and people being as polite as it gets. Even if they might not want to be photographed, they won’t be aggressive or vocal about it, which many might want to consider when out shooting, as to not take advantage of. Tokyo mixes so much uniqueness into such a big city, that for many, it won’t get any better than here for street photography.

6. London, England

London is as well-known as any city in the world, and as famous for street photography as it gets, but sometimes cities don’t live up to their fame. London isn’t one of them.

One of my favorite aspects of London are all the different neighborhoods, each with their own character. It’s like different villages grew until they combined into one large city over time. It isn’t like New York or Tokyo, where skyscrapers dominate over you. London doesn’t feel overwhelming for a city its size. You can spend your days exploring parts of London on foot and get completely different atmospheres when it comes to photography. Some areas are chaotic and crazy, while others are quiet and relaxing. There’s something around every crooked, winding street, and you never know what it will be.

The biggest knock on London is the weather, which I can’t say is undeserved, but if you get some sun, the light here is special and it’s really hard to beat this city. It’s as dynamic and fun to shoot in as it is famous.

7. Mumbai, India vs Kolkata, India

Mumbai was here on last year’s list, but I honestly expected Kolkata to knock it off this year’s list. Having already been to both cities in the past, Kolkata had originally left the best memories for street photography. But after returning to Mumbai in 2016 and Kolkata in 2017, while photographing them more in-depth, Mumbai closed the gap in my mind. It’s difficult to choose between them, as they each bring different pluses and appeal. India is so packed with cities for street photography that I’m just going to include both cities under one, while explaining their different appeals.

Mumbai is the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India. If you go by population, Mumbai is the largest city in the world’s second largest country. If you go by money, it’s the wealthiest city in India, but with some of its most extreme poverty. Mumbai is also India’s most diverse, cosmopolitan and westernised city. Basically, Mumbai is everything and more.

Bazaars and temples, colonial architecture and skyscrapers, bay promenades and fishing villages, Asia’s biggest slums and Bollywood stars’ most expensive homes. Mumbai is filled with a variety of scenery and life that rivals any city in the world. It’s filled with an urban energy that consumes you and endless interest that keeps you wanting more. All of this adds up to one of the top cities in the world for street photography.

While not quite as big as Mumbai, Kolkata is still one of India’s biggest cities. Yet, it has a noticeably different, more easy-going and welcoming atmosphere compared to the others. It’s a city made for walking and street photography. While India’s other large cities are more spread out, Kolkata feels like you can walk everywhere. It has a special, old world feeling mixed into a big, urban city. It feels authentic, filled with culture and a chaotic, yet friendly vibe. The colonial-era architecture contrasting with urban slums, it’s also gained a reputation as the most friendly of India’s metropolises. While it might not be as known with the general traveler, it is known among the photography community. It’s made for bringing your camera and exploring away.

If I really had to choose between the two, I’d say Kolkata is easier and more enjoyable for a shorter visit, while Mumbai provides more variety and interest the more time you have. They’re both as good as gets for street photography, though.

8. Odessa, Ukraine

I have to include a city from Ukraine, one of my favorite countries in the world for street photography. Kiev and Lviv both get high recommendations too, but if I had to choose one, it would be Odessa. I included it in last year’s list, but actually returned again since, which only cemented its place as a personal favorite.

I went to Ukraine for the first time in 2015 and fell in love. So much so that I’ve returned both years since. I like places that feel authentic, are full of character and mood, while being a little rough around the edges. Ukraine is all this more than any place I’ve been. There’s nothing fake about the atmosphere and it doesn’t feel over photographed. It’s more untouched, while still being a large country with plenty going on. And the markets are the best you’ll find anywhere. Odessa’s Privoz Market is no exception.

Odessa provides this atmosphere that I love, but adds the Black Sea and more. It’s become the country’s top vacation getaway with beaches that fill up during the summer. The city is filled with history and character, while being extremely walkable. You can enjoy the pedestrian streets, old courtyards, parks, and markets in the city, and then take a walk to the beaches to enjoy the very unique character, and characters, that fill it. They aren’t the typical tourist beaches you might be used to, either, which provides even more interest for street photography.

9. Sao Paulo, Brazil

Sao Paulo is another city where there really shouldn’t be much of a surprise it made the list, but it might not be on everyone’s radar as much as a New York City or Tokyo. In South America, though, São Paulo is not only the largest city on the continent, but also its center on the street photography scene. Brazil as a whole, contains the most photographers, but no city on the continent contains a passion for street photography like Sao Paulo. 

Sao Paulo is also another city that contains a wide variety of neighborhoods to explore for photography, each containing its own unique character. Walking Paulista or exploring Bixiga and Liberdade, the city’s Italian and Japanese neighborhoods, are just a few of my favorite spots for photography. And while Brazil, and South America in general, doesn’t have the best reputation for safety, Sao Paulo feels like it has more safe areas to explore for photography compared to Rio de Janeiro and Salvador de Bahia, when it comes to the major Brazilian cities I covered on the project. A lot of the main streets and neighborhoods for a photography walk are kept fairly safe, especially for a big city in Latin America. South America has a special feeling for street photography that you won’t find elsewhere, so it can be a shame that perceived dangers can deter many. For me, though, Sao Paulo is definitely a city I’d recommend and like to return to for photography.

10. Cairo, Egypt

I included Cairo in my honorable mention in last year’s list, but decided it should trade spots with Marrakech this time around, moving it up into the Top 10. I explain the reason for moving Marrakech down in the next segment, but Cairo definitely deserves it’s place here. At around 22 million people, it doesn’t get much bigger and chaotic than Cairo. It also doesn’t get much more historic and atmospheric. This urban sprawl by the famous pyramids is filled with buzzing streets and a variety of life that’s hard to beat. Yes, it’s not the cleanest, quietest city, and there are touts and hassle to endure, but it’s more than worth it in Cairo. The history, the crumbling character, the size, the chaos, the variety of unique neighborhoods, the amazing street life and that signature golden brown look all come together to make one of my favorite atmospheres for street photography in the world. 

Honorable Mentions: 

(See prior yearly list to read more about these cities that narrowly missed my final list this year)

Marrakech, Morocco

As an early major city on the project (#12), Marrakech had made the cut in each of my previous year-end top 10 lists, but I finally decided to move it off. Not so much because my opinion of it has changed, but due to the fact it’s by far the city I receive the most complaints about from readers. It’s famous for hassle from the locals about taking photos, which seems to ruin many street photographers experience there, judging by all the messages I receive. While I find there are ways to receive less push back and still freely shoot candid photos through the viewfinder, I’m also not bothered by reaction, which is definitely something you’ll have to deal with if you get close enough and aren’t the sneaky type. So, for many, it might be enough to deter. Due to the fact it’s still an extremely photogenic city for street photography, I’m keeping it as honorable mention, but be prepared for more hassle compared to the other cities on the list. For the many reasons I had included it in my top, though, check out last year’s list at #9.

Paris, France

Hanoi, Vietnam

Other Regions I Want to Mention

China & Central Asia

After covering 4 major cities in China (Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou & Chengdu), Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, and a major city in 3 Central Asian countries (Almaty, Tashkent & Bishkek), this large region has become one of my favorites for its unique, sometimes quirky, character. I can’t really select one city above the all the rest, they have different pluses and minuses, but all contain an atmosphere and life that you won’t find elsewhere. You’ll see character and characters here that you won’t elsewhere and much of it remains comparatively less photographed for street compared to other places, which I love. 

Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is a large area I’ve covered and find very interesting for street photography. I can’t exactly recommend it to everyone for street photography, though, as it’s also the most difficult overall in Major Cities due to danger, photo reactions, ease of travel and maybe more than anything, police and security hassle. There are exceptions, but in cities I’ve covered like Johannesburg, Nairobi and Accra, it might not be for most street photographers. But some, like me, will find it more than worth the trouble. Personally, I enjoy the challenge and unique photo opportunities, but it definitely calls for experience, confidence and some added risk. The life here, though, is something special, even in the big cities. 

For 2020, a major focus will be publishing and start putting out work from all this work. I have a zine coming soon, another coming later, and a small book coming too. Then the major books will be coming. Stay tuned into the blog and my instagram @fdwalker for all announcements. (And to see what cities I have tentatively planned for this year, check here.)

 

2020 Photography Workshop Schedule