Street Photography Trends of the 60s, 70s, and 80s: A Resurgence in 2024
Are the Street Photography Trends of the 60s, 70s, and 80s Making a Comeback in 2024?
In the world of street photography, the bustling urban life has always been captured in its most candid form, offering a glimpse into the intimate, chaotic, and even the mundane aspects of human existence. The golden decades of the 60s, 70s, and 80s each brought their unique flair and thematic focus to this genre, setting the stage for a rich legacy that has continued to inspire photographers over the years. Now, as we step into 2024, there's an undeniable sense of déjà vu in the air. It appears that the iconic styles and themes of these past decades are resurfacing, breathing new life into the contemporary urban landscapes captured through the lenses of today's photographers. This revival not only pays homage to the past but also offers a fresh lens through which we view our present-day streets.
The 60s: The Human Condition in Monochrome
The 1960s were a period of intense change and social upheaval, mirrored in the stark, monochromatic images of street photographers. This era’s photography was deeply humanistic, focusing on the expressions and emotions of people caught in everyday moments. The use of black and white film added a timeless quality, emphasizing contrasts and textures over colors. Today, this style is resurging as photographers in 2024 seek to strip back the saturation of digital color to highlight the raw beauty of human moments against the backdrop of modern cities.
Photograph taken by James Jowers, an American street photographer
The 70s: Color and Counter-Culture
The 1970s introduced a significant shift with the broader adoption of color film, bringing a new dimension to street photography. This period captured the vibrant counter-culture movements, protests, and the everyday psychedelic of urban life in lurid color. Photographers like William Eggleston and Stephen Shore paved the way for seeing the ordinary as extraordinary, focusing on the mundane with a color palette that made the familiar unfamiliar. In 2024, we're seeing a resurgence of this approach, with photographers embracing vivid colors to document the dynamism of street life, from graffiti-adorned alleys to the eclectic fashion of city dwellers.
Photos by Sepp Werkmeiste
The 80s: The Decade of Documentation
The 1980s’ street photography was characterized by a documentary style that sought to chronicle the socio-political climate—economic disparities, the rise of subcultures, and the lingering Cold War tension. It was raw and gritty, with photographers venturing into previously overlooked urban territories. Today, as photographers in 2024 navigate a world of rapid change and societal shifts, there's a renewed interest in this documentary approach, capturing the stories unfolding on the streets as history in real-time.
Image by Frank Horvat.
The Resurgence in 2024
This year, we're witnessing a harmonious blend of these decades' influences, as modern street photographers draw from the past to inform their present. The adoption of vintage lenses on digital bodies, the revival of film photography, and the curated use of digital post-processing to emulate classic film aesthetics, all signify a nod to the rich legacy of street photography.
Photo Captured by Tymel
Moreover, the themes of the past—social movements, the human condition, and urban exploration—are more relevant than ever. With the global stage set by social media, street photography in 2024 has the power to transcend geographical boundaries, creating a collective narrative that bridges the past with the present.
The resurgence of these vintage trends is not merely a nostalgic revival but a testament to their timeless appeal and the enduring power of photography to connect us to the human experience. As we move forward, it's clear that the lessons learned from the 60s, 70s, and 80s are not just historical footnotes but vital chapters in the ongoing story of street photography.
