‘Humanity is thriving!’: a street-level tour of the world – in pictures

From smoking royalists to wandering snow artists, the stunning images from this year’s LensCulture street photography awards come from more than 20 countries

Main image: Feeling board … Didier Vanderperre’s shot of Chinatown in New York. Photograph: Didier Vanderperre

  • Melissa O’Shaughnessy: Sixth Avenue (juror pick)

    The LensCulture street photography awards 2024 have announced the six winners, eight juror’s picks and 25 finalists at this year’s competition. Jim Casper, editor-in-chief of LensCulture, writes: ‘Looking at street photography is always a joy – especially when the winners of an international competition like this one take you on a quick tour of the world. Take a look and see for yourself how humanity is thriving, working, relaxing, having fun and co-existing with one another in 2024.’ For more information on the awards click here
    Melissa O’Shaughnessy: Sixth Avenue (Juror pick)Looking at street photography is always a joy — especially when the winners of an international competition like this one take you on a quick tour of the world. Take a look and see for yourself how humanity is thriving, working, relaxing, having fun, and co-existing with one another in 2024.— Jim Casper, on behalf of the jury and the whole team at LensCulture

  • Sina Shiri: The Remains of the Day (second place, Series)

    Sina Shiri: ‘This series focuses on individuals in urban environments, showcasing people and daily commuters traveling to and from Tehran, the capital of Iran. Many individuals come to the city intending to find employment, often using intercity buses. My upcoming project will explore Iranian society and the effects of this situation on the community’
    Sina Shiri: The Remains of the Day (2nd Place Winner, Series)This series focuses on individuals in urban environments, showcasing people and daily commuters traveling to and from Tehran,the capital of Iran. Many individuals come to the city intending to find employment, often using intercity buses. My upcomingproject will explore Iranian society and the effects of this situation on the community.

  • Vladimir Khorev: Characters (first place, Series)

    This series is dedicated to the historical district of Wanhua in Taiwan’s capital Taipei. Using glass street fencing as an artistic method to achieve his semi-surreal images, Khorev photographs random passersby who are taking a break at the fountain opposite the historical Longshan Temple. They are mostly seen from the back or half-turned towards the author, facing the turbulent life of the noisy street near the temple. Khorev gets as close as possible to his subjects in search of an emotional connection
    Vladimir Khorev: Characters (1st place winner, series)This series is dedicated to the historical district of Taipei, the Wanhua District. Using glass street fencing as an artistic method toachieve his semi-surreal images, Khorev photographs random passersby who are taking a short break at the fountain oppositethe historical Longshan Temple.For the photographer, the special state of natural light is important in conveying the emotional and individual layers of the peoplehe photographs.Outside the context of any social event, they are mostly seen from the back or half-turned towards the author, facing the turbulentlife of the noisy street near the temple. With his camera, Khorev gets as close as possible to his subjects in search of anemotional concentration on these characters who seem to exist in an environment far from the chaos of the big city.

  • Benjamin Cremel: Royal Fever (third place, Series)

    A royal fan wearing a Union flag cape smokes a cigarette under a tree at Hyde Park in London while watching the screening of the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III on 6 May 2023
    Benjamin Cremel: Royal Fever (3rd Place Winner, Series)A royal fan wearing a Union Jack cape smokes a cigarette under a tree at Hyde Park in London while watching the screening of the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III on May 6, 2023

  • Beata Zawrzel: Snowfall (second place, Singles)

    A boy plays in the snow after a sudden and intense snowfall after a rather mild first month of winter in Kraków, Poland
    Beata Zawrzel: Snowfall (2nd Place Winner, Singles)A boy plays in the snow after a sudden and intense snowfall following a rather mild first month of winter in Kraków, Poland.

  • Nicolas Monnot: Life in Bangladesh (first place, Singles)

    Nicolas Monnot: ‘Workers in action at a brick kiln in the suburbs of Dhaka. The sole objective of my project was to simply and modestly immerse myself deeply in the lives of Dhaka’s inhabitants by going to the places where the economy of the country plays out’
    Nicolas Monnot: Life in Bangladesh (1st Place Winner, Singles)Workers in action at a brick kiln in the suburbs of Dhaka. The sole objective of my project was to simply and modestly immersemyself deeply in the lives of Dhaka’s inhabitants by going to the places where the economy of the country plays out.

  • Syndi Pilar: Mutant Bike Parade (third place, Singles)

    A gathering of ‘mutant bikes’ and those who dare to ride them in Red Hook, Brooklyn, occurs every year on the weekend before Halloween
    Syndi Pilar: Mutant Bike Parade (3rd Place Winner, Singles), Red HookA gathering of ‘mutant bikes’ and those who dare to ride them in Red Hook, Brooklyn occurs every year on the weekend beforeHalloween.

  • Andrei Furnea: Istanbul – Mosaic of Dream (juror pick)

    Andrei Furnea: ‘Inspired by the work of Ara Güler and Alex Webb among others, I decided to take a 10-day photo-trip to explore Istanbul with my own eyes. I was deeply touched by the dynamic of the streets and the kindness of humans as well as how the chaotic visual elements have a tendency to arrange themselves gracefully in front of the spectator. It’s like you are watching life’s greatest show happening just for you. The city of Istanbul is a living canvas of history and culture, dazzling with vibrant diversity’
    Andrei Furnea: Istanbul — Mosaic of Dream (Juror pick)Andrei Furnea: ‘Inspired by the work of Ara Güler and Alex Webb among others, I decided to take a ten day photo-trip to explore Istanbul with my own eyes. I was deeply touched by the dynamic of the streets and the kindness of humans as well as how the chaotic visual elements have a tendency to arrange themselves gracefully in front of the spectator. It’s like you are watching life’s greatest show —happening just for you. The city of Istanbul is a living canvas of history and culture, dazzling with vibrant diversity’

  • Brad Jones: A Fragile Utopia (juror pick)

    Brad Jones: ‘I want to pause and think about how I experience the streets in my city. What if the overlooked areas could hold as much meaning for us as our homes do, or our places of work, or schools? The places we pass every day have an enormous influence over who we are and our general perceptions of ourselves, even if we don’t realise it’
    Brad Jones: A Fragile Utopia (Juror pick)Brad Jones: ‘I want to pause and think about how I experience the streets in my city. What if the overlooked areas could hold as much meaning for us as our homes do, or our places of work, or schools? The places we pass every day have an enormous influence over who we are and our general perceptions of ourselves, even if we don’t realise it’

  • CP Plunkett: On Closer Inspection (juror pick)

    This image was inspired by the Groucho Marx quote: ‘If I held you any closer I would be on the other side of you’
    C.P. Plunkett: On Closer Inspection“If I held you any closer I would be on the other side of you.” — Groucho Marx

  • Didier Vanderperre: Chinatown (juror pick)

    This project was shot over several years. It focuses on the different aspects of the daily life of Chinatown in New York City, striving to go off the beaten track and dig deeper into the real Chinatown vibe. These 10 images are part of a bigger body of work that will at some point become a book
    Didier Vanderperre: Chinatown (Juror pick)This project was shot over several years. It focuses on the different aspects of the daily life of Chinatown in New York City,striving to go off the beaten track and dig deeper into the real Chinatown vibe. These ten images are part of a bigger body ofwork that will at some point become a book.

  • Luis Sandoval: Life’s a Glitch (juror pick)

    Sometimes reality shows us a glimpse of something that looks like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie. But the most fascinating thing is that these scenes are just very unique moments when objects and light and the environment interact in a particularly curious manner. These everyday scenes reveal themselves like stills from an alternate reality
    Luis Sandoval: Life’s a Glitch (Juror pick) Sometimes reality shows us a glimpse of something that looks like coming straight out of a sci-fi movie or an alternate reality but the most fascinating thing is that these scenes are just very unique moments when objects and light and the environment interact in a particularly curious manner. These everyday scenes reveal themselves like stills from an alternate reality.

  • Mark Zilberman: Mumbai Morning (juror pick)

    Mring doing morning yoga on Marine Drive in Mumbai, India
    Mark Zilberman: Mumbai Morning (Juror pick)Mring doing morning yoga on Marine Drive in Mumbai, India.

  • Taewook Noh: Phantoms (juror pick)

    Juror Martin Parr commented: ‘I liked this series as it showed me a sense of exploration which I had not seen before. This is a factor I am always looking out for – a new approach rather than relying on a familiar language. I hope Taewook Noh takes this to the next stage and continues this work’
    Taewook Noh:Phantoms (Juror pick)Juror Martin Parr commented: ‘I liked this series as it showed me a sense of exploration which I had not seen before. This is a factor I am always looking out for – a new approach rather than relying on a familiar language. I hope Taewook Noh takes this to the next stage and continues this work’
Topics