The Best Street Photography Books

The Americans by Robert Frank is a groundbreaking photo book that completely changed how people saw both photography and American culture. His raw, unfiltered images captured the everyday moments, tensions, and contradictions of 1950s America in a way no one had done before. It’s not just a collection of photos—it’s a powerful, emotional visual essay that still resonates today. While Robert Frank was unlikely to refer to himself as a street photographer, his work set a foundation for many street photographers to come.

This book is a masterclass in colour, complexity, and composition, showcasing over 30 years of Alex Webb’s vibrant street photography. His images are layered, emotionally rich, and often feel like visual puzzles that reward slow looking. If you want to see how street photography can be both chaotic and poetic at the same time, this book is a must. When it comes to complex layering and capturing the ordinary in the extraordinary, Alex Webb is the master.

City of a Hundred Names is my favourite body of work by Alex Webb. Through his signature use of colour and layered compositions, Alex Webb captures the soul of Istanbul—its beauty, tension, and contradictions. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel like you’re wandering the streets yourself, seeing the city through a deeply poetic and curious lens. This book is responsible for Istanbul sitting at the top of my travel wish list.

Street Photographer: Vivian Maier offers a captivating glimpse into the hidden world of one of the most mysterious and talented street photographers of the 20th century. Her candid, deeply human images of city life—discovered only after her death—reveal an incredible eye for detail, emotion, and timing. It’s not just a photo book; it’s a window into the quiet brilliance of an artist who never sought the spotlight. Watch this mini Youtube Doc to learn more about Vivian’s fascinating story.

Between Worlds by Harry Gruyaert is a mesmerising exploration of colour, light, and atmosphere from one of Magnum’s most visionary photographers. His images exist in a dreamy in-between space—neither fully documentary nor abstract—capturing the beauty and ambiguity of everyday life. If you like the use of complex reflections and layers in street, check him out.

The book is a vibrant and joyful celebration of the chaotic beauty of New York City’s streets. Her sharp eye for colour, rhythm, and quirky human moments makes every image feel alive and full of personality. It’s a reminder of how wonderfully strange and interconnected everyday life can be when you really stop and look.

Roy DeCarava’s book is a poetic and powerful collection that showcases his masterful use of shadow, tone, and subtlety to express the depth of Black life and experience. It’s one of those books that makes you pause and really feel the photos. His images don’t shout—they whisper, inviting you to slow down and feel the emotion in every frame. It’s a book that reminds you photography can be as much about what’s hidden as what’s shown.

Reclaim the Street is a bold, energising collection that shows just how creative, diverse, and global street photography has become. It’s packed with work from photographers around the world, each bringing their own style, story, and perspective to the streets. If you want to see how street photography is evolving right now, beyond the classics, this book is an eye-opener.

Women Street Photographers is a powerful and refreshing look at street photography through the eyes of women from all over the world. The book showcases a wide range of voices, styles, and cultures, offering a fuller, more inclusive picture of what street photography can be. It’s one of those books that makes you want to grab your camera and go make something real.

The book is full of humour, romance, playfulness and those little everyday moments that make the city feel alive. Erwitt’s photos have this effortless charm, like he just happens to catch the perfect shot without trying too hard. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to book a flight, grab your camera, and people-watch at a Parisian café all day. He has a similar publication on New York that’s equally worth checking out.

All That Life Can Afford is a fun, clever, and beautifully shot look at life on the streets of London, focused around Oxford Street. Matt’s photos are full of humour, perfect timing, and little moments that most people would miss if they weren’t really paying attention. It’s a great example that street photography doesn’t have to be serious to be brilliant—it can just be about seeing the world with curious eyes. Matt also runs workshops, which I can recommend after joining one last summer.

Magnum Streetwise is like a greatest hits album of street photography, featuring legends from the Magnum collective capturing raw, real moments from around the world. It’s packed with iconic images, powerful stories, and a wide range of styles that show just how rich and diverse the genre can be. If you want one book that gives you a crash course in what makes street photography so compelling, this is it.

New York in Colour by Ernst Haas is a vibrant, dreamy tribute to the city that never sleeps. Known for his painterly use of light, motion blur, and rich tones, Haas turned everyday scenes into emotionally charged, almost cinematic moments. This book captures that magic in the streets of New York, showing why he’s considered a pioneer of modern colour photography.

While Thomas Sauvin’s photography and subject (capturing the significant role of cigarettes in Chinese weddings in Beijing) are interesting and deserving of merit, the main reason for me including this photo book is this list is the packaging. It is by far the most creative and innovative design for a photo book that I have witnessed. The attention to detail is amazing. From the plastic feel of the peel-off wrapper to the warning labels and feel of the box; until the moment you open the book, you would be fooled into believing you were holding a box of cigarettes. Hats off.

This book is a perfect intro (or refresher) if you want to understand how street photography has evolved over time. It takes you through the genre’s biggest moments and photographers, from the early days to modern masters, all through carefully chosen, impactful images. It’s like a mini museum in book form—great for getting inspired and seeing how the streets have been captured across decades.

Youth Unemployed is a raw and powerful visual document that shines a light on the struggles and resilience of young people facing joblessness in the UK during the 1980s using a combination of street, documentary and street portraiture. Shot by Tish Murtha, the photos are deeply human, full of grit, emotion, and unfiltered honesty that hits hard even today. It’s a piece of social history that still feels incredibly relevant.

Populace by Forrest Walker (famous for his 100 cities project) is a bold, globe-spanning collection of street photography that captures the energy and chaos of urban life with striking colour and composition. His images are layered, complex, and full of life, pulling you into moments that feel both spontaneous and deeply intentional. This is the same Forrest Walker who generously created dozens of city guides for street photography, which many of you have likely encountered.

Saul Leiter: The Centennial Retrospective is a beautifully curated tribute to one of the true pioneers of colour photography and quiet, poetic street scenes. The book showcases his dreamy use of reflections, soft focus, and muted tones that turn everyday city life into painterly works of art. The size and quality of the book offers an almost exhibition-like experience, which is reflected in the price. I’d recommend Forever Saul Leiter if you’re looking for a more affordable publication of his work.

One of the best bodies of work I’ve seen where people aren’t a main ingredient (something I didn’t imagine I’d be drawn to). Sideshow is a compelling street photography book that brings a unique perspective to the city of Brighton. Launched in 2016 as a personal project, it became an outlet for Harrison to explore creativity beyond his career in graphic design. The book highlights his sharp eye for composition and colour, while inviting viewers to find beauty in everyday scenes. It’s a testament to the power of street photography to reveal the unseen and to inspire a deeper connection with our surroundings

While technically more documentary and photojournalism than street photography, getting a rare behind-the-scenes look at how some of the world’s most iconic photos were made, straight from the contact sheets of legendary Magnum photographers, is fascinating. You get to see their thought process, what they chose to include or leave out, and how a single frame became history. It’s not just a book—it’s like getting inside the minds of the greats while learning how to refine your own eye.