The 8 Best Street Photographers in Sydney, NSW, AUS

Looking to see who’s topping our list of the best Sydney street photographers? At Peerspace, we understand your excitement. As one of Australia’s most vibrant and colorful cities, it’s no surprise that the street photographers of Sydney have a plethora of subjects to choose from. With its unique city beaches, famous skyline, and unique characters, the art that can be created here is truly one of a kind.

Without further ado, here are our favorite Sydney street photographers — each one is an artist in their own unique way.

1. Sam Ferris

There are photographers who love photography and then there are people like Sydney street photographer Sam Ferris. He loves, lives, and breathes photography. In fact, by his own admission, he is always thinking about his art or in the process of creating it. His passion pays off in a body of work that is truly astounding as well as recognition from all over the world. His photos have been featured in Leica Fotografie International Magazine, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, and the Sydney Morning Herald.

Sam has also been a two-time finalist for the ‘Australian Life’ Photographic prize and was named Australia’s Top Emerging Photographer in 2019, amongst many other accolades. After earning his honors degree in Arts, Sam began to explore Sydney with the intent of documenting what it is like to inhabit these streets during this time.

He says “my intent is – and always has been – to discover and make candid photos of our times, in public places, that are un-staged, unmediated, and representative of not only what I see but also of what I feel — my emotional experiences of the world.” One look at his raw and beautiful work and you will feel the success of his vision.

2. Gaanesh Prasad

Gaanesh Prasad is a regular contributor to National Geographic Your Shot, cover shot photographer for Capture Magazine, and an award-winning Sydney street photographer. He caught our eye with his dimple, graphic compositions of life and landscapes. His work is not simply a representation of life as it unfolds in front of him, it is a carefully composed slice of what beautiful things he finds in the city and its surroundings.

Using graphic compositions and complementary colors, Gaanesh creates striking images. The iconic Sydney Opera House ringed in light, golden fields against a blue sky, and electric workers silhouetted against a dwindling sunset all feature in his portfolio. The cleanness of his compositions and his use of geometry impose a beautiful order on a vibrant city.

3. Chris Cook

Chris Cook creates street photography in the most literal sense of the word — photographing the streets and the architecture that make up the city. Combining his love of urban landscapes with the occasional human gives his work a one-of-a-kind flair.

Chris’s work is something to be admired — expertly composed and framed shots bring the architecture and buildings to life. Plus, his use of leading lines adds an interesting sense of perspective. And when he does include people, it is always to add to his already perfect compositions and a sense of movement.

4. Alex McClintock

Sydney street photographer and published author Alex McClintock often combines his words and pictures for feature publications. His work spans elements of travel photography, portraits, and documentary photography, and nowhere is that more apparent than in his street photographs.

Truly candid, his street portraits are an intimate exploration of people who are going about their daily lives, performing sometimes mundane activities. But through Alex’s lens, we see it elevated into art. His captures of thoughtful expressions invite the viewer to wonder what the subjects are thinking about, playful moments become celebrations, and his use of color is impactful. Check out his work on his website or Instagram.

5. Bruce Usher

After decades of working as a photographer, Bruce Usher has amassed an incredible portfolio. It’s one full of stunning commercial work and his passion projects of exploring Sydney and the communities found within. Throughout all of his work is a special something — a joy for life, a passion for uncovering the nature of a subject, and a celebration of whatever is in front of his camera.

While his commercial work has earned him countless commissions, and rightly so, it’s his personal work where we see his art shining brightly. Beginning his career as a surf photographer, Bruce never lost his love for documenting the community of sea lovers and athletes that ride the waves around the city. In fact, he just expanded that love into the inner reaches of the city as well. Surely one of the best street photographers documenting the people here, Bruce draws the viewer in again and again and offers them glimpses of never to be repeated moments.

6. Steve McBey

Steve McBey has a style reminiscent of Henri Cartier-Bresson, where humans, light, shadow, and texture all magnificently combine into a piece of art that is more than the moment. He often uses black and white to enhance his expert compositions and cut out extraneous details. Steve is also a master of using candid portraiture to create art.

His placement of people within the frame is a conscious choice to add to the feeling of the photograph. It’s not necessarily to capture the person themselves but to capture the entire scene before him.

7. Adam Kelly

You can’t pin down Adam Kelly’s style. He mixes elements of street photography, landscape work, the gorgeous wildlife and nature found within and just outside of the city, and even astrophotography into his shots.

His work tends to be full of color with graphic compositions to catch the eye. You’ll see surfers silhouetted against a vibrant sunset. Adam also presents the angular nature of human-made objects within the city, with interesting characters lining up perfectly with foreground elements. And let’s not forget the rainbow-hued lorikeets that flock throughout the city.

8. Maree Turk

Maree Turk loves taking photographs of people, especially fashionable ones. Currently capturing street style shoots for Cocktail Revolution, an Australian online magazine, and Sydney Fashion Week, it’s safe to say Maree has an eye for striking people.

Her shoots not only document the fashion of the city’s inhabitants but also offer a small glimpse into their personalities. Her work is a playful celebration of both humans and fabric and she stands out for her unique shooting style. She always keeps the focus on the subject rather than the full scene.

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