Street Photography Breakdown: Part 18
What’s poppin, people? It’s Dante.
Welcome to Street Photography Breakdown, Part 18, where we break down five photographs, exploring the behind-the-scenes moments and the mindset behind how each photo was made.
1. The Separation Wall (Shu’fat Refugee Camp, East Jerusalem)
We begin with a striking image of a boy throwing a baby stroller against the wall separating Israel from the West Bank.
“You can manifest any photograph of your dreams into reality by going out there with intention.”
This moment didn’t happen by chance. I returned to the same location—Shu’fat Refugee Camp—over and over again while I was studying abroad at Hebrew University in 2017. At first, the media coverage and fear-based images nearly kept me away.
But I detached from the noise, walked through the checkpoint, and approached the area with childlike curiosity.
“When you detach from the outcome and don’t take yourself too seriously, doors open—even in the most unexpected places.”
I spent weeks walking along the trash-filled stretch by the wall, and finally, this boy appeared—frustrated, throwing a stroller against the concrete divide. The stroller, a symbol of innocence, clashing with the looming shadow of division.
- I angled my body at 45° to get leading lines and depth
- I waited for gesture and timing
- I layered in texture, sky, and shadow
The result? A mysterious, emotionally loaded composition that says more than a documentary shot ever could.
2. Cemetery in Nablus (Balata Refugee Camp)
This was probably one of the most dangerous places I’ve photographed.
“There were gangsters everywhere—with knives and guns visible. I never went back.”
Still, I caught a moment of innocence amidst the chaos: a young boy standing on a gravestone holding a toy gun.
This juxtaposition of youth and death, of play and permanence, struck a deep chord. Behind him—gravestones, palm trees, simple buildings, and lush greenery that grounded the moment in a real place and time.
“The contrast between the childlike posture and the weight of the setting creates impact.”
3. Donkey in Jericho
This one started with a question: How does Jericho dispose of trash?
I followed smoke on the outskirts of town and stumbled upon a clean backdrop. A boy and his donkey appeared.
- I built the frame back to front: mountains and smoke first
- Then waited for the foreground to align
The magic was in the boy hiding behind the donkey—his eyes peeking out in playful mystery.
“It’s the moment in between that adds life—not the obvious interaction, but what lies behind it.”
4. Wheelie in Baltimore
Golden hour. Pennsylvania Avenue. A man doing a wheelie down the street.
“To make it dynamic, I had to go beyond the obvious.”
So I placed a man with a cane in the foreground, gesturing toward the viewer. Add in:
- Sun flares from golden light
- Foreground layers and gesture
- Street energy from the people in the middle ground
It wasn’t a clean shot, but the intuition, movement, and light elevated the photo.
5. The Newspaper Man in Philadelphia
Now listen—I usually hate juxtaposition/illusion photos. The contest-type shots where people line stuff up.
“I think those kinds of photos are terrible… but this one, I had to make.”
It was the Final Call newspaper. Muhammad Ali’s face on the cover. The man holding it? Wearing a suit, just like Ali in the photo. Their collars aligned perfectly. His hand holding the paper, Ali’s face, the whole thing just clicked.
But I didn’t stop there:
- I used rule of thirds to place the main subject
- In the background: two people eating, an orange barrier, skyscrapers under construction
- A gritty, urban Philly street scene in full complexity
“The best photos have a hero moment—but also a side story that adds depth.”
Final Thoughts
We all have our personal tastes in street photography. I may dislike illusions, but sometimes—sometimes—they work. And that’s what this series is about: sharing my real thoughts, instincts, and breakdowns from the field.
If you’re vibing with these videos and insights, feel free to visit dantesisafo.com.
Check out the Start Here page for more street photography resources, and head to my YouTube channel for the full lecture playlist.
“Hopefully you learned something today. Stay curious, keep walking, and trust your intuition.”
Peace.