Street Photography Breakdown: Part 19
What’s poppin, people? It’s Dante.
Welcome to Street Photography Breakdown, Part 19, where we look at five different photographs, breaking down their compositions and how the images were made—each with a story rooted in play, chaos, light, and life.
1. Palestinian Children at a Construction Site (Jericho)
These scenes of playful youth are often what’s most available when you’re out exploring neighborhoods around the world. In this case, I found children playing on cinder blocks at a construction site in Jericho.
“It’s the innocent youth against a gritty backdrop—and I find that visually and emotionally compelling.”
- Foreground: a boy looking downward
- Right side: a peace sign gesture, just cut off
- Background: the mosque, purposefully framed
- Middle ground: boys squeezed between blocks
Even with some limbs cut off and a forehead peeking at the bottom of the frame, there’s beauty in imperfection. These slices of life, fragmented yet whole, carry the image.
“Go to the outskirts. That’s where the most fruitful photos are made—not always in the busy markets.”
2. House Fire in Baltimore
This was an unplanned moment. I was drawn in by the sound and smoke—then saw children on bikes right in front of a burning house.
- Right side: smoke filling one-third of the frame
- Foreground: child covering his face, heroic presence
- Background: a woman walking away, covering her mouth with an Obama shirt
“Emotion and composition work together here. It’s not just about drama—it’s about depth and readability.”
I wasn’t thinking in rule-of-thirds terms—I just physically positioned myself to let the background and foreground interact. That’s how this came together.
3. Mimi on the Rooftop (Philadelphia)
A very personal moment. My grandmother—arms stretched out in red nails and lipstick—sunbathing poolside on her rooftop.
“This is one of my strongest street photographs, and it came from family life.”
- Left: gesture of her arms outstretched
- Right: Angelo, Kevin, and others in conversation
- Background: Philly skyline, chairs, fencing, a small cloud across the blue sky
What made this image work was dropping low—getting to her level—and letting that angle create clean separation between all the layers.
4. Children in the Tree (Penn’s Landing)
During the 2016 DNC, I was on assignment—but this photo came from walking around and staying curious.
- Foreground: boy grabbing the dangling shoes of another boy in a tree
- Middle: brother looking toward the moment
- Background: another boy hopping the fence and a man smoking a cigarette
“Layered photographs like this come from awareness—plugging in each part of the frame like a puzzle.”
And the backdrop—lush greenery, park benches, sunlight—sets the scene of a Penn’s Landing that no longer exists. A nostalgic capture of Philly.
5. Palestinian Children Playing at the Border (Jericho)
Another joyful scene from Jericho—kids playing along the border wall with gestures and movement.
“It’s your spirit on display. If you’re in a state of play, your images will reflect that.”
- Foreground: boy hanging on a pole (main subject)
- Background: Israeli settlement on a hill
- Left corner: boy’s face peeking in
- Bottom right: mysterious hands thrown up into the frame
I was drawn in by a single gesture—then waited for the rest to fall into place.
“Work the scene. Be patient. Be present. Then press the shutter.”
Final Thoughts
Photography is less about technical mastery and more about spirit, timing, repetition, and awareness. If you’re out there, not taking yourself too seriously, you’ll gain access to frames that reflect that energy.
If you enjoyed today’s video, feel free to visit dantesisafo.com and click on the Start Here page for more street photography resources.
You can also visit YouTube.com/@StreetPhotography to explore my lecture series and POV videos, including my work in Mumbai.
“Thanks for watching. I hope something I said today inspired or informed your journey. See you in the next one.”
Peace.