In pictures: A brief history of street photography

Since its birth in the first half of the 19th century, street photography has transformed into an art form in its own right. Simple and spontaneous, pictures by the genre’s greats – from Henri Cartier-Bresson to Robert Frank – have served as historical documents, while speaking to something more universal and human.

This rich history has been captured in the book “Bystander: A History of Street Photography,” a collection of over 300 images compiled by photographer Joel Meyerowitz and writer Colin Westerbeck. Originally published in 1994, a revised edition has been recently issued, featuring updated text and additional contemporary photographs.

A man buried in the sand on the beach in Aden, Yemen.

Beginning with grainy pictures of 1840s Naples, the book travels through to vibrant images of present-day New York. Whether color or black and white, bustling or tranquil, the selected images demonstrate the genre’s variety.

Yet they also show that street photographers, for all their differences, are bound together by a fascination with the everyday. The very best of them are also united by their ability to find beauty and intrigue in the seemingly unremarkable.

Street photography's rich past has been captured in the republished edition of "Bystander: A History of Street Photography." This pictured image, by Jeff Mermelstein, is one of the newest shots in the 310-photo collection, which features examples of the genre that date back to the 1840s.

Dating back to 1846, this grainy image of Naples is one of the earliest existing examples of street photography.

Scottish photographer John Thompson was one of the first people to take a camera to Asia. He captured the subcontinent and southeast Asia in the mid-1860s before heading to Hong Kong and China.

British photographer Samuel Coulthurst captured street and market scenes around Manchester at the turn of the century.

Father-and-son duo Joseph and Percy Byron were known for documenting everyday life in New York. In 1892, Joseph founded the Byron Company, a photography studio that continues to operate today (as Byron Photography) under his direct decedents.

A man buried in the sand on the beach in Aden, Yemen.

A man has his shoes shined on the streets of Paris, as seen by pioneering French photographer Eugène Atget.

Eugène Atget spent much of his career photographing street scenes and architecture in Paris. Although celebrated posthumously, his work received little recognition until the last years of his life.

An image taken by J.R. Taylor, the Milwaukee Journal's first ever staff photographer. As well as capturing street scenes, Taylor took on a range of photojournalism assignments in his 37-year career at the paper.

Photographer Walker Evans is best known for capturing life during the Great Depression. Born in Missouri, Evans moved to New York in 1927 and went on to document the effect of economic strife on the city.

One of the key figures to emerge from post-revolution Mexico's artistic awakening, Manuel Alvarez Bravo is renowned for capturing everyday interactions in Mexico City.

During the 1930s, Ben Shahn spent time in America's rural south documenting the effects of the Great Depression.

Although better known as a painter, Shahn was an accomplished street photographer. He often based his artworks and illustrations on photos he had taken.

Like Ben Shahn and Walker Evans, noted photographer Marion Post Wolcott made her name working with the Farm Security Administration during the Great Depression.

Working primarily for Fortune magazine, Dan Weiner is best known for images taken in the 1950s. As well as photographing post-war America, he captured iconic street scenes in Europe, Africa and South America.

Although best known for pictures taken from the 1920 to the 1950s, Manuel Alvarez Bravo continued to produce photographs -- such as this 1966 image -- in his later years. Bravo is considered one of the foremost figures in Latin American photography.

An image by street photographer Joel Meyerowitz who, along with writer Colin Westerbeck, compiled images for the recently republished book "Bystander: A History of Street Photography."

Street photographer Richard Bram lived in New York for ten years. He published a book of his photos, titled "Richard Bram New York," in 2016, the year after he left the city.

Israeli photographer Natan Dvir uses his images to explore political and social issues. Taken from the series "Coming Soon," this photo forms part of Dvir's ongoing commentary on consumerism.

British photographer Nick Turpin founded the renowned street photography collective, In-Public. Dividing his time between the UK and France, Turpin captured this image in Artemare, near Lyon.

A scene in the heart of London's West End, taken by British street photographer Matt Stuart.

In pictures: A history of street photography

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“For the most part (these street photographers) have tried to work without being noticed by their subjects,” the authors say, in the book’s foreword. “They have taken pictures of people who are going about their business unaware of the photographer’s presence. They have made candid pictures of everyday life in the street.

British photographer Nick Turpin founded the renowned street photography collective, In-Public. Dividing his time between the UK and France, Turpin captured this image in Artemare, near Lyon.

“In the end, street photography, like photography as a whole, runs the gamut of human reactions from celebration to condemnation. That is what makes it a universal language.”

“Bystander: A History of Street Photography,” published by Laurence King Publishing, is available now.