Stunning Urban Photography Shots

Cities are magical places. The phenomenal fusion of people and architecture gives each city its own individuality and life force. The lofty skyscrapers, complex transportation systems, and bright lights in modern-day concrete jungles, offer endless photographic potential. Urban photography aims to tell stories about people and their environment, most importantly how they are connected or disconnected to it. While cities have the innate ability to bring people together, they also can be isolating. These Snapwire photographers capture the bold, geometric features of urban landscapes in an array of cities around the world in beautiful and innovative ways:

Buenos Aires

“I love Buenos Aires because since I arrived to this city I have experienced both good and bad. It is a city in which everything is possible. As a street photographer, I have the ability to shoot in a million different ways because everything changes day by day- the light, the people, and the environment. There is always something new to photograph. I love Buenos Aires for its fury and its calm at the same time.” — Carlos Leon

Seattle

“I love Seattle for its location in the spectacular Pacific Northwest. The majestic mountain ranges, pristine waterways, and glimmering cityscapes are among the best in the world. Having instant access to such diversity is any photographers dream, I cannot imagine calling anywhere else home.” — Rick Theis

Chicago

“Chicago is amazing. Originally from a small city in the Pacific Northwest, moving to one of the largest cities in the country was daunting at first, and also not something I thought I would ever do. As a photographer, learning to find beauty in architecture and be inspired by cement and brick rather than mountains and trees was a challenge at first — I actually stopped shooting for a bit until I really began exploring. Surprisingly, Winter has easily become one of my favorite seasons. If you’ve ever seen a woman bundled up head to toe prancing around near Lakeshore Drive like an idiot in the middle of January with a camera in hand, that was probably me. I love the food. I love the people. I love the museums. And yes, I love the snow and ice.” — Emily Scott

Brooklyn

“I love Brooklyn on a personal level because it is where I was born and raised. The cluttered buildings and streets have grown on me and I am happy to call these streets my home. I love the diversity in styles, personalities, foods, ethnicities, and scenery New York has to offer. As a photographer, I love the iconic structures of New York that I get to shoot everyday. I love the bridges, skyscrapers, statues, architecture and parks. New York is a special kind of playground for photographers and especially for urban explorers. I love the feeling of escaping the busy streets or subways to explore and capture the beauty of abandoned subway tunnels or rooftops where the people look like ants from down below. When I’m not shooting the icons of New York or exploring its hidden gems, I enjoy roaming the city and looking for interesting subjects to shoot such as characters walking the streets or graffiti filled alleyways. “ — Ryan Serrano

Calgary

“I love that Calgary gets every season, sometimes all in one day. In the summer we get long Golden Hours and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Also, the people in Calgary are amazing. There are so many people that inspire, challenge, and support me in whatever I am doing. There are so many people and neat, creative things that it encourages me to get better at my craft. Lastly, I love Calgary’s location. It’s very close to the the mountains, the badlands, the prairies, and it is not far from the American and British Colombia border. “ — Dave Lieske

San Francisco

“San Francisco is a photographers paradise to shoot in! The architecture and landscape make San Francisco a wonderful and unique place to shoot. I often shoot with a group of friends and despite all of us shooting the same location, we all see it differently and come away varying images. What I love most is you can shoot the same location over and over and usually come away with something different. Take the Golden Gate Bridge for example. Sunrise, midday or sunset, the constantly changing weather (clouds or fog) the many locations to shoot from, you always come away with compelling images. The weather is in constant flux around the Bay Area. It can be sunny and warm in one location and 10 to 15 miles away it can be cold and foggy. Weather can make or break an image.” — Stan Pechner

Stockholm

“Stockholm has everything worthy of my love! I love the fact that it is surrounded by water (the city central consists of 14 islands) and the fact that it is a pretty small city. It has it all, but it’s also close to the country side and many National parks. I love to take pictures of basically everything but the Old Town is extra photogenic and so is Wood Cemetery.” — Sandra Linnell

“I love Miami because it’s always changing, As a growing city, there is always something cool going on, related to art or fashion. My favorite aspect about Miami is the amazing Cuban coffee served in almost every corner. I love photographing Miami because of the variety of styles I get to experience every day on the city streets. Each day I get a new photo, even if I am visiting the same spot!” — Alejandro Veliz

Manhattan

“The architecture, the people and the constant beat of the city are all so inspiring. There’s a story in every direction, which is a major point of attraction for me. This particular photo was not planned. I was looking up and admiring the buildings from the street and I just so happened to look through Christmas lights and after studying it for a minute, I decided to capture it.” — Justin DeGarbo