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Food Coma

‘During an afternoon photo walk around the streets of Melbourne CBD, I came across this unusual scene … The people resting in almost identical positions initially caught my eye. I also noticed how the reflections off the window added another layer to the scene … I noticed something interesting, looked for a way to frame it with my 85mm lens, and tried to bring together the different elements without losing the strange quality ... I didn’t set out looking for this particular photograph. It was simply a matter of walking the streets with my camera and paying attention. You really do make your own luck with street photography.’Photograph: Daniel McCookeShare

Food Coma

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All of us are in the gutter, some of us are looking at the stars

‘The photo was taken on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Flinders Street in Melbourne. My main focus was a group of four young people in the centre of the photo. One girl was with her boyfriend and she was also with two other girls … The two unattached girls seemed slightly bored and one went off to do something else. I took several photos as this was all unfolding and this was the definitive image. To me it shows clearly how people occupying the same physical space can be separated by an existential gulf.’Photograph: Roger HylandShare

All of us are in the gutter, some of us are looking at the stars

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The Great Escape

‘Captured at the corner of George and King streets in Sydney, where the new Cartier store was under construction. The building wrap featured a leopard peering over a Cartier red box. The red scissor lift positioned in front gives the illusion of a cage with the leopard plotting its escape into the real world … What I love about this image is the stark contrast between the polished luxury of the brand and the raw, utilitarian reality of the street, right down to the bright green bin, the plywood hoarding and the unfinished construction site that grounds the scene in everyday city life.’Photograph: Ed RobertsonShare

The Great Escape

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Into The Light

‘Markets and bazaars in Bangladesh are energetic hubs of daily life, commerce and culture. Amid the constant movement, I was drawn to the interplay of light and shadow created by the harsh midday sun … the strong directional light offers wonderful opportunities to create contrast, drama and graphic compositions. I made this image by exposing for the highlights and allowing the shadows to fall into deep, inky black. This approach simplified the scene into geometric shapes, patterns and silhouettes. I spent time observing the movement of people, anticipating the moment someone would step into the light, while waiting for interesting body gestures and interactions to bring the composition to life … for me, the photograph is as much about what is concealed in the shadows as what is revealed by the light.’Photograph: Drew HopperShare

Into The Light

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Sapporo

‘This photo was taken in Sapporo during a three-month road trip from one end of Japan to the other. I took it during the long walk from the michi-no-eki (government designated rest area) we had parked at to the closest metro station. Travelling by car in Japan meant we spent a lot of time traversing vacant suburban areas. The light, shadows and the hazard signage made me stop and take in the scene. I took one shot and continued into the city. When I’m out taking photos, I tend not to sit and wait for a scene to unfold. I’m happier to capture the moment as I happen to experience it.’Photograph: Luke RobinsonShare

Sapporo

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caught in the flow

‘Tokyo was alive that Halloween, the streets filled with costumed revellers, neon lights and the endless movement of people. Amid the chaos, a young woman in a jaunty hat crossed my path, her expression a little shy. Using a slow shutter, the passing crowds and glowing lights dissolved into streaks while she remained almost perfectly still. For a second, time seemed to stand still around her. Halloween went on, but in the midst of it all, this little moment stood still.’Photograph: RenataShare

caught in the flow

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Knockdown Rebuild

‘I shot this image through the hoarding of the building site that used to be the Bourbon and Beefsteak nightclub in Sydney’s Kings Cross. It took me a long time to get right. I had to keep returning to the scene and experimenting until I caught a construction worker standing in the exact right place. But I think there’s more to this photo than just an optical illusion. It captures a moment of transition in Kings Cross. The old Bourbon is being turned into luxury apartments (what else?) so there’s a real irony to the archival images plastered all over the site walls.’Photograph: Alex McClintockShare

Knockdown Rebuild

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There’s always money in the watermelon stall

‘A vendor tosses a watermelon to a partially hidden worker in a market stall in Bandung, Indonesia. I was initially drawn to the clean blue background, the way the pillar splits the frame, how the framed picture and green rolls lined up with the pillar, and the saturated colours … after waiting about 10 minutes, the men working there started to toss melons from the pile on the left towards the middle ... I purposefully obscured the worker behind the pillar to make the image more ambiguous, and framed the scene so that the shirt sleeves were not visible so the arms would read as clean shapes. After leaving the scene, I showed the idea to my friend and fellow street photographer Hamzah Lim. He encouraged me to go back and keep shooting, which is when this image materialised. For me, this shot reflects how we as street photographers support each other to enter new spaces, continue when it gets difficult, and chase candid moments that won’t be repeated.’Photograph: Shane HarrisonShare

There’s always money in the watermelon stall

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The Germ and the Law

‘Sometimes the most powerful form of resistance is absurdity. A protester wearing a grotesque mask stands with arms crossed inside a line of New South Wales police officers outside the Surry Hills police station, Sydney. A demonstration was called in direct response to heavy-handed police tactics and brutality against demonstrators during protests against Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit the previous day.’Photograph: Ian FlandersShare

The Germ and the Law

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Women amongst the birds

‘Taken in Istanbul in 2025, I was watching a local feeding the pigeons outside the mosque, a daily ritual. As a photographer, I was drawn to the movement and energy of the birds, looking for an opportunity to capture the moment. Then I spotted a woman posing for her husband in front of the mosque. I immediately saw the potential to bring these two elements together in one frame. It was one of those spontaneous moments when everything falls into place. The lady and the birds were meant to be.’Photograph: Floss RogersShare

Women amongst the birds

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Red Sail

‘This image was captured on a rainy evening outside the Sydney Opera House. I set up my flash with a red gel, waiting for a compelling subject to step into the frame against the darkening sky. This woman was the first to appear, protecting her head from the rain with a piece of plastic. The striking red flash highlights the texture of her makeshift shield and her focused expression. I was immediately drawn to the visual echo between the visual elements: the sweeping curve of the plastic bag mirrors the iconic architecture of the sails directly behind her, making her look like she has her own miniature “Red Sail”.’Photograph: Ben Stanley ClarkeShare

Red Sail