Why do street photographers often take candid photographs of strangers?

Street photographers capture candid images of strangers primarily because the public nature of the setting allows them to isolate and record fleeting, everyday moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. By working without the subject's knowledge, photographers can document the spontaneity and vitality of urban life as it unfolds naturally.12

This approach is facilitated by the use of portable, handheld cameras—such as the 35-mm Leica—which allow photographers to move quickly and capture subjects in succession without the need for staged poses. Unlike social documentarians who may have a specific reformist agenda, many street photographers are driven by an interest in the serendipitous nature of public activity. Their goal is often to reveal the essence of their surroundings through a subjective lens, transforming mundane or common scenes into a distinct art form.321