Progressive Street

STREET – DOCUMENTARY – PHOTOJOURNALISM – NARRATIVE - ART

Progressive-Street is a "gang" of international photographers looking at the other side, yes, but in this world.

We are an Art Gallery, an Agency and a small independent Publishing House: streets all over the World, a sight of reality, the eyes of the street.

ProgressivE-zine is a no-profit magazine: you can buy the print version of ProgressivE-zine on our website by clicking on the magazine's cover.

We are a look at the Globalized World. We show the effects of globalization. Photography as ethnography, our ethos is an anthropological, sociological, and social vision.

“There is another world, but it is in this one.” ― W.B. Yeats

“Thanks to us, the street photographers, people see the real world” B.H.

“the spirit of the street "runs strong in our veins"

Our objective is to show everyday life, real life, without seeking the exceptional and without wanting purely to surprise. Today reality has become as complex as it has ever been in history. On the contrary, far from presenting reality, many photographs today are disconnected, presenting the everyday in the language of advertising or seemingly narcissistic acts. With our reporting and initiatives, we try to make people think, and think about what they are seeing; opening a new window into the scene, and maybe also showing something that people cannot see. We’re talking about small gestures caught in the most diverse situations, making people wonder what lies behind them. Photographs that remain photographs and not processed computer graphics. Narrative photographs, not just great scoops. Each of these is accompanied by precise texts to identify the places, the people, and the occasion.

“We would like to leave a sincere testimony, like the monks of the Middle Ages, without the blackmail of money and the homologation of consumerism.”

Members and guests of Progressive Street reside in all four corners of the world, and our professional standards are literally focused on all aspects of life, culture and politics - from New York City to Seoul, from Kolkata to Tel Aviv, London, Berlin, Istanbul, Paris, Melbourne, Buenos Aires, Milano, and to the smallest town.

We reach a global audience thanks to Progressive-Street’s use of mainstream social platforms. And now we have our own site where one can find cutting-edge photo-features and articles, plus incisive biographies of the photographers, personal galleries, and how to subscribe to our magazine. Our strength consists in our numbers. We are many, yet connected through the virtual network. We are increasing every day, and continue to share the same ideals.

“We hope more and more people decide to stop this crazy online sharing of thousands of images and search for people in real life, galleries, and their social circle.”

“Attach a photo to a wall! Perhaps the small audience is the quality audience.“

The key difference between what the network offers and us is that our motives are not driven by profit, but rather guided by our ideals. We do not follow strict rules, but rather foster a collaborative spirit. In a world consumed by the pursuit of success and financial gain, we are a peaceful island that remains committed to our values.

Gang: Abrar Asad, Alberto M. Melis, Alphan Yilmazmaden, Ana Maria Prelipcean, Anat Shushan, Andrea Ratto, André Bogaert, Anne Launcelott, Asli Ulaş Gönen, Batsceba Hardy, B.D. Colen, Betty Manousos, Bogo Pečnikar, Boy Jeconiah, Bruce Saille, Bruno Lavi, Cameron Scott, Cassian Edwards, Catia Montagna, Corinne Spector, David Goold, Deepbrata Dutta, Delfim Correlo, Dimitri Mellos, Don Scott, Edita Sabalionyte, Eduardo Storch, Eric Davidove, Fabio Balestra, Federico Borobio, George Koulouridis, Gerri McLaughlin, Harrie Miller, Isabelle Coordes, James Payne, Jay Tanen, João Coelho, Karlo Flores, Keef Charles, Lola Minister, Lukasz Palka, Marco DM, Mario Barrela, Martin Agius, Martin Ingber, Michael Kennedy, Mikael Carlsson, Myriam Aadli, Nadia Eeckhout, Neta Dekel, Neville Fan, Niklas Lindskog, Orlando Durazzo, Orna Naor, Pacho Coulchinsky, Pablo Abreu, Patty DeJuneas, Petros Kotzabasis, Pia Parolin, Rene Geensen, Richard Keshen, Roberto Bartolini, Ruber Osoria, Shimi Cohen, Shubhodeep Roy, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Simone Christina Sander, Stefania Lazzari, Theodoros Topalis, Tina Manley, Tinglan Li, Tuna Angel, Ximena Echagüe.

Progressive-Street is an international community of street photographers and photo reporters that mix the art of photography in a multi-faced way to document the effects of globalization through their lenses. We are focus on the ethnical, social and cultural events across the globe - thanks to our net of high-class photographers that cover areas from big cities to the smallest towns, sharing the places and stories of people that cover endless cultures in this pageant of humanity.

Our photographers are chosen based on their authentic feelings, ethical behavior, identity, and quality of work, which grants us our strength as an independent organization.

Progressive-Street is a photography gang dedicated to the visual narrative of the street.

We go to the street for images that resonate with compelling insights of the human condition.

We seek images that reflect truths without the slick professionalism of the photojournalist.

We strive for an authenticity that is uncompromised and yet aesthetically beautiful.

We respect tradition but are not afraid of the currents of change. We are truly international in both our background and in our purpose.

We are Progressive-Street.

Have you ever thought about the nature of the shots you take? Have you ever sought to categorise them?

In our Gang, we have photographers who perfectly match the canons of the street (always with the soul), others who approach documentary, and others who even touch on something more artistic. We are free, we try to discover reality and its problems, its beauty and its ugliness through our images. And we all have the drive to create stories and pursue projects.

Humanity always needs fences, confines. For us, if there is a difference, it's just the spirit with which you shoot. It’s true that we could enclose ourselves within a category, but not our shots. They should be free, unfettered. No rules in the street, only intelligent thought. Don’t follow a rule to make an image, follow your instinct, and your heart too!

Many people choose street photography workshops, which we are not against in principle. Some Progressive photographers and others we esteem offer them, and they have our respect. But what we find disturbing is the potential cloning, a simple desire to recreate famous images by copying and kind of lowering the street to a bunch of tricks (like: juxta, chiaroscuro, panning...) However, you should think about learning the technique rather than just putting your work into method cages.

Why not look at the work of photographers who came before us – when someone hadn't yet defined the street – to learn? We create our speech. Let's have fun. We are creative. And we follow inspiration, not rules. We could spend our money on books and if you really want on an art history course.

Progressive Street: How many ways can it be categorised? Street? Documentary? Photojournalism? Maybe the fact that we’re only looking for good photography is what matters.

Our ProgresFestival website is now a digital magazine

In the "Virtual Guests" section, we feature authentic project demonstrations that go beyond basic features. Our showcase includes projects from both established photographers and newly discovered talents. During the second ProgresFestival, our readers were presented with thought-provoking interventions on the theme of Money and Nostalgia. However, the section is now open without any specific theme, offering a diverse range of projects for our readers to explore.

We have opened a space called "Write From Here" to showcase photographers who excel at storytelling and presentation. Of course, Michael Kennedy is a featured contributor. We will have many contributors, including John Gill, Pia Parolin, Shimi Cohen, Tinglan Li, João Coelho, Keef Charles, Cameron Scott, Mateo Candia Niklas Lindskog, AnneLauncelott and many others. Their blogs won't be daily but will always feature exciting themes.

In the Self-portrait section, we feature a collection of renowned self-portraits along with some insights on the topic. We are also inviting some photographers to showcase their own self-portraits. Currently, we have received contributions from four photographers: Ximena Echagüe, Michael Dressel, Margarita Mavromichalis, John Gill and Batsceba Hardy

Another section of the website is specifically dedicated to books, where you can discover more than just photography books.

There is a collection of thrilling Zoom conferences with prominent authors.