Raffaele Annunziata
- Abhishek Deb
- Oct 19
- 7 min read
Raffaele Annunziata | Street Photographer
In SPG's 16th interview feature, we have someone who brings some refreshing addition to the series. A photographer, whose bread & butter is street photography for more than a decade now. And that definitely is a deviation from all the individuals we have interviewed thus far. Let us get introduced to the Italian street photographer Raffaele Annunziata, who photographs to reveal and not to dictate and believes that the surroundings are very important.
How would you define your style of street photography?
Raffaele : I’d define my style of street photography as raw, poetic, and politically charged. It’s less about capturing the “perfect” moment and more about unveiling hidden truths, exposing contrasts, and documenting the human condition with honesty and intensity. Each frame is both a statement and a question.
Martin, what is more important to you - the people or the surroundings?
Raffaele : For me, the surroundings are more important - not as a backdrop, but as a political and social stage. I’m interested in how people exist within their environment, how the context reveals power dynamics, collective tensions, and unspoken narratives. The space around them often tells as much - if not more -than the subjects themselves.
Raffaele, why and when did street photography become your THE thing? What exactly inspired you?
Raffaele : For me, street photography is a way to express political and social ideas connected to the current state of things. Photography has the power to reveal what we don’t always want to see — to lift the veil of hypocrisy and confront reality as it is.
Martin, it's time to pick your own Top-3 street shots for all of us!
Raffaele : Here are the top three shots I’d choose, along with the stories behind them...
When you look deep within, did street photography change you?
Raffaele : Yes, street photography has definitely changed me. It’s given me the chance to see the world through my own eyes — and through my Fuji X-T5 — with a sharper, more conscious gaze. It’s also opened doors to incredible collaborations with people from all over the world, like the one I’m currently pursuing with Mahmoud, an extraordinary photographer from Gaza.
Raffaele, is there any top list of tricks to succeed as a street photographer? Share some tips for people who are starting out on this genre . . .
Raffaele : Study, but don’t imitate. Look at the work of great photographers - from Cartier-Bresson to contemporary voices - but use that inspiration to build your own voice, not to replicate theirs.
For a street photographer, what beyond that camera ?
Raffaele : Beyond the camera, there’s studium and punctum, as Roland Barthes would say. There’s been a lot of study — of geometry, perspective, and how to truly master the tools I use. Technique and theory are essential: they allow me to be intentional in the way I frame, compose, and ultimately communicate. The camera is just the instrument; the real work happens in how you see, think, and feel.
Is street photography your primary source of bread & butter?
Raffaele : Yes, it is. I’ve been making a living from street photography and video-making for over 15 years, through the agency I co-founded — Seed Media Agency, based in Naples. It’s not just a passion; it’s my profession and the foundation of my creative journey.
Any shot you missed and you must have taken?
Raffaele : Yes - the celebrations at the Maradona Stadium during Napoli’s fourth Scudetto. That night was pure history, a collective explosion of emotion, identity, and belonging. Not being there with my camera still feels like a missed heartbeat - a moment that would have carried immense political and social weight through the lens.
Which camera(s) do you use? And what about your lenses and other accessories?
Raffaele : I currently use a Fujifilm X-T5 paired with the Fujinon 27mm f/2.8. It was a tough decision — after 10 years of shooting with Canon, I chose to fully embrace lightness and speed. This setup is perfect for street photography: discreet, fast, and incredibly responsive. It allows me to move fluidly and focus entirely on the moment rather than the gear.
Which other street photographers’ work inspires you the most?
Raffaele : I’m deeply inspired by Bill Cunningham and Letizia Battaglia. Bill Cunningham taught me the power of observing everyday life with elegance and precision — turning the street into a living archive of culture. Letizia Battaglia is a constant source of inspiration for her courage, political commitment, and raw honesty — she showed how photography can be both art and resistance.
What is your word of caution to amateur street photographers?
Raffaele : My biggest word of caution is: don’t get lost in aesthetics alone. Street photography isn’t just about cool angles or cinematic light - it’s about meaning. If you focus only on style, you risk producing images that look good but say nothing. Study, observe, understand the social and political context of what you’re photographing. Also, respect the people and spaces you capture.
Do you follow any composition technique by the books?
Raffaele : Yes, I often rely on classical composition techniques such as the rule of thirds and the golden spiral. These structures help create balance, guide the viewer’s eye, and give the image a strong visual rhythm. That said, I use them intuitively rather than rigidly - they serve the story, not the other way around. In street photography, moments happen fast, so these compositional tools become part of how you see, not something you stop to calculate.
What NOT TO DO in street photography?
Raffaele : Never photograph homeless people or those in vulnerable situations without their consent. It’s not just a matter of ethics — it’s about dignity. Exploiting someone’s hardship for the sake of an “impactful” image is unacceptable. Never assume you have the right to photograph everyone. Even in public spaces, people deserve respect. If someone expresses discomfort, step back. Street photography is about observation, not intrusion.
Do you believe that street photographers are travel photographers too?
Raffaele : Not necessarily. Some of the best stories I’ve ever captured were right outside my door. Street photography and travel photography aren’t the same thing - their intentions and rhythms differ. Street photography is about observing and revealing the social, political, and emotional layers of everyday life, often in familiar environments. Travel photography, on the other hand, is usually about exploration and discovery. Sometimes they overlap, but they’re not interchangeable.
What's your perspective on the relation between Street Photography and Street documentary?
Raffaele : For me, they’re essentially the same. My street photography has always had a documentary intent - to show something real and non-manipulated. I’m not trying to impose my opinion on the viewer; I aim to reveal, not to dictate. Street documentary and street photography both rely on honesty, observation, and presence - capturing life as it unfolds, without filters or staging.
You are reading the SPG interview of Street Photographer Raffaele Annunziata
Any project that you remember more than everything else
Raffaele : Yes - without a doubt, “Between Gaza and Naples.” It’s the project that has marked me the most, both personally and artistically. Developed in collaboration with Mahmoud Abu Qaraya, a photographer from Gaza, it’s a visual dialogue between two childhoods — my daughter in Naples and his niece in Gaza.
Any location that you dream to cover next? Or any place that you would want to revisit?
Raffaele : My dream has always been to do street photography in a free Palestine. It’s not just about the place itself, but about witnessing and documenting life beyond oppression — capturing everyday moments in a land that deserves to breathe freely. For me, that would be both a personal and political milestone.
What makes you say “Wow!” when you see some other street photographers’ work? (and the reverse)
Raffaele : What makes me say “Wow!” is when an image forces me to look deeper - when it pushes me beyond the surface and invites me to read the photograph rather than just see it. I’m impressed by work that holds layers, that carries political, social, or emotional depth beneath a seemingly simple frame. On the other hand, what doesn’t move me is photography that’s only about aesthetics - technically perfect but conceptually empty. An image should speak, not just decorate.
That is street photographer Raffaele Annunziata for all of you as he opens up in this candid interview.
You can connect with Raffaele Annunziata on Instagram
If you are a street photographer and own a credible body of work, you can be featured in The Street Photography Gallery’s Feature section. You only have to hit the button below or email us on thestreetphotographygallery@gmail.com
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