Through the Streets: Meet the Winners of Our Street Photography Contest
Street photography is about capturing life as it happens—raw, spontaneous, and filled with emotion. Behind every powerful street photograph is a photographer with a unique perspective, quick instinct, and the ability to recognize meaningful moments in everyday life.
In this article, we explore the stories of the winners of our Street Photography Contest, photographers who transformed ordinary scenes into unforgettable visual narratives. Through their journeys, inspirations, and experiences behind the lens, we discover how they captured the energy, humanity, and unpredictability of the streets. Their work reflects not only technical skill, but also a deep connection with the world unfolding around them.
KAY ERICKSON
I am a second generation photographer who used to watch my Mother hand color black and white photographs. At age 7, I received my first camera, and proceeded to photograph people accidently cutting off their heads with poor framing. I went on to
study at the University of Minnesota, where I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, Summa cum Laude, in photography; and subsequently a Master’s degree from Mankato State University.
I started shooting black and white film, printing it on achival paper in a darkroom, and then hand-tinting each print with Marshall’s Photo Oils. I later transisitioned to a digital format, and starting shooting in color, and thankfully my images included the entire person, including their heads. Street photography has become my passion. To me, it’s much like being an explorer, looking for unique lighting, and different compositions, that will hopefully make the viewer lean in to see what is really going on in the photograph.
My work has been exhibited in various cities throughout Europe, including Amsterdam, Stockholm, Berlin, Turkey, Barcelona, and Paris. My images have also been licensed worldwide for postcards, calendars, and posters. I have also exhibited my work locally in Southern California in the Long Beach, East Village artist’s community. I was awarded a Mayoral Proclamation from the Major of Santa Monica, California for my work as an artist in residence with the Santa Monica/Malibu School District, teaching math standards through the art of photography. I have recently completed a project with the Ojibwe indigenous people to record and archive their legends, stories, ceremonies, healing herbs; and current issues that are affecting them today.
Through my travels, I am able to capture images of people and places in local communities around the world. Through these images, I hope to convey the humanity that we all share, an in the process, hopefully eliminate some of the present stereotypes that are contributing to worldwide unrest.
JELISA PETERSON
Self taught, Jelisa Peterson is an American documentary and portrait photographer whose work focuses on women and children. She graduated in 1996 from the University of Utah with degrees in Anthropology and and Women’s Studies. Her career as a photographer and storyteller has its roots in childhood but materialized while she worked as a volunteer information officer for Zimbabwe’s largest indigenous women’s group, Jekesa Pfungwa from 1993 – 1995. Since then, Jelisa has traveled, worked and lived in many countries throughout the world however her focus throughout remained in Eastern and Southern Africa.
She lived in Argentina for two years, Zimbabwe for two years, Mozambique for four years and South Africa for six years. Solo traveling and exploring in order to make images of people truly took off when in 1996 she backpacked alone from Egypt to South Africa traveling throughout Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Since then Jelisa’s created more work in Lesotho, Namibia, Madagascar and Australia as well as multiple countries in Central and South America.
Jelisa’s award winning work has been widely exhibited in the United States in physical art centers, galleries as well as museums in thirty five states so far. Juried online exhibitions featuring her work have proven to be even more successful and opened up viewership to wider worldwide audiences. One highlight in 2026 was her work being selected to show in Pure Street Photography’s exhibition in Mumbai, India. In March of 2026, she was awarded “Photographer of the Year” by the international photography organization, The Artist Gallery Awards. Since 1994, Jelisa’s photography has been selected by world class juries to exhibit in multiple fine art institutions throughout the United States. In December, she plans to return to Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa to do work concentrating on street photography and spend time with dear friends.
You can find out more about Jelisa in her Instagram.
Don't forget to take a look to our other open photo contests for more opportunities to showcase your skills and creativity. Explore them here: www.theartistgallery.art/open-contests
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