Framed fine art photograph by Martin Osner depicting an abstract urban street scene with blurred figures & historic building

Urban Street Art Photography

This collection of urban street art photography by Martin Osner presents a distinctive perspective on inner-city life. Blending expressive visual techniques with candid observation, each piece captures the layered stories, textures and human moments that define contemporary urban environments. From bold murals and fleeting street encounters to abstract impressions created in-camera, these fine art prints invite viewers to look beyond the surface and discover the soulful character of our shared spaces. This body of work sits at the intersection of fine art street photography and contemporary urban photography, capturing fleeting encounters and layered textures.

Fine Art Prints Celebrating the Spirit of the Inner City

Selected limited edition prints from the
Urban Street Art Photography Collection

Blurred figures passing a painted underwater mural in a dimly lit pedestrian tunnel

Abstract fine art photograph by Martin Osner showing a blurred urban street scene with historic buildings and a lone figure

Abstract multiple exposure photograph of a man crossing a street with historic buildings in vibrant colours

Symmetrical facade of colourful apartment balconies in an urban art photograph by Martin Osner

Lone figure walking down a concrete stairwell in a moody urban fine art photograph

Techniques and Inspiration Behind the Urban Street Art Collection

This collection of urban street art photography brings together artworks created to reflect the raw energy, layered narratives, and vibrant spirit of the inner city. Whether working with slow shutter speeds, in-camera multiple exposures, or subtle digital blending, my focus is always on interpretation rather than mere documentation. Many pieces evolve further through mixed media, where photography merges with painting and other materials to create expressive, contemporary art. I see the camera as a versatile instrument—an extension of intuition and curiosity—used to translate atmosphere and human stories into visual impressions. As an urban photography artist, I’m drawn to the contrast between architectural form and human presence. Each artwork is shaped by instinct, observation, and the unpredictable poetry of urban life. If you feel drawn to these creative processes, I also share many of these techniques through my art and fine art photography courses, available online at artphoto.academy.

Fine art photograph by Martin Osner showing a colourful grid of apartment balconies and windows in an urban building facade

Urban Design

Photographed in Cape Town, South Africa, Urban Design celebrates the quiet power of simplicity and repetition. This popular print by fine art photographer Martin Osner transforms a familiar residential building into a compelling study of pattern and nuance. While the overall composition presents a clean, structured grid, closer observation reveals the superb detail and individuality of each window, every cubicle hinting at its own untold story. The photograph demonstrates how design, repetition and human presence can merge into something both contemporary and timeless.

Artwork Details

Medium: Archival pigment print on fine art paper
Edition: Limited to 50 prints
Recommended Size: 90 x 120 cm / 35" x 47" (Including border)
Custom Sizes: Available on request
Authenticity: Hand-signed and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity
Availability: View on our online gallery

Downtown Collection

Expressive street photography artwork of men walking past a vivid mural of a tiger attacking a man in Woodstock, Cape Town

Fine art urban photograph capturing layered graffiti and street life with a large Free Palestine mural in Cape Town

Colourful fine art photograph by Martin Osner showing red and white striped walls and vintage seaside dressing room signs

Urban street art photograph by Martin Osner showing a man passing a mural of a woman with headphones and the letters BTS

Artist: Martin Osner | Medium: Archival pigment print on fine art paper | Edition: Limited to 20 prints (regardless of size)
Suggested Sizes: 80 x 58 cm (31" x 22") or 110 x 78 cm (43" x 31") — custom sizes available on request
Certificate: Hand-signed with a certificate of authenticity

The Downtown series is a brilliant portfolio of urban fine art prints celebrating the energy and layered narratives of the inner city. Photographed primarily in Woodstock, Salt River, and Kalk Bay—my favourite locations for this type of work—these images combine in-camera multiple exposures with high dynamic range blending, intentional camera movement, and subject motion. The process creates a dynamic, cubist-inspired style, where scenes are broken into smaller outlined segments that echo the fragmented impressions of city life. Each artwork reflects the vibrancy, tension, and hidden poetry of downtown districts, inviting viewers to look past the surface and discover the visual rhythms of these remarkable and energetic neighbourhoods.

Downtown No.1

Photographed in Woodstock, Cape Town, this expressive street scene captures two men passing a vivid mural of a tiger mid-attack. The combination of movement and layered exposures creates a dynamic, cubist-inspired impression of urban life.
Listing: View on our online gallery

Fine art urban street photograph by Martin Osner showing children sitting near a mural and an elderly man pushing a trolley

Fine art photograph by Martin Osner showing a blurred figure walking through the famous Kalk Bay subway with a wall mural

Downtown No.2

This image was captured on the corner outside the famous Cassiem Shop, a long-standing general dealer in Woodstock. This expressive image captures a moment that no longer exists—the vibrant mural has since been painted over. Multiple exposures blend the movement of passers-by into an energetic impression of street life.
Listing: View on our online gallery

Downtown No.3

Bright and colourful, this image was photographed at the Brass Bell in Kalk Bay, Cape Town. Using an in-camera art technique, the movement of the passing pedestrian transforms into a cubist-style impression. The scene captures the nostalgia of summer holiday memories by the seaside. Notably, the dressing room features just a single blue door shared “for the boys” and “for the ladies,” adding a playful touch to the composition.
Listing: View on our online gallery

Downtown No.4

Photographed in Woodstock, Cape Town, this artwork uses an in-camera technique that transforms the movement of the pedestrian into a beautiful cubist-style impression. The mural behind, marked with “BTS,” perhaps suggests “Beyond the Streets”—a subtle nod to the idea that street art can be celebrated as creative expression rather than vandalism.
Listing: View on our online gallery

Downtown No.5

This group of friends was photographed in Woodstock, a suburb of Cape Town, using an in-camera art technique that transforms the moving figure into a beautiful cubist-style impression. The man pushing a trolley piled high with wood, guided by ropes like a horse-drawn cart, adds a poetic layer to the scene. Behind them, the weathered mural seems to suggest that the children should remain quiet, lending the image a subtle tension between playfulness and restraint.
Listing: View on our online gallery

Downtown No.9

The surreal world is found in a subway in Cape Town, leading to the well-known Brass Bell restaurant in Kalk Bay. This print has been beautifully photographed using an in-camera technique that creates a cubist impression. The blurred figure appears to be gently guided by the underwater mural, which shows the way home after an evening of fellowship and perhaps overindulgence.
Listing: View on our online gallery

Featured Prints from the Medieval City Collection

Captured in London in 2006, the Medieval City Collection came about while I was preparing to exhibit the Abandoned and Faceless Society series. To steady my nerves before the opening, I decided to spend time walking the city with my camera. These three prints were created during those quiet hours, when I observed the layered architecture and small moments of daily life in and around the old stone buildings and narrow lanes. This body of work offers a glimpse into the ordinary, the often-overlooked scenes on the streets of an incredible and vibrant medieval city.

An early morning photograph of an elderly man without a shirt cleaning an alleyway in central London, captured early morning

Medieval City No.1

I came across this scene in a quiet alley in central London while stopping for a cup of coffee at a McDonald’s around daybreak. The back door had been left open, and when I peeked outside, I saw this elderly man, shirtless, methodically sweeping the passageway as though it were his own. He didn’t see me take the photograph, and by the time I paid for my coffee and returned to have a chat, he had disappeared, leaving the alley perfectly clean.
Listing: View on our online gallery

Artist: Martin Osner | Archival pigment print on fine art paper | Edition: Limited to 20 prints (regardless of size)
Suggested Sizes: 80 x 58 cm (31 x 22") or 110 x 78 cm (43 x 31") — custom sizes available on request
Certificate: Hand-signed with a certificate of authenticity

Photograph of a lone man dressed in black walking down a dimly lit subway staircase in London, captured in the early morning

Medieval City No.3

This early morning photograph was taken while I was waiting for the light to brighten on the streets of London. I came across this subway entrance leading down to the underground. The strong graphic shapes and the rhythm of the steps immediately drew me in, but I felt it needed something more. Almost as if in response to a quiet wish, I heard footsteps behind me. A man, dressed head to toe in black, walked past and down the stairs, completing the composition exactly as I had imagined.
Listing: View on our online gallery

Medieval City No.4

This documentary photograph taken outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London encapsulates the sense of an ancient city meeting modern life. The inscription “LOOK RIGHT” feels almost symbolic, pointing citizens toward the law while gently reminding them to be aware and present before stepping forward. The blurred motion of the black taxi reinforces the constant movement and energy of the city, set against the timeless stone façade of the court.
Listing: View on our online gallery

London taxi crossing a zebra pedestrian crossing in front of the Royal Courts of Justice, with “LOOK RIGHT” painted on road

Heartbeat of the Mother City | Selected Works

Abstract Cape Town street photograph showing a layered impression of a woman in a headscarf walking past cars and buildings

Abstract layered street scene in Cape Town showing a woman and child walking past red buildings and graffiti lips mural.

Abstract photograph of a man crossing a colourful Woodstock street, Cape Town, layered exposures blending bright colours

Energetic abstract photo of a cyclist, car, and street corner in Salt River, Cape Town, blending urban textures and movement.

Artist: Martin Osner | Medium: Archival pigment print on fine art paper | Edition: Signed Open Edition
Available Sizes:
100 cm x 77 cm / 39" x 30" (Including border) / 120 cm x 92 cm / 47" x 36" (Including border)
140 cm x 107 cm / 55" x 42" (Including border) — custom sizes available on request

Captured mostly in Woodstock and Salt River, this collection explores the vibrant spirit of Cape Town through the lens of in-camera artistry. By combining multiple, slightly misaligned exposures, each photograph becomes an energetic, abstract impression. The colours, textures, and movement of the streets reflect the rich character of the Mother City—a place affectionately known for its diverse cultures and the everyday rhythm of its people. These featured pieces are part of a broader series that celebrates the street life and visual energy of the rainbow nation.

Heartbeat of the Mother City No.1
Listing: View on our online gallery

Heartbeat of the Mother City No.2
Listing: View on our online gallery

Heartbeat of the Mother City No.4
Listing: View on our online gallery

Heartbeat of the Mother City No.6
Listing: View on our online gallery

Démodé Print Collection

Démodé is a nostalgic collection inspired by recollections and fleeting impressions of the past. Each piece brings together many small elements—fragments of memory, texture, and mood—that blend into sophisticated prints with a timeless character. Created using a black powder transfer technique, the artworks feature a distinctive grain reminiscent of vintage film, evoking the sense of a long-lost photograph rediscovered. The result is a body of work that feels both historic and intimate, inviting the viewer to pause and reflect on stories that endure long after their moment has passed.

Historic London street scene photographed on a quiet morning with a single pedestrian and traffic light giving direction

Démodé No.1

Photographed early one quiet morning in London, this print captures a solitary figure crossing an empty street while a traffic light glows faintly, suggesting direction. The textured grain of the black powder transfer technique evokes a sense of a memory preserved in time.
Listing: View on our online gallery

Artist: Martin Osner | Archival pigment print on fine art paper | Edition: Limited to 15 prints (regardless of size)
Suggested Size: 80 x 60 cm (31 x 23") — custom sizes available on request
Certificate: Hand-signed with a certificate of authenticity

Early morning street scene in Woodstock, Cape Town, with soft sunlight illuminating a single pedestrian crossing the road

Softly blurred London street scene with a pedestrian walking past illuminated shop windows displaying coats and reflections

Démodé No.2

Photographed in Woodstock, Cape Town, this early morning image shows a lone pedestrian crossing the street as warm sunlight breaks through to light the scene. The black powder transfer technique creates a textured, nostalgic atmosphere that feels both familiar and fleeting.
Listing: View on our online gallery

Démodé No.3

Photographed in London, this print captures a quiet moment as a lone pedestrian walks past glowing shop windows. Gentle camera movement softens the scene, allowing the figure to echo the rhythm of the hanging garments. The black powder transfer technique adds rich texture and a nostalgic feel.
Listing: View on our online gallery

Every image in this collection has been shaped by an intention to evoke not just what a place looks like, but how it feels to remember it. Using black powder transfer, camera movement and grainy textures reminiscent of early film, each print becomes a fragment of nostalgia—an echo of something once seen or felt. Many of these urban photography prints combine instinctive camera movement with the rich colour of the city.

Thank you for taking the time to explore this body of work. If you would like to learn more about the techniques used here, please visit my Art Photography Academy for information on our courses: www.artphoto.academy.

Back to Popular Collections

Urban Street Art Photography

Fine Art Prints Celebrating the Spirit of the Inner City

Selected limited edition prints from the
Urban Street Art Photography Collection