Simon Furmston Photography

I’m excited to share with you a collection of my favorite street photographs from the past few months. Street photography has become a passion of mine, offering endless opportunities to find the extraordinary within the ordinary. Whether it’s a quirky scene or a subtle play of light and shadow, I love the way this genre challenges me to observe and compose in new ways. Join me on this visual journey-I hope these photos bring you as much joy as I had capturing them.

***Momentary pause at the White Pagoda, Nikon Zf, 50mm, F16, 1/30th of a second, ISO 50***
As I cycled past the White Pagoda, a quiet moment caught my eye: a father and his daughter stood perfectly framed beneath the central archway. The father was absorbed in his phone, while his daughter gazed up in wonder at the temple before them. Wanting to capture the contrast between their stillness and the constant movement around them, I chose a slower shutter speed. The resulting image freezes their calm presence amid the blur of passing bicycles-a fleeting intersection of tranquility and urban motion.

***Alleyway Portrait, Nikon Zf, 85mm, F2, 1/2000th of a second, ISO 100***
I have often seen great photo opportunities while looking down the various alleyways in the Hoong however the moments happened so quickly that it's has already gone by the time I've left my camera to my eye so I tried a new technique where I would lift my camera to my eye when I looked down every single alleyway, this resulted in a lot of empty shots but it finally paid itself off with the shot when I was looking down the alleyway and then this woman was also looking directly back at me. I really like the harsh light of the morning and the shadows that I've been cast on the ground..

***Cyclistis in the Drum Tower Square, Nikon Zf, 29mm, F1.8, 1/250th of a second, ISO 110***
I lingered in Drum Tower Square, drawn by the way the late light illuminated the entrance of the historic Drum Tower-a landmark that has stood at the heart of Beijing since the Yuan Dynasty. I waited patiently, hoping for the right subject to enter the frame. After a few minutes, a group of cyclists appeared, just as they reached the first third of my composition. I captured the scene.

***Travelling Utensil sales man, Nikon Zf, 30mm, F5.6, 1/2000th of a second, ISO 220***
This was taken near the Art Quarter Hutong and I had seen this man literally doing the rounds around the hutongs selling a wide range of utensils from the back of his Tricycle. I waited on one of his corners and and as he came up to the corner to turn I took the shot. I really wanted to include a view of the adjacent street to bring a bit of context to the daily hustle and bustle of the area into the photo.

***Looking for a fix, Nikon Zf, 30mm, F4, 1/250th of a second, ISO 800***
I saw this man flipping up his tricycle and asking people on the street for help to fix it. I love these unusual, everyday moments in the Hutongs and wanted to capture both the scene and the people around him.

***On our way, Nikon Zf, 85mm, F2, 1/4000th of a second, ISO 100***
As I ride my bike around Beijing I have often been faced with a passenger on the bike in front who is sitting backwards on their bike and there have been some intresting interactions too. I have just never had my camera with me during most of those times. This time the girl had been looking at me intensly while I was riding the bike and when the light went green and they sped off I raised my camera and took the shot. I am so glad that I was finally able to capture one of these moments that are so common in Beijing but have been so hard to capture.

***Hutong Hangout, Nikon Zf, 24mm, F4, 1/125th of a second, ISO 500***
Street scenes like this, where people gather and chat, are a familiar sight, but capturing them has always been a challenge for me due to nerves. This time, as I was walking by and raising my camera, a man unexpectedly stepped into my frame. I’m thrilled to have caught this authentic moment, perfectly capturing the lively spirit of conversations in the Hutong streets.

***Quiet light on Gulou, Nikon Zf, 85mm, F2, 1/2000th of a second, ISO 100***
On an unusually quiet morning along Gulou, one of the main arteries leading up to the Drum Tower, I was drawn in by the way the early light transformed the street. The sunlight spilled across the pavement, making the yellow tones of the ground glow and casting the parked bicycle in a gentle spotlight. What captivated me most was the interplay of colour and shadow-the vibrant hues stood out boldly against the deep, crisp shadows thrown by the nearby buildings and trees. The quietness of the street enhancing the contrast between stillness and light. I wanted to capture not just the moment, but the atmosphere: how the city’s everyday details can become unexpectedly luminous when touched by the right light.

***Last of the Beijing Tuk Tuks, Nikon Zf, 35mm, F8, 1/500th of a second, ISO 110***
When I first arrived in Beijing in 2018, the streets were alive with tuk tuks quirky, self-contained tin cans rattling through the city’s streets. Step inside, and the engine’s clamour would echo off every metal surface, turning the humble ride into a moving amplifier. Most of these little machines have now faded from the urban landscape, but I managed to find and capture this one unexpected survivor.
I wanted to frame the tuk tuk in profile, to let its silhouette speak for itself. There’s something oddly poetic about its shape- how it seals you off from the world outside, enclosing you in a bubble of noise and motion, a fleeting moment of Beijing’s past lingering in the present.

***Shaft of light, Nikon Zf, 30mm, F11, 1/125th of a second, ISO 100***
Early one morning in the CBD, I spotted this scene: tall buildings casting strong shadows, but letting through a single beam of light where a construction worker happened to be sitting. I tried taking photos from different angles-even getting closer to the worker-but this shot ended up being my favorite.
I really like how the light and shadow make the scene pop, and how the worker’s colorful clothes stand out against the otherwise muted background. It’s a simple moment, but something about it just worked.

***Soho reflections, Nikon Zf, 17.5mm, F8, 1/60th of a second, ISO 100***
I took a series of photos at Galaxy SOHO in Beijing’s Dongcheng District, which is the first of three buildings in the city designed by Zaha Hadid. The building is famous for its endless curves and flowing shapes, inspired by traditional Chinese courtyards but reimagined in a modern, futuristic style. As I was leaving, they switched on these shallow water pools on the floor, and I couldn’t resist capturing the reflections of the architecture.
I wanted to get a shot that really showed off the building’s curves, so I framed the photo to include the line of water at the front. I thought it added a nice, organic touch that echoed the shapes of the building itself. The way the reflections played with the actual structure made the scene even more interesting, highlighting how the design blends fluidity and open space.

***Crochet, Nikon Zf, 24.5mm, F8, 1/125th of a second, ISO 200***
I took this photo inside Galaxy SOHO and was drawn to the contrast between the woman practicing traditional Chinese crochet and the ultra-modern surroundings. The building, designed by Zaha Hadid, is all smooth white curves and black windows, so the colorful crochet really stands out against that backdrop. I also made sure to include the bench in the frame-it acts as a leading line that draws your eye right to the subject, tying together the old and the new in one shot.

***Curves and Contrast, Nikon Zf, 23.5mm, F9, 1/60th of a second, ISO 100***
I spent some time at Galaxy SOHO with my wide-angle lens, trying to capture the building’s curves in a way that feels almost abstract. Out of all the shots, this one stood out to me. The sweeping lines look like a series of arches, guiding your eye through the photo and framing the whole scene.

***Delivery time reprive, Nikon Zf, 35mm, F8, 1/250th of a second, ISO 1100***
In the midst of Beijing’s constant motion, where delivery drivers usually zip by on scooters at breakneck speed, I came across a rare moment of stillness. Three delivery men stood together, their white and blue uniforms strikingly set against a vivid backdrop of green and red. Instead of rushing off, they lingered, sharing a lighthearted conversation as they waited for their next call. I was drawn not only to the bold contrast of colours in the scene but also to the warmth and camaraderie radiating from their laughter. I aimed to capture both the visual energy of their uniforms and the genuine, joyful pause in their busy day.

**Dreaming Across the City, Nikon Zf, 74mm, F4, 1/60th of a second, ISO 2200**
Seeing people napping on the back of tricycles in Beijing is not too uncommon, but I’d never managed to get a decent shot of it until now. This time, I waited around on the street for a while and waited for a subject to capture when I saw this girl asleep on the back of the tricycle. I tried to capture both the stillness of the girl sleeping and the movement of the traffic around her by using a slower shutter speed. The only downside is that there’s a car in the background that’s a bit distracting, but that’s just how it goes sometimes with street photography.

***A mothers embrace, Nikon Zf, 85mm, F2, 1/500th of a second, ISO 180***
This shot is all about a mother hugging her child right in the middle of a busy street. That’s really it-just a simple, genuine moment. What I like most about this photo are the colors, the contrast, and the honest expressions on their faces. Sometimes the best photos are just about catching these little everyday moments.

**Part of the Furniture, Nikon Zf, 85mm, F1.8, 1/1000th of a second, ISO 200**
I just love these Tricyle pickup veichles in Beijing. I also love the characterful drivers who drive them. They also oftem spend alot of time sitting on the bikes when they are stationary as well which means they essentially become part of the street furniture in Beijing as well. So I wanted to capture all of that in this photo.

***Hutong Heat, Nikon Zf, 35mm, F8, 1/500th of a second, ISO 2500***
It’s really common to see people sitting outside their homes in the Hutongs, chatting and watching the world go by. On this hot day, a bunch of guys were sitting out bare-chested to stay cool. As I was trying to quickly snap a photo of the scene, one man walked straight toward me just as I pressed the shutter. Sometimes you cannot control the composition on the streets.

***Agent of construction, Nikon Zf, 30mm, F5.6, 1/2000th of a second, ISO 320***
I’ve always loved these tricycle pickup trucks you see all over the Hutongs. I was just walking down the street when I heard the rattle of a tricycle’s engine coming from around the corner, so I quickly got into position to catch it as it passed by. I wanted to capture the tricycle and the driver at an angle, moving diagonally through the frame. Sometimes it’s just about listening for the right moment and being ready when it comes.

***Jiuxianqiao, Xiaomi Ultra 11,1/250th of a second, ISO 50***
I took this photo on my way to work. I was cycling by and I saw this very quiet scene which is on a very busy road near where I live and I decided I would try to exaggerate the perspective of the small puddle with a wide angle lens so I can capture the single figure and the front and the pole and reflection and the street scene all in one go. I also like the texture of the road and the lines that lead through it to help guide you to the main subject..

***Hutong Xiangqi, Nikon Zf, 35mm, F8, 1/500th of a second, ISO 3200***
It is common to see people playing Chinese chess in the Hutongs and I love how violently they pick up the pieces and slam them down on the board and also how people will come and watch the game being played. It reminds me a lot of playing chess in Busan and hoe people used to come and watch us play. I stuck around this game for a while, just enjoying the energy and the back-and-forth, and eventually took a shot of one of the players deep in thought, planning his next move. Moments like this really capture the everyday life and community spirit of the Hutongs

***Hutong hound , Nikon Zf, 85mm, F2, 1/250th of a second, ISO 100***
There are quite a few stray dogs in the Hutongs, but this one really caught my attention because of his size and the calm, gentle look in his eyes. I got down to his level and waited until he looked right into the lens before taking the photo. It took a bit of patience, but I’m glad I finally managed to capture the photo as the dog decided to look straight into my camera.

***Bell tower commute, Nikon Zf, 14mm, F4, 1/1000th of a second, ISO 100***
This was a very tricky shot to take as the street itself is very narrow so trying to capture both the bell tower and the people walking by was really challenging and required me to step on a wall and use an ultra wide lens which has created some distortion of the perspective. I waited fir an intresting subject and the cyclyist with the child in the front basket proved to be the perfect subject for me.

***Pausing in the shade, Nikon Zf, 85mm, F2.8, 1/2000th of a second, ISO 100***
I find our current fixation with our phones fascinating. The amount of time we look at our screens often seems to outweigh the time we spend observing the world around us. I was also liked the way the shadow of the doors and the harsh light frame the foreground and empasise the lines between the paving stones that lead to the subject.

***Cross walk contact, Nikon Z7 II, 85mm, F1.8, 1/160th of a second, ISO 250***
A lot of street photographers talk about staying unnoticed, and while I get that, sometimes I actually want to be seen. For this shot, I was hoping to catch some eye contact from across the street as people crossed. I got lucky-the woman in the center of the frame looked right at me just as I took the photo. We made eye contact, I nodded, and then we both went on with our day. I also wanted to show how, even though we’re all packed together in these public spaces, most of us are just wrapped up in our own worlds, barely noticing each other.

***Hung out to dry, Nikon Zf, 85mm, F2, 1/2000th of a second, ISO 100***
One thing I love about the Hutongs in Beijing is how people hang their laundry right over the streets-it’s just part of daily life here. For this shot, I was drawn to the bright colours of a waistcoat catching the morning light, especially against the mostly grey background with little pops of colour. I also really liked the shadow the waistcoat cast on the floor. It’s a simple scene, but it captures the everyday character and colour of the Hutongs.

***Street shadow, Nikon Zf, 28mm, F5.6, 1/1000th of a second, ISO 400***
Here I was waiting on the side of the street near a local market. I was drawn to the street by the random array of furniture against the cracked concrete, with tower blocks in the background. I liked the emptiness of the foreground, the chaotic nature of the mid ground and how that contrasts with the uniformity of the tower blocks in the background. I then just waited for someone to come into frame. I knew I would get eye contact as anyone walking through would wonder what I was taking a photo of and this is exactly what happened and this is the precise moment I pressed the shutter button.

***Second glance, Nikon Zf, 85mm, F1.8, 1/250th of a second, ISO 100***
This man was looking at me intentally when I was walking past and my instict was to look away, but then I decided to take a second glance through my camera and capture his portrait. He continued to look at me, but his expression never changed. I like the intense focus on his face as he looked directly into my camera.

***Human Hues, Nikon Zf, 50mm, F1.8, 1/1000th of a second, ISO 100***
When I first moved to Beijing they told me that this city has a gritty charm and at the time I did not understand what they meant, but now I really appreciate the grittines of the city and how the edges have not been totally taken off. The overtly grey and brown aesthetic only emphasises the dashes of colour that people bring to the city and this is what I wanted to capture with the photo of this man making his way back home. I love the contrasting colours and textures of his clothes against the plain back concrete of the streets.

**Framed in Transit, Nikon Zf, 57mm, F4, 1/60th of a second, ISO 640**
For this photo, I wanted to experiment with using the bus stop as a natural frame for my subject. I waited for someone to sit down, and when they did, I liked how they seemed completely in their own world, not paying attention to anything going on around them. The structure of the bus stop helped set them apart from the busy street, capturing a quiet, everyday moment in the middle of city life.

***Rental bikes, Nikon Zf, 85mm, F2, 1/250th of a second, ISO 100***

Rental bikes are everywhere in Beijing, often clustered in huge numbers on street corners or outside subway stations. What really interests me are the people who organize and collect them each day. I took this photo to capture both the sheer number of bikes and the contrast between their neat stacks and the chaos of unloading them onto the street, making sure to include the worker at the center of it all.

**Still Spaces, Bright Traces, Nikon Zf, 28mm, F5.6, 1/500th of a second, ISO 200**

What caught my eye in this scene were the pops of red and green standing out against an otherwise grey and quiet backdrop. The street itself felt almost empty and a bit gritty, which made those colors even more striking. I’m always drawn to scenes like this where there’s a sense of stillness and space, but also these small bursts of life and color that break up the monotony. The emptiness and rough textures of the surroundings set off the vibrant accents, creating a simple but memorable contrast that I wanted to capture in this photo.