Helen Levitt’s street life photography

When I began making pictures, I first took to the streets for my inspiration. That included looking at the work of street photographers. I had always been drawn to the more dramatic pictures of Diane Arbus, Brassaï, Weegee. They all held the camera with a theatrical point of view, as far as I was concerned, and I loved it.

After a while, I stumbled upon Helen Levitt. Her work is straightforward and alive. In many ways, she is the Cassavetes of street photography. I feel a deep affinity for her subjects; tenderness in her documentation of community.

The pure energy in her photographs makes me feel nostalgic for an era I never lived in and miss people I never met. Her images stir my imagination together with my own memories of being in places like this, knowing people who are so themselves that you can’t help but want to be around them to see what else they get up to. You can feel their attitude come off the paper.

Levitt must have been determined to document a time she knew was unique and people that felt special to her. I feel a strong sense of love in her work that makes it unforgettable and shows us that there’s more to life than material things and that, my friends, is soul I’m talking about!

I wonder how Levitt caught this moment, if she didn’t set it up. Was she hanging around here for hours before this happened? But more important is the courage this little boy had to climb up there, only to realise he couldn’t get down!

This picture is one that’s been in my inspiration folder for over a decade. It tells so much about how this family feels towards one another in a single frame.

The confidence of this one long stride is so endearing to me. I don’t know if he knew how ridiculously large his step was but it makes for an image I’ll never forget.

These boys have so much attitude I want to know what they did with their days. They remind me of kids that my son would find fascinating and definitely want to mirror.

US artist Alex Prager creates elaborately staged scenes inspired by Hollywood cinema, experimental films, pop culture and street photography. Her work has been exhibited globally. “Helen Levitt: In The Street” is on display at The Photographers’ Gallery, London, until February 13

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