Sebastian Piatek, Third Place Winner of the PSP Grant 2025, is celebrated as a visionary nomad of light whose journey began in the streets of India and now spans continents. With an intuitive eye for fleeting contrasts and a devotion to invisibility in the crowd, he captures not just events but the timeless atmosphere of life. His legendary unposed frames, shaped by movement and truth, have secured him a place among today’s most compelling street photographers.

What is your photography routine like? Do you photograph every day? 

Yes, usually I photograph every day. Sometimes I take breaks too depending on where I am. It really depends on the place and the inspiration I get from it if I photograph in the morning and afternoon, all day and maybe only in the afternoon. Every place is different and many times the weather affects me too. While other photographers may draw their inspiration from the atmosphere of rainy days I usually avoid shooting when it rains and instead prefer to focus on using the best light that I can find in the morning and/or afternoon.

What camera or mobile device do you use for photography? Do you shoot digitally, on film, or a mix of both?

I shoot digitally and I have been using the Fuji X100V since the beginning of 2021.

What challenges do you face when photographing on the street? 

The only challenges on the street are usually my own limitations and reactions to my environment. I shoot only unstaged that means I never ask for permission and I don't shoot people who pose for me (well, sometimes I shoot them but I am never publishing these photographs). And I mostly shoot in countries and cultures where I am a foreigner and where I very much stick out as the only white guy on the street. Sometimes I am afraid to come close enough to my subjects to make a good photograph, this happens especially with women as I mostly try to respect other people's privacy and space. Another thing is that I sometimes don't enter certain lanes or areas because I know that I will get a lot of attention there, everybody will stare at me and talk to me. I am not always up for that even though very good photographs might come out of such situations, too.

Do you ever wonder what happens to the people in your photos?

The only challenges on the street are usually my own limitations and reactions to my environment. I shoot only unstaged that means I never ask for permission and I don't shoot people who pose for me (well, sometimes I shoot them but I am never publishing these photographs). And I mostly shoot in countries and cultures where I am a foreigner and where I very much stick out as the only white guy on the street. Sometimes I am afraid to come close enough to my subjects to make a good photograph, this happens especially with women as I mostly try to respect other people's privacy and space. Another thing is that I sometimes don't enter certain lanes or areas because I know that I will get a lot of attention there, everybody will stare at me and talk to me. I am not always up for that even though very good photographs might come out of such situations, too.