Steven Sosa

You describe yourself as being drawn to fleeting moments. What was the first moment that made you realize street photography was your language?

That’s an interesting question. I suppose a lot of it has to do with just walking around and observing things. For example, I’ve been walking around with my camera, capturing moments in the street, for the past 12 years. During that time, like anyone who enjoys street photography, my eyes have just kept getting more and more refined.

Steven Sosa | Friday Vibes In Seoul | 2025

Living and working in South Korea, how has the local culture and rhythm of daily life shaped your way of seeing and photographing the street?

It’s definitely eye-opening. As a native New Yorker, I was already used to the hustle and bustle of daily life, so I would say South Korea, especially in the more urban areas, is a lot like NYC. I suppose something that I notice more in Korea is that it is like night and day. The daytime is like everyday life happening, but at night, it’s almost like Blade Runner. You see the neon signs, the flash; it’s like a whole other world.

Steven Sosa | Jongo Downtown Seoul | 2025

Many of your images focus on transitional spaces – streets, stations, passages. What attracts you to these “in-between” places?

I guess a lot of it comes from whatever feels good to me, and that I’d like to photograph. For instance, with the streets, you never know what you are going to see. Whether it be day or night. Train stations, I feel, are just constant motion. People are always on the move. Finally, passages to me are like an opening to a whole other area. You see a lot of that here in Korea. You go down one street, and it opens up into something else.

Steven Sosa | Taking A Break | 2025

Do you usually wait for moments to unfold, or do you actively search for them while walking the city?

I think a little of both. For example, I might have walked by some place that would make for a cool photo, but maybe I left my camera at home that day. If that is the case, I’ll try to revisit that location and take a picture. On the other hand, I’ll find something, and yes, I’ll stand there and maybe wait for someone to walk by and snap away. Overall, I think there is always something to photograph, but you have to train your eye to see it. That’s where practice, timing, and just enjoying the journey of being a photographer come into play.

Steven Sosa | Take The A Train NYC | 2025

Your work often feels cinematic and atmospheric. How important are light, color, and mood in your decision to press the shutter?

I think light is super important. During the day, you can probably come up with some cool photos playing with light. At night, you have all the flashy signs, and everything pops. Color is good, but sometimes things look better in black and white. Mood is all about the moment. For example, if it’s Friday evening, everyone is happy it’s Friday, so you can feel the energy in the street because people have somewhere to be. At the end of the day, I might just snap away just to see what I can come up with.

Steven Sosa | Shinjuku Tokyo Japan | 2026

Has traveling and photographing outside of South Korea (such as in Japan or the United States) changed your perspective on urban life?

Yes, and no. I suppose when walking around urban areas its just like being back home in NYC. For example, I grew up in upper Manhattan, in Inwood, to be exact. I feel like the urban vibe is the same in terms of energy. At night, people love to hang out. Whether it is in Korea, Japan, or New York City. I suppose the biggest difference is just the culture. Koreans love to hang out at night, and it can be pretty loud. However, coming from NYC, I’m used to that already. haha

Steven Sosa | Seoul Station | 2024

What do you hope a viewer feels or reflects on when encountering your photographs for the first time?

I suppose if someone were to encounter my photos for the first time, say on Instagram, I think that person will say something like “wow, this is a cool gallery.” That is usually the comment they leave while scrolling through my photos, or that this is a lot different than everything else that is out there on social media. The talent pool is huge these days since everyone can blast their art out into the world, and who knows what the response is gonna be. At the end of the day, a photo is like a gateway into someone’s mind since no one can see how you see.