Finding Poetry in the Ordinary

How Vermeer’s The Little Street Inspires Modern Street Photography

Three centuries ago, Johannes Vermeer painted The Little Street, a quiet ode to everyday life in Delft. Two women working, children playing—a moment so simple, yet so impactful. Vermeer celebrated the ordinary, capturing the beauty of the mundane in a way that still resonates today.

Modern street photography carries this same spirit. Fleeting moments on bustling sidewalks, the presence and absence of humanity, and the play of light on urban landscapes are today’s canvas. Vermeer’s brushstrokes and a photographer’s lens both remind us that the essence of life is found in these quiet, unremarkable moments.

In a fast-paced world, the most radical thing you can do is slow down. Look closer. Notice the beauty in the everyday. Whether through a camera or simply your own two eyes, the ordinary is filled with poetry—if you know where to look.

Let’s celebrate life’s quiet moments. Take a closer look around you.

Wrote a blog post on this subject, accompanied with some of my photographs. Head over to this link if you are also interested in the beauty of the ordinary: https://www.aloksaini.in/images/the-poetry-of-the-ordinary