The Street is my stage: A photographer's journey through Cape Town

In the vibrant heart of Cape Town, photographer Quaniet Richards is capturing the essence of everyday life, proving that a single image can tell a powerful story.

Over the past 18 months, he has been dedicated to framing the city through his lens, highlighting poignant moments that often go unnoticed — from children joyfully jumping in puddles to workers beginning their day and ordinary people navigating their lives.

Those images now appear in his new coffee table photography book, The Street is My Stage | Moments in Monochrome.

Richards, 53, said he wanted to publish a book to give people a chance to slow down and simply see what is happening in and around the Mother City.

“The idea of publishing a book came from a desire to pause," he told IOL on Monday.

"We live in a world obsessed with speed, captions, algorithms and constant output."

“This book is my response to that.

"It is an invitation to slow down and to see the beauty, dignity and resilience that exists in ordinary everyday moments.”

According to Richards, all the images were shot over the past 18 months.

He said he chose black and white photography "because it removes distraction".

“Without colour, you are left with light, shadow, texture and emotion," he said.

"It brings everything back to essence.

"I wanted the viewer to engage with the feeling of the image rather than the spectacle."

The book contains no page numbers and no image titles, as Richards did not want to direct how people should feel or where they should begin.

“I want the book to be experienced intuitively," he said.

"You can open it anywhere. You can linger. You can return. The photographs are meant to speak for themselves."

Richards said it was important for him to shoot in Cape Town.

“I live in Cape Town, a city that constantly reveals itself when you walk it slowly," he said.

"The streets are my stage, and the people who move through them are the storytellers.

"This book is not about me as a photographer.

"It is about humanity, resilience and presence. I hope the book encourages people to pause, to look again.

"If someone closes the book feeling a little more grounded, a little more present, or a little more connected to the world around them, then it has done what it was meant to do.”

Richards said his three children are his inspiration.

“Qaylah, Aisha and Yusuf ground me, challenge me and constantly remind me to stay present.

"Much of how I see the world, and how I photograph it, is shaped by being a parent and learning to slow down and notice what truly matters,” he said.

He began photography in January 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Like many people, that period was a time of uncertainty, loss and reflection.

"Photography began as a way to clear my mind and process what was happening around me, but very quickly it became something deeper.

"It gave me a voice when words felt insufficient. It helped me reconnect with myself and with people,” he said.

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