My name is Stephen Tam, and I’m a street and urban photographer based in Vancouver, Canada. I’m drawn to the rhythm of cities: how light bounces off buildings, the movement of people through streets, and the quiet moments that often go unnoticed. Photography lets me pause those fleeting instances and bring them to life, turning ordinary scenes into something cinematic.
“Street photography is about patience, observation, and timing.”
Street photography in Vancouver teaches me patience. The city changes with every minute, a beam of light shifts, shadows stretch across the pavement, a passerby glances up. It’s about slowing down, observing quietly, and waiting for that fleeting alignment of light and motion. The best moments often happen when I least expect them, and that unpredictability is what keeps me inspired.
My current camera is the Sony A7CR, and what I love most about it is how compact yet powerful it is. It slips effortlessly into my everyday carry setup, making it perfect for long walks through the city. Despite its small size, it delivers exceptional image quality, fast and precise autofocus, and wide dynamic range that impresses, even in low light. With the new AI processing unit, the autofocus is smarter than ever, allowing me to focus on capturing the moment instead of worrying about technical settings.
“Autofocus so fast, I can concentrate on framing the story, not fiddling with settings.”
For most of my city and street work, I rely on the Sony FE 24–70mm f/2.8 GM II. It’s incredibly versatile and sharp, wide enough for cityscapes and tight enough for portraits and spontaneous street moments. When I travel, I also bring the FE 70–200mm f/2.8 GM II for distant subjects, along with a prime lens such as the FE 50mm f/1.2 GM or FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II, depending on the mood and story I want to capture.
Travel plays a huge role in shaping my perspective. Of all the cities I travel to, I’m especially drawn to Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Taipei. Each one is completely unique, with its own rhythm, energy, and culture. Observing how people move through the streets, how architecture and light interact, and how daily life unfolds has helped me understand not just the city, but the people who inhabit it. Capturing these moments helps me understand the city, its people, and its culture, making me feel like a local and a part of the life around me.
I’ve been using Sony cameras for almost six years, and I truly love how they support my creative process. The wide selection of lenses allows me to adapt to any shooting scenario, while the performance for both photo and video is exceptional. With the Sony A7CR in particular, switching seamlessly between stills and video is effortless, allowing me to capture the energy and life of a city without missing a moment.
“Each photo I take becomes a small time capsule, preserving the city before it changes.”
What I love about street and urban photography is that it documents the city as it exists today. Cities are always changing. Streets get redeveloped, neighborhoods transform, and familiar corners might disappear. Each photo I take becomes a small time capsule, preserving the mood, energy, and character of a place before it changes. Through all these moments, my trust in Sony as my creative tool has never let me down. It consistently delivers exactly what I need to tell each story as it unfolds. My goal is to create images that show not only what the city looks like now, but also how it feels in this moment.
You can see more of my work and ongoing street photography projects on Instagram (IG: Little_Stephy0925), where I continue to share moments from Vancouver’s streets and my journeys across Asia.