Never boring and always new: people in the big cities

It is in the big cities that the diversity of modern society can be seen. Here you encounter all the different types that make up a pluralistic way of life. At the same time, cities are a testing ground for social innovation. New models of living and forms of community are tested here and sometimes develop from here into a trend for society as a whole. This is what makes the subject of “people in the city” so interesting for stock photography.

The increased mobility of people has blurred the boundaries between city and countryside: living in the suburbs and working in the city is the concept for an increasing number of people. At the same time, many city dwellers are longing for the “rural idyll”. But this does not necessarily mean moving to the countryside: Many are bringing elements of country life into the city, think of the “urban gardening” trend. In view of climate change and increased environmental awareness, quality of life, sustainable management and critical consumption are becoming more important to many people than the “more and more of everything” attitude.

© Left: Westend61 / Guillem de Balanzó Pujol , Right: © Westend61 / Kniel Synnatzschke

At the same time, symptoms of stress caused by sensory overload and hectic lifestyles, as well as the experience of coronavirus lockdowns, have increased the desire for a varied and diverse, yet decelerated life in the city. As a counterbalance to the anonymity of the metropolises, new forms of neighborhood support and a strengthened sense of togetherness are emerging, for example in a particular district. In an increasingly confusing world, the need for values previously associated with the countryside, such as home and a sense of security in small, manageable communities, is also growing in large cities.

© Left: Westend61 / Jo Kirchherr , Middle: © Westend61 / Jose Carlos Ichiro , Right: © Westend61 / Roger Richter

These topics appeal to people’s basic emotional needs: Security, social closeness and the desire for a meaningful, better life. This makes “people in the metropolis” an exciting theme for strong visual messages in a wide variety of variations and situations. Gardening on the roof terrace, family life in the city, environmentally friendly (e-)mobility, the use of solar technology, time out in nature and sport in the city, celebrations, protagonists of social projects and initiatives or intergenerational togetherness are just a few examples of themes and motifs that offer plenty of material for interesting image concepts.