The Streets of Berlin: A Portrait in Faces

You never really know what people are saying when it’s not your native tongue being spoken in the street, at the grocery store, at the barber, or on the U-Bahn. For immigrants and tourists alike, the search for clues about a city or society often begins with its signs—billboards, advertisements, graffiti, street art. These visual messages, though often dramatic, reveal more than just commercial intent; they reflect the underlying values, cultural myths, and perceptions of humanity’s place in the universe.

Street images, much like the sets of a theater, play out stories—some scripted by tradition, others improvised by the everyday interactions of people moving through public space. The streets themselves become a stage where sociology, psychology, and even science collide. Faces tell a story not just of individuals but of a collective urban experience: how we relate to each other, what we believe in, what we struggle against, and how we see ourselves in the grand experiment of human life.

In these past few days, we’ve captured the faces of Berlin, the expressions that speak volumes without words, revealing the soul of this city. These images offer a glimpse into Berlin’s ever-changing identity, its layered history, and its constant state of becoming. Whether in fleeting glances or still portraits, these faces reveal truths about community, isolation, resilience, and the drama of life that plays out on the streets every day.

Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
Berlin, photo © Steven P. Harrington
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