Have you ever looked at a city street and felt there was a deeper story behind each passerby, each shadow, each glance?
For Bardia Azizi Torshizi, a Rome-based street photographer and architect, every corner tells a tale. His work invites you to slow down, observe, and feel the pulse of everyday life — not through grand gestures, but through fleeting, poetic moments.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why Bardia shoots street photography every single day
- How his architectural eye enhances his artistic depth
- What makes Rome a never-ending canvas
- Why street photography matters now more than ever
Let’s begin!
1. A Life Between Architecture and the Streets
Born in Tehran, Bardia grew up at the intersection of structure and soul. After moving to Rome and completing his Master’s in Design, he began a journey that blurred the line between building cities and documenting life within them.
Though trained as an architect, it’s on the streets, with a camera in hand, where Bardia feels most alive. Every alley in Rome, every corner café, becomes part of his living sketchbook.
2. Daily Ritual: Capturing Rome’s Unscripted Beauty
Bardia practices street photography every single day in Rome. Not occasionally. Not when the light is perfect. Every day.
To him, street photography isn’t just a genre — it’s a philosophical practice. It teaches presence, humility, and awareness. In his words, “It’s about witnessing life without interrupting it.”
He doesn’t chase perfection. He listens to the rhythm of the city, letting his intuition guide the frame. Each photo reflects a dialogue between the observer and the observed — subtle, raw, and deeply human.
See Also Shamsoddin Moradi
3. From Tehran to Rome: A Global Visual Diary
Station Scene– Photo by Bardia Azizi
Bardia’s lens has traveled through over 20 countries. Whether it’s a silent figure in Venice, a bustling bazaar in Istanbul, a foggy street corner in New York, a moment of stillness in Beijing, or graffiti-lined alleys in Berlin, his work seeks the universal in the specific.
His photos bridge cultures. They remind us that cities may look different, but emotions, movement, solitude, and joy remain the same. These are shared across humanity.
See Also Famous Iranian Painters
4. A Book of Principles: Street Photography
In 2014, Bardia published his manifesto, “Street Photography.” It’s not a technical manual — it’s a guide to seeing.
The book outlines 7 core principles:
- Invisibility – become part of the environment
- Sensitivity / Speed / Depth – capture emotion before it fades.
- Gesture – frame subtle human expression and more!
For new photographers, it offers inspiration. For seasoned artists, it’s a reminder to return to the basics — to see again, as if for the first time.
See Also Italian Artists in the 21st Century
5. Art as Cultural Witness
Bardia doesn’t just take photos — he writes about culture, art, and architecture. One of his most noted essays is a visual guide to Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers, blending artistic analysis with philosophical observation.
His art exists at the crossroads of documentation and interpretation, preserving both the visible and the felt.
6. Looking Ahead: The Future of Everyday Storytelling
Bardia is now working on curating city-specific photo essays, publishing new visual books, and creating immersive experiences through Civilisable. His goal? To remind us that the world is filled with poetry, if we only pause to look.
Bardia Azizi Torshizi: A Recap
Iranian-born photographer and architect
- Lives and works in Rome.
- Shoots street photography every day
- Published Street Photography in 2014
- Featured across exhibitions and the Civilisable Store
- Sees the camera as a tool for empathy and awareness