Stefan Czurda is a Vienna-based street photographer whose work centers on emotional and melancholic moments in everyday urban life. In his signature style Urban Ghosts, he uses motion blur and abstraction to transform passersby into ghostlike figures—capturing the fleeting emotions we often overlook.
His photographic style is defined by contrast, subtle tones, thoughtful color choices, and clean, distraction-free compositions. Influenced by Alexey Titarenko’s City of Shadows, the poetic color work of Saul Leiter, and the introspective minimalism of Olga Karlovac, Stefan’s images seek to evoke more than explain.
Urban Ghosts earned two Honorable Mentions—at the Paris International Street Photo Awards 2023 and the Black and White Photo Awards 2024.
His first solo exhibition, Street Melancholy, opened in Vienna in early 2024. The series explores themes of emotional isolation and fragility in the fast pace of modern urban life, and has become a central expression of his artistic vision.
In 2025, Stefan released Her Journey, a project inspired by Antonio Vivaldi. Blending short fiction with a year-long series of street portraits of a female character named Marjetta, the work reflects a more personal, introspective approach to emotional storytelling through photography.
Stefan’s work has been featured in international publications, including Dodho Magazine, About Photography, Edge of Humanity and other platforms that highlight emotionally driven, artistic photography.
In addition to his artistic practice, Stefan is actively involved in growing a local photography community. He organizes monthly street photography meetups in Vienna to connect fellow photographers and offers coaching for conceptual street photography with depth.
More information on press and awards can be found in the Press and Awards section.