30 Candid And Unusual Moments In Life Captured By Jeffrey De Keyser (New Pics)

Bored Panda reached out to Jeffrey once again to learn more about his work. This time, we were curious about the most unexpected or surreal moment he has ever captured while shooting on the streets. The photographer from Belgium shared with us: “One that stands out happened in my very first year of street photography, back in 2014. I was at the railway station in Asahikawa, Japan, when I saw this woman quietly sitting on a bench in front of a huge wall with the word DREAM spelled out in big yellow letters. The juxtaposition was uncanny—she looked tired, maybe even lost in thought, and the word behind her added this strange, poetic weight to the scene. It felt like life had staged the image just for me. I didn’t plan it at all—I just happened to look up and there it was. What made it even more surreal was how the colors of the wall echoed in her outfit and the bags beside her, tying everything together almost too perfectly. That photo taught me to stay alert and trust the serendipity of the streets.”

When asked about moments where he missed what could have been a perfect shot, he responded: “Absolutely, it happens all the time. You train your eye to see these tiny visual stories unfolding, but sometimes your timing’s just off, or you hesitate for a split second—and it’s gone. At first, those misses would haunt me. But I’ve learned to let them go. The street is generous; if you’re patient and present, new moments always come. That’s the beauty of it. Missing a shot is just part of the rhythm.”

Jeffrey also shared that while it’s rare for a subject to confront him about taking their photo, it does happen. He elaborated: “I always stay calm and respectful. I explain what I’m doing, that I’m documenting public life, not invading anyone’s privacy. For me, it’s important to balance my artistic intent with a sense of empathy. The street is a shared space, and I want to keep that mutual respect intact.”

Lastly, the street photographer shared that he is naturally drawn to certain recurring themes in his work. Here’s what we found out: “I’m first and foremost drawn to color—bold, vibrant hues and how they interact in the frame. That physical attraction to color often leads me to scenes with strong visual impact: reflections in windows, striking juxtapositions, or layered compositions that hint at hidden stories. I’m also fascinated by moments that feel surreal or slightly absurd, where reality seems to twist just a little.

Another recurring theme in my work is solitude in public spaces—people caught in introspective moments even when surrounded by the flow of city life. Like many street photographers, I’m always trying to find the magic in the ordinary—that brief second where everything lines up and the everyday feels transformed.”