With the constant influx of visual information and society's obsession with posting on social media, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish stand-out photography talent from the crowd (especially on Instagram). Oftentimes a photographer with 40K+ followers grants them "legitimacy" in the popular eye, so we too press the "follow" button and hop on the bandwagon of poplar taste.  But, as most of us recognize by now, the size of your following doesn't really determine much. There's actually something quite exciting about discovering an artist whose work speaks louder than the number of eyes watching.

These types of creatives are what you might call “gems” in the photography world – the rare, captivating, and special finds that value quality over quantity. Here to honor those gems, we've decided to shed light on a few remarkable image-takers who are shaping street photography for generations to come by simply excelling at their craft. Whether they have several or very few followers, these are a handful photographers to watch. Go on and familiarize yourself with these six distinct shooters and, if you feel so inclined, tap the "follow" button on Instagram to add their visual brilliance to your social feed.

Words: Vanessa Feder

Sean Maung

Instagram: @olskoolsean
Website: seanmaung.com

Josh Sinn

Instagram: @cadillacranchdressing
Website: joshsinn.com

Lauren Lepore

Instagram: @35mm.mistress
Website: laurenleporephotography.tumblr.com

Lester Jones

Instagram: @lesterjonesphotography
Website: lesterjonesphotography.com

Dave Schubert

Instagram: @daveschubertsf

Aston Husumu Hwang

Instagram: @husumu
Website: husumu.com