10 Years of Street Photography: What I Learned & How You Can Improve

What’s poppin’ people? It’s Dante. Today, I want to talk about how I improved my street photography. Over the past decade, I’ve been practicing daily, traveling the world, and putting in hundreds of hours to hone my craft. This post synthesizes my process, my journey, and practical advice for anyone looking to improve.

Key Lessons I Learned

Here’s a breakdown of the lessons that shaped me over the years:

1. Persistence is Everything

Nine times out of ten, you’re going to fail. In street photography, 99.9% of your shots won’t be successful, and that’s okay. The key is to embrace failure openly and detach from the outcome. I’ve learned to enter a flow state, where the act of making pictures matters more than the results.

“Increase your curiosity by 1% each day, and the results will follow.”

2. Stick to One Camera and One Lens

Simplify your process. Using one camera and one lens allows you to become deeply familiar with your gear. I recommend the Ricoh GR series or the Fujifilm X100 series because they force you to stick to a single focal length.

Why this matters:

It eliminates distractions from switching lenses.
You can focus more on seeing and less on technicalities.
Your intuition becomes sharper with repetition.

“Street photography is not about the gear—it’s about going out into the world and making photographs.”

3. Repetition Builds Mastery

I’ve walked the same streets of Philadelphia every day for years. My favorite route is Market Street, where I know the light, the people, and the rhythm of the city. Repetition breeds familiarity, and familiarity allows you to see the extraordinary in the mundane.

4. Study Light and Composition

Photography is drawing with light. By walking the same route daily, I learned how light falls on certain corners at specific times of the day. Beyond observing light, studying photo books and analyzing my own work helped me understand composition.

Practical Tip: Print your photos. I use a Canon Selphy CP1500 to create thumbnail prints, which I tape to my walls and sketchbooks. This allows me to analyze patterns and improve.

“Most of your photos will end up on the cutting room floor. The real skill lies in recognizing the ones worth keeping.”

5. Travel with Purpose

Travel has been integral to my growth. Whether it was documenting life in Jerusalem or wandering the streets of Mumbai, I always approached new environments with curiosity and an open mind.

My travel tips:

Spend at least two weeks in one location to immerse yourself.
Avoid over-planning; let life flow toward you.
Always carry your camera.

My Philosophy on Photography

At this stage in my journey, I’ve returned to high-contrast black-and-white photography to strip down the process and focus on my emotional connection to the world. It’s no longer about chasing the “perfect” photo but about creating work that reflects my soul.

“A photograph is a reflection of your lust for life. Follow your joy, and the photographs will follow.”

I’ve transitioned from chasing external adventures to documenting my everyday life. Photography has become my visual diary, integrating seamlessly with who I am.

Final Thoughts

Improving your street photography is a journey, not a destination. The key is to stay consistent, stay curious, and enjoy the process. Whether you’re just starting out or years into your practice, remember:

“The more you walk, the more you see. The more you see, the more you photograph. The more you photograph, the more you grow.”

So, get out there, make pictures, and embrace the flow of life.

Until next time,
Dante