Lust for Life
I’ve been reflecting deeply on what photography means to me. At its core, the photographs I create are a display of my lust for life. As a photographer, I see myself on the frontlines of life, constantly drawing closer to both my inner self and the world around me.
Mind, Body, and Spirit
The connection between mind, body, and spirit is fundamental in street photography. Your photos not only display how you see the world but act as a mirror of your spirit. Through photography, I evoke the essence of my inner world, letting my curiosity and wonder be captured in each frame.
What is Soul?
- The Soul as the Body: Forget traditional notions of religion—think of the soul as your physical body, distinct from spirit. The soul represents the physical reality, the connection between mind and body that reflects your life decisions, actions, and even your presence.
- What Shapes the Soul?: Your choices, experiences, and everything you do—or choose not to do—are the building blocks of the soul that others perceive.
What is Spirit?
- Spirit as Creative Energy: My spirit is evoked through art, words, and curiosity. Each day, I wake with a sense of wonder, exploring the world as if it’s day one all over again, thriving in the unknown and articulating the chaos around me.
- A Childlike Spirit: I find myself in a childlike state each morning, embracing life with wide-eyed curiosity and openness. This spirit guides my photography, helping me see the world anew every day.
How Curious Are You?
As an artist, the most important question is: How curious are you? Skill in photography is secondary to a strong sense of curiosity and courage. Capturing life is not about technical precision; it’s about curiosity and an innate drive to explore and understand the world.
- Beyond Good or Bad: Labels of “good” or “bad” are inconsequential. A photograph should provoke questions, not answers. It should make you wonder why the photographer decided to put a frame around the moment.
- Depicting Life as It Should Be: Photography isn’t just about documenting reality; it’s about envisioning what life could be, beyond the surface.
How to See?
- Relearn Seeing: Each day, I strive to see with fresh eyes, without getting trapped in one way of viewing. How you see the world shapes what you choose to frame. It’s not about following photography rules—it’s about observing the multifaceted complexities of life and responding to them intuitively.
- Intuition Over Skill: The frame is filled through instinct. I don’t look for leading lines, complementary colors, or predefined forms. I approach the street with a sense of play, letting my intuition and gut reaction guide me to each photograph.
The Frontlines of Life
The street is the frontlines of life. To me, being on the street means engaging with public spaces with both physical and emotional closeness. It’s not about proximity but about pouring your spirit into your surroundings and cultivating a genuine connection with the people and places around you.
- Closeness Through Repetition: Spend time in the same places, learning them deeply and developing a true sense of emotional closeness through consistency and exploration.
- The Street as Arena: The street is both a playground and an arena, where courage is tested, and curiosity is kindled. It requires an openness to the environment and a willingness to engage fully.
Lust for Life
Your lust for life shapes everything: what you create, how you see, what your spirit evokes, and how you approach each day. I see the streets as both a playground and an arena—a place for me to enjoy, test my courage, and fuel my curiosity through photography.
- Playful Courage: I dance through the streets, both observing and participating in the drama of everyday life. My photos reflect my interpretation of what the world could be, and they are driven not by skill but by a commitment to curiosity and courage.
- The Duty of the Artist: My role as an artist is to remain open, curious, and courageous. The photographs I come home with are a reflection of my lust for life, embodying my personal vision of a world worth seeing anew each day.