Snapshot Street Photography

What’s popping, people? It’s Dante here, hitting the streets of Philly. Today, I want to talk about something I’m passionate about: the snapshot approach to street photography. This style celebrates imperfection, spontaneity, and curiosity — the kind of photography where you let the chips fall where they may, and see what reality manifests in a photograph. It’s about extracting and abstracting from life itself, embracing the beauty of imperfection. When you focus on making perfect compositions, photos can become stale and lose their vibrancy.

Consider the Snapshot

When you embrace the snapshot aesthetic, you let go of the idea of “perfect.” The best tool for the job? A Ricoh GRIII or IIIx strapped to your wrist, set to AV mode at F8 with snap focus set to 2 meters. With this setup, you’re free to move through the city, capturing moments without needing to worry about autofocus hunting.

“I think when you play more and don’t take your photography so seriously, you unlock more creative potential.”

Treat the world as your canvas. In snapshot street photography, anything can become a subject — from the textures on the floor to the patterns on walls, to faces, people, and architecture. By embracing an amateur mindset and returning to a state of play, you make photography more fun. Go back to being an amateur photographer, open yourself up to the smallest details, and remember that the mundane holds infinite potential.

Channel Your Inner Lust for Life

I hope to share my love for the world around me — that sense of wonder and awe within life itself. As a photographer, channeling a lust for life is essential. Become a flaneur in your own town, walk carelessly, but photograph with intention and intensity. Street photography is more than just an art form; it’s an ethos, a way of seeing and experiencing life. Don’t worry about “good” or “bad” photos. Instead, let curiosity drive you to explore and engage with the world in fresh, authentic ways.

“To me, everything and anything becomes interesting; I’m not just taking snapshots randomly — certain things stick out, and I recognize them.”

Even something as simple as the reflections in a window or the historic lampposts in Philadelphia can inspire. Uplift these details, champion humanity in your shots, and embrace the unique beauty of everyday life.

Simplify Your Gear and Process

To keep things flowing, simplify your setup. Shoot in the smallest JPEG possible, set high contrast on the Ricoh, and skip the RAW files and Lightroom process. Instead, use the Photos app on the iPad — it’s faster, simpler, and helps you stay productive. This high-contrast, black-and-white look is beautiful straight out of the camera, and with a simplified process, you’re able to upload, cull, and share your photos more quickly.

“Pro tip: Just use the smallest JPEG possible with high contrast cranked to the max on the Ricoh.”

Here’s my process in brief:

Shoot in high contrast black and white for an aesthetic straight out of the camera.
Import directly into the Photos app (quicker than Lightroom).
Upload to your blog (I use Bluehost with the Astra theme on WordPress) to share your work easily.
Back up to Google Photos for cloud storage.

This streamlined approach allows me to get out there more, enjoying the spontaneity and vibrancy of street photography without being bogged down by heavy editing.

Embrace the Street’s Rhythm

When you’re out there, pay attention to the beat of the street. Observe how people move, notice the small details, and let the city’s rhythm guide you. You want to loosen up, stay “Loosey Goosey,” and capture moments with an eye for spontaneity.

“There’s infinite potential in this approach. Don’t get locked into one way of seeing or a single subject; let your curiosity lead the way.”

Street photography is about recognizing the endless possibilities around you and constantly moving forward, making photographs in a stream of becoming. Let go of perfection, treat every photo as a work in progress, and embrace the journey of photography. The goal is longevity — to keep photographing, keep finding beauty in the simple and the overlooked, and to let your curiosity fuel your love for life.

In a world of complexity, snapshot street photography reminds us to simplify, embrace imperfection, and stay curious. The beauty lies in the everyday, the forgotten, and the discarded. So go out there, loosen up, and enjoy the thrill of making pictures that satisfy your soul.