Luck vs. Skill: Fortune Favors the Prepared
What’s popping, people? It’s Dante, out here walking around Philadelphia, thinking about luck in street photography. There’s this classic saying—Chance favors the prepared, or Luck favors the prepared. And yeah, there’s some truth to it. But I think we need to go beyond the idea of just “getting lucky.” Street photography, at its core, isn’t about luck; it’s about recognizing patterns and understanding the flow of life around us.
“Skill creates luck.”
How to Get “Lucky” on the Street
If you want to “get lucky” in street photography, it starts with consistency—walking, shooting, repeating. Luck, if you want to call it that, isn’t just about the random details that sometimes align, like a bird flying by or an unexpected expression. Those are the minor details, the ones beyond our control. But what we can control is how we frame the world. With time and daily practice, your visual acuity improves; your observational skills become sharper.
“It’s not really luck—it’s your keen eye, your ability to recognize patterns.”
When you walk around the same locations over and over, embracing repetition, you get in tune with your city, the landscape, and the way life unfolds. You learn to see opportunities that might otherwise be missed. In street photography, this readiness to act—to press the shutter at the right moment—comes down to being there, day after day.
Luck is Built on Skill
In reality, skill creates luck. By being out there, by showing up consistently, you’re increasing the chances of capturing those unique, fleeting moments. With each shot, your ability to read the scene, spot patterns, and anticipate action grows.
“Yes, luck may favor the prepared, but don’t depend on luck alone.”
Photography is not about hoping for things to align; it’s about making things align through skill, observation, and readiness. If you’re in tune with your surroundings, you’ll find that luck is really just a byproduct of skillful preparation.
Keys to Building Luck in Street Photography
- Practice daily: Walk around, shoot, and repeat. The more you’re out there, the more opportunities you’ll have.
- Recognize patterns: Learn the flow of your city, the places you frequent. You’ll start to anticipate scenes and moments.
- Stay ready: When the stars align—when that perfect scene unfolds—you’ll be there, prepared to capture it.
In street photography, luck doesn’t happen by chance. It’s something you create through discipline, awareness, and a true connection to the world around you. Fortune really does favor the prepared.