Just Follow the Light
What’s popping, people? It’s Dante, out here on the streets of Philadelphia, walking that thin line between Order and Chaos. Today, I’m thinking about light, about what it means to just follow the light. It’s more than just advice for photography—it’s a way of being, of moving through life with a purpose and curiosity that goes beyond the ordinary.
The Sun is Happiness
To me, the sun is happiness. I remember back in high school, sitting in a photography class when I was around 16. Our teacher asked, “What is photography?” A student raised their hand and said, “Painting with light.” That phrase has stuck with me ever since. It perfectly captures the essence of what we do as photographers. Photography, from the Greek words “photos” (light) and “graphein” (to draw or write), literally means “drawing with light”. We are artists, capturing the dance between light and shadow, painting with every ray that falls onto our canvas.
“With a camera in hand, you’ll float through life on a feather bed, for the chaos and the unknown are for us, the artists, to articulate.”
Photography isn’t just about capturing a moment; it’s about capturing light itself, following it wherever it may lead. The sun’s glimmering, shining cast on a building, on a face, on the mundane street corner—it all has the potential to become art.
Painting with Light
Each photograph is an act of painting with light. The way sunlight hits a building, the way shadows fall, and the patterns they create are all elements in our art. Walking these same streets every day, I find beauty in the repetition, in the mundane. The light changes daily, transforming familiar scenes into something entirely new.
“Life’s a laugh, and I love walking the same lane every single day, for the mundane is where I find my inspiration.”
For me, photography is about discovering my own world, my own Rome, here in Philadelphia. Light allows me to see this world differently every day. It keeps me curious, grounded in the present moment, and yet aware of something timeless that stretches beyond.
The Eternal Dance Between Order and Chaos
Walking with a camera is like balancing between order and chaos, observing the randomness of the streets and finding meaning in it. Every day is a battle—a challenge for the mind. Photography gives me a way to articulate this struggle, to find order within the chaos. It’s like floating through life, knowing that while everything may change, light will always be there to guide you.
“For perhaps these photos can last in eternity, but you won’t—you’ll die, and that’s fine.”
This act of creating photographs, of capturing the fleeting beauty of light, lets us step outside the passage of time. While we won’t last forever, perhaps our images will. The light we capture today might be seen long after we’re gone.
The Stream of Becoming
Photography is about living in the stream of becoming, about being here now. Each photograph is a way of stepping into that flow, of capturing the world as it is in a single instant. The goal isn’t to dwell on yesterday’s photos or plan tomorrow’s shots. Instead, it’s to stay in the moment, to follow the light, and to be open to what each day brings.
“The goal of a photographer is to photograph today and to forget about the photos you made yesterday.”
Each day presents a new opportunity. The light shifts, the shadows change, and with each click of the shutter, the world reveals something new. In this childlike state of wonder, we can let go of what we think we know and simply go. Slow down, stay focused, and avoid the distractions.
A Call to Follow the Light
So, why make photographs? For me, it’s about connecting with the world, about seeing and experiencing life fully. I follow the light because it leads me to places unknown, keeps me curious, and allows me to capture the beauty of the everyday. The streets, the light, and the world are open. The goal is simple: just follow the light.
Each moment, each photograph, is an exploration of life’s beauty. So stay in that state of curiosity, let the light guide you, and embrace the endless journey of becoming. Photography isn’t just about making images; it’s about being in the world—about finding the eternal in the everyday and making something lasting out of the fleeting.
“Just follow the light.”