Street Photography as a Stream of Becoming
Returning to the Childlike State
Street photography is about embracing the spirit of play and curiosity, like a child exploring the world for the first time. When you approach photography without preconceived notions, every scene and every moment becomes novel, charged with potential.
“Photography is not about capturing ‘good’ or ‘bad’ images but about affirming life with every click.”
Children engage with the world through play, exploring without hesitation or concern for the outcome. This approach, so simple yet profound, is transformative for street photographers. When we play with our cameras, we open ourselves to a flow of possibilities we might otherwise overlook.
Set Your Body in Motion
Movement is essential to photography as a stream of becoming. Keep walking, keep exploring, and let your body remain in constant flux. Like life itself, photography thrives on movement, growth, and exploration. Stagnation, on the other hand, is the death of the photographer.
Detaching from Good or Bad Photographs
Photography becomes liberating when you let go of judgment. There’s no such thing as a “good” or “bad” photograph—only moments of engagement and life-affirmation. By focusing on the act of taking pictures and staying in a state of production, you free yourself from the need to evaluate each shot.
“Each click of the shutter is a moment of life-affirmation.”
This mindset is empowering, allowing you to remain fully immersed in the creative process rather than being distracted by constant self-assessment.
A Child Can Always Evolve
Like a child who has boundless potential to grow and evolve, your photography has infinite room for change. There’s always something new to learn, another way to view the world, or a fresh approach to experiment with. This endless potential makes photography exciting and dynamic.
Photography is Endless
Photography is a journey without a final destination. The key is to embrace the process and stay in motion. Every day presents a new scene, a fresh moment to capture. When you treat each photograph as part of an infinite journey, it becomes easier to stay motivated and inspired.
“Your next photograph is your best photograph.”
The Notion of “In Flux”
To be in flux is to be in a state of continual change and becoming. Just as life is always evolving, so too is your photographic journey. Stay fluid, stay in motion, and let your photography reflect the continual flow of life.
Practical Takeaways: Cultivating a Mindset of Endless Becoming
- Embrace Curiosity: Approach every scene with a beginner’s mind, as if seeing it for the first time.
- Move Continuously: Let your body and your camera stay in motion; growth happens when you explore without limits.
- Forget “Good” and “Bad”: Focus on the experience of taking photos rather than judging them.
- See Every Shot as Progress: Treat each photograph as your next best, documenting your own evolution.
- Stay in Flux: Be open to change in your technique, approach, and mindset.
Photography is both a personal evolution and a mirror of life itself. Stay in the stream of becoming, and let each image be a testament to your journey as a photographer and as a person.