Why the Best Street Photography Reminds Us We’re Going to Die
Rainy day in Philadelphia. What’s poppin, people? It’s Dante. Getting my morning started here in the Centennial Arboretum.
Rainy day. Check it out. It’s beautiful.
Today’s Thought: The Best Photos Remind Us We’re Bound by Gravity
What does that mean?
So we are flesh creatures. We cut, we bleed, we feel sorrow, pain, and greed. We lust for the flesh of others. And we are imperfect by design.
And that imperfection—I find it beautiful.
The fact that we have a timeline…
We have an expiration date…
And that we will—and must—die.
“When you’re photographing life, maybe it’s best to remind ourselves that we are finite.”
Maybe it’s best to remind the viewer of the photograph that they, too, will die.
Which may sound morbid and morose—but it’s actually beautiful and uplifting to the spirit.
The Zest of Mortality
When I remind myself of this very fact, it fuels me with a love and zest and enthusiasm for life itself, where I recognize health as our ultimate sign of wealth.
It’s about championing the everyday, the mundane existence of our lives, and those small moments that otherwise go unnoticed.
Moments that remind us we are:
- Imperfect
- Emotional
- Mortal
Moments of:
- Anger
- Frustration
- Sorrow
- Grief
- And yes—even joy.
“The photographs that showcase the complexities of life—its ups and downs, smiles and frowns—those are the best photographs we can make. For that is what it means to be human.”
Snapshotting the Everyday
So through the process of snapshotting my way through life using a compact camera like the Ricoh GR—
got the Ricoh shirt on, it’s my favorite shirt—
I keep this idea in mind.
Today is my birthday. I turned 29 years old.
And so I remind myself—I’m one year older now.
121 and Beyond?
I know about this physiological phenomenon called epigenetics. And I think:
If I stay in this park for the rest of my life…
Stay fasted all day…
Eat satiating foods…
Get good sleep…
Yeah—I might just make it to 121.
Surpassing Moses.
Life, Death, and Trees
So we are here in the park.
The leaves have bloomed.
The flowers are lush.
The rain is falling.
The trees are growing.
And they, too, will fall.
One day—they will die.
“A lot of the time, I spend my time in the park picking up dead trees.”
Branches break.
Leaves wither.
They wash away.
They perish.
So I think that through photographing these things—the withering, dying, and decaying—
Whether natural things or people…
We can evoke the philosophy of impermanence in our photography.
Final Thought: Make a Photograph
Think about how you can evoke the imperfection of life in your work.
Think about how you can remind the viewer—they are finite.
“For I believe that can light a spark in the viewer. That can elevate their spirit.”
And through that recognition, they’re looking at a photograph…
A slice of time, immortalized.
Maybe…
Maybe that can inspire.
Maybe that can motivate.
Maybe it can remind them to:
- Be present
- Enjoy the small things
- Champion their everyday life
And yeah—
“Maybe you can’t live forever… but at least you can make a photograph.”