Always Have the Camera With You
What’s poppin, people? It’s Dante.
Today’s thought is about having a 9-to-5 job and practicing street photography — how to keep making new pictures even when you’re working throughout the day.
I think it’s kind of funny how a lot of street photographers who work during the week become what I call weekend warriors — only shooting on weekends or on certain days when they have free time. For me, the ultimate solution is simple: use a compact digital camera.
I keep my Ricoh GR III in my front right pocket every single day. Rain or shine, that camera lives with me. When you have a small camera with you all the time, you eliminate excuses. You can make pictures during your lunch break, on your commute, before work, after work — wherever you are.
Flow State of Seeing
For me, it’s all about being in a perpetual flow state of making new pictures.
Once I stop photographing, once I start making excuses — that’s when I feel the decline begin.
Even when life feels mundane, even when your lunch break feels boring, you can always uplift those moments with a photograph. I find infinite ways to make new photos, especially during my commute or when I’m walking between places.
Sometimes I’ll even use the macro feature on the Ricoh just to play, to keep my eyes sharp and stay engaged with the world.
Avoid Stagnation
The number one way to avoid stagnation as a photographer is to always have a camera with you.
Once you limit yourself to only photographing on “good days” or when the weather is perfect, you’re already cutting off your growth.
It’s the rainy days, the bus rides, the random moments in between that end up surprising you the most.
That’s where you’ll find the beautiful, unplanned, and fleeting moments worth capturing.
Photography as a Visual Diary
Treat photography like a visual diary of your day.
You don’t have to take it too seriously — just document life as it unfolds. For me, that’s what keeps the joy alive.
I keep my camera tucked and ready to go. If there’s ever a moment I find worthy of uplifting, I click the shutter. That’s it. That’s the process.
Simple message of the day:
If you’re working a 9-to-5 job and feel like you don’t have time to photograph — bring the camera with you.
Live your everyday life and let your camera come along for the ride.