Stop Trying With Street Photography

Stop trying with street photography. The more that you try, the less that you do. The more that you play, the more that you cultivate your internal way of seeing the world.

And I’ve found that by playing and letting the chips fall as they may, you start to discover your authentic expression.

What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante.

Today I want to share some thoughts on play in street photography — and why you should stop taking this thing so seriously.

Removing the Pressure to Be “Great”

If you’re new to the channel, I’ve been practicing street photography daily for the past decade. And what I’ve found is that by removing the idea of creating something great — by removing the goal of striving to make my next best frame — I’ve cultivated a much more authentic way of expressing myself through street photography.

That’s what I want to share today: my mindset and my approach to the streets.

What You Control (And What You Don’t)

When I’m out practicing, I think about two things.

What am I in control of?
What is out of my control?

The only thing that I’m really in control of as a street photographer is how often I go out there with my camera.

I’m not in control of whether I’ll find something interesting.
I’m not in control of whether I’ll come home with a great photograph.

Because of that, I recognize the power of play.
The power of returning to day one.

Gratitude, Absurdity, and Another Day to Play

When I wake up in the morning, I’m simply grateful to be alive.

It’s honestly absurd when you think about it — we’re on this giant rock orbiting a ball of fire, floating through space, and everything feels like it’s being held together with duct tape. And yet, here we are. Another day. Another opportunity to play.

Whether it’s your job, your relationships, your photography, or your hobbies — the less seriously you take it, the more effortless your street photography practice becomes.

When you stop trying.
When you drop the agenda.
When photography is simply integrated into your everyday life.

Simplifying the Practice

On a very practical level, I use a Ricoh GR compact camera with a streamlined, simplified workflow — automatic settings and JPEGs straight out of camera.

These creative constraints exist for one reason: they allow the flow state to become effortless.

I’ve realized the only thing I’m truly in control of is cultivating an inner sense of curiosity each day. That curiosity is what pulls me out the door.

Curiosity Is a State of Being

Curiosity starts with gratitude for life itself.

By removing the seriousness, by removing the identity of being a photographer with a project, and by embracing a childlike spirit of play, you enter the flow state naturally.

Photography has very little to do with the medium.

It has everything to do with the state of being you cultivate in the morning — that sense of curiosity, enthusiasm, and vitality that moves your body into the world.

Street Photography as a Practice

I see street photography as a practice — something ongoing that places you into a stream of becoming, evolution, and transformation.

When you embrace change and hold an amateur’s mind — always learning, never arriving — photography becomes effortless. Possibility opens up everywhere.

Burnout Comes From Attachment

In my own practice, attaching myself to outcomes and striving to make the next “best” photograph led me straight into burnout.

I began seeing the world linearly.
I had rigid ideas of what made a great photo.
I positioned myself only for certain results.

Now, by returning to day one and embracing play, I find myself photographing in a thousand new ways.

Effortless images come from not trying.

Destroying Yourself to Create Anew

I’ve had to destroy myself to create anew.

Each night before sleep feels like a miniature death. I let go completely. So when I wake up, I’m born again — grateful, open, and ready to play.

Each day becomes a chance to recreate myself. To reorient my body and mind from a childlike state that naturally leads me into the streets.

Stop Trying — With Everything

Stop trying with street photography.
Honestly, stop trying with everyday life in general.

The more you strive, the less you do.

When you’re obsessed with outcomes, you limit yourself.
Only shooting “interesting characters.”
Only clicking when the light is perfect.

But when you surrender — when you tap into intuition and flow — your photographs start reflecting your internal compass.

Photography Reflects How You Feel

Yes, we have eyes and brains and pattern recognition.

But what truly guides the shutter is your internal state — how you feel about the world.

By removing the identity of “photographer,” letting go of striving, and embracing play, you eventually discover what you authentically have to say.

But it requires an empty mind.
A blank slate.
Trust in the flow state.

Final Thoughts

Mindset matters more than camera settings.
Feeling matters more than technique.

Photography is about how you feel about life — and when that’s aligned, photography becomes effortless.

Flow becomes inevitable.

Those are my thoughts today.
Thank you for reading.
I’ll see you in the next one.

Peace.