Today I want to talk about the power of consistency in street photography and why this matters more than motivation and inspiration.
I’ve been practicing photography for over a decade now, and I pretty much haven’t missed a single day. In the past 3 years alone, I’ve made around 379,000 frames.
I’ve created a system in my practice that makes photography inevitable.
Show Up. That’s It.
I find that by remaining in the process — staying in motion, going out there, actually photographing — I find meaning in everyday life.
The more I show up, the more I detach from the outcome, the better I become.
The more I fail, the more I improve.
If you’re attached to outcomes — whether it’s making a “good” photo, getting validation, building a project, making a book — all of that gets in the way of actually doing the thing.
What’s liberating is photographing for the sake of photographing.
Just letting the chips fall as they may.
Authentic Expression Comes From Doing
Through that approach, you discover how you actually see.
You discover how you feel about life.
Consistency is just this:
Showing up daily and doing the thing.
Not planning it. Not thinking about it. Not building some perfect idea in a notebook.
The work is done out there in the world.
Not in your head.
Photography Is Insanely Simple
When you really break it down, your only responsibility is this:
Wake up with enthusiasm and go outside.
That’s it.
You’re not responsible for:
Seeing something interesting
Making a great photo
Coming home with anything
You’re only responsible for showing up and making new photos.
The Power of Volume
Even just 1–2 frames a day is more powerful than shooting once a week.
Because consistency compounds.
Over time, you develop:
Instinct
Awareness of light
Sensitivity to patterns
Physical intuition in your body
You get to a point where photography becomes effortless.
Where flow becomes inevitable.
Consistency Over Projects
Consistency matters more than having a cool project or theme.
My practice is daily. I treat it as a visual diary.
Welcome to Street Photography Diary episode number 3, where we look at photographs I made recently with the Ricoh GR4 monochrome.
Today’s topic is finding yourself through photography and embracing the spirit of play.
The reason I say this is because the more I return to that childlike state, that sort of innocent state where you’re sensitive to life, the more photography becomes effortless.
You’re embracing the sights, the sounds, the smells of the street.
You’re looking up at the clouds and the way the light opens and thinking:
Wow, this is incredible. This is sublime.
When I started my day, I essentially woke up and made a frame.
The first thing I noticed was the beautiful clouds in the sky.
There’s something really special about monochrome photography and the way it unlocks novelty in the simplest scenes I photograph. A simple view from the window can become extraordinary through the camera.
Waking Up Like It’s Day One
When I think about the way I orient my day, I try to wake up like it’s day one again.
My goal as a photographer is to return to that childlike state of being.
Almost treating each night like a miniature death, and each morning like my first breath — like I’m a kid again.
From that state of being, photography becomes effortless.
When I’m in the spirit of play, when I wake up with this inner curiosity, I’m eager for the day. I’m enthusiastic.
And from that state, photography becomes a joy, not a chore.
Wandering Without Looking
When I walk the streets, I’m not looking for anything.
I’m simply wandering like a little kid who’s lost and trying to find his way through society.
And honestly, that’s the most innocent way I can describe it.
I never want to feel like I know everything.
You can sit and read books all day. You can stare at information on your screen and feel like you understand the world.
But in reality:
We’re just these little flesh creatures walking around who really don’t know anything.
When I photograph, I tap into that understanding.
That I am flesh. That I cut. That I bleed. That I feel sorrow, pain, greed. That I have desires. That I am imperfect by design.
The Courage of a Child
Think about a child.
A child falls down, scrapes their knee, and gets back up endlessly.
There’s an inner courage there. An eagerness.
That spirited energy that pushes us out into the world to explore and try new things.
Photography becomes my way of evoking that feeling.
It’s how I express that inner childlike spirit when I’m on the street.
It’s not a serious chore where I put the photography hat on, wipe the lens, and go out to tell visual stories.
It’s simply a way to express myself openly and freely.
The Snapshot of Everyday Life
By embracing the snapshot, by simply bringing the camera with me to the places I inhabit during my day, I can more authentically express what I have to say.
It starts by emptying my mind.
Starting the day from a blank slate.
Then walking the streets with my camera — living life — and letting the photographs arise naturally.
On this particular day, I joined my sister-in-law’s nieces and nephews on a trip to the Franklin Institute.
Just photographing my everyday life.
And through those frames, I begin to discover myself.
The Personal Power of a Photograph
I made a photograph of a new family member — my brother recently got married — so I’m spending time with new family.
And there’s something powerful about photography.
On a subjective personal level, a photograph can resonate extremely deeply.
Sometimes it’s hard to explain exactly why.
But there’s a quality to images where ambiguity creates meaning.
When there’s no clear sense of place or time, the frame allows the mind to wander.
To ponder.
To ask questions.
And in that way, the photograph becomes a reflection of yourself.
The Boy Running Through the Heart
The photograph near the end of the slideshow resonates with me deeply.
It’s actually a very banal, simple photograph.
A boy running through the Heart sculpture at the Franklin Institute.
But the simplicity and ambiguity of that moment evoke something powerful.
I remember being a young boy myself, running through that same sculpture during school trips.
On this day, he was running through the sculpture over and over again — fast — trying to make it through the maze.
And I’m running behind him with the camera, trying to photograph him.
I must have run through that sculpture five times, chasing the moment.
Then suddenly the light glimmers across the scene.
The ripples in the shirt illuminate beautifully.
The textures around him come alive.
And that moment becomes something special.
Ambiguity and Emotion
What makes photography so joyful isn’t always the subject itself.
It’s the feeling that comes back to you later when you look at the photograph.
The ambiguity.
The mystery.
The emotional resonance.
Photography as Self-Discovery
By treating photography as a visual diary, by simply photographing your life and bringing the camera along for the ride, you begin to discover who you are through the frames you make.
When I look at that photograph:
I see myself.
As much as I’m photographing the external world, I believe the images become a reflection of my internal state.
The way I feel.
The way I perceive life.
And maybe photography is less about what’s in the frame…
and more about how you’re framed within it.
Just Play
When you photograph loosely, when you simply play and stop taking the process so seriously, something interesting happens.
You start to photograph more honestly.
More authentically.
And to me, that’s the real joy of photography.
The mystery.
The feeling.
The discovery of yourself through the images you make.
Closing
With that being said — thank you for watching.
I also recently released Flux Volume 1, a small photo book of my work from 13 days of street photography in Tokyo.
It’s about 57 photographs across 100 pages.
If you’re curious, check that out — it’ll be the top link in the description.
There are also lots of resources on my website, including a free course on mastering layering in street photography and other guides.
Today we’re diving into the Ricoh GR’s Snap Focus system.
If you’ve ever missed a shot on the street, it may be because your autofocus is too slow… or you’re hesitating.
As you can see in the behind-the-scenes of me dancing underneath the Coney Island Pier in New York City — I’ve got a speaker in my hand from a local, and my Ricoh is just hanging on the wrist strap.
I’m not thinking. I’m not hesitating.
I’m just living my life — with the camera along for the ride.
And when the moment unfolds… I’m ready.
I put the speaker down, grab the camera with one hand, and point and shoot.
The Setup
I have my camera set to:
AV mode (aperture priority)
f/8
Snap Focus at 2 meters
So when something happens, I don’t need to think.
All I do is respond to instinct.
That’s what I want to cultivate on the street — instinct.
Why Snap Focus Matters
Street photography is unpredictable.
There’s movement. Energy. Spontaneity.
And if you’re fumbling with your camera… you’re going to miss it.
Autofocus is too slow. Snap Focus gives you speed.
At 2 meters and f/8:
Foreground → in focus
Midground → in focus
Background → in focus
Everything is covered.
Now I can focus on the moment — not the camera.
Hesitation kills photos.
What Is Snap Focus?
Snap Focus is simple:
It’s a preset focus distance with no autofocus delay.
You turn the camera on → point → shoot.
Instant shutter response.
No hunting. No lag. No missed moments.
You’re no longer reacting — you’re anticipating.
How It Works
You set:
A focus distance (I use 2 meters)
An aperture to create depth of field
That creates a zone of focus.
My default setup on the Ricoh GR:
Snap Focus: 2 meters
Aperture: f/8
Mode: AV (aperture priority)
With this setup:
Everything from arm’s length to infinity is basically in focus.
Shoot From the Body
Now I don’t think about focus.
I think about where I stand.
I step into the scene — and shoot.
That’s it.
Moments like this boy playing on the sidewalk… Juxtaposed with someone in the background…
These happen in a fraction of a second.
Autofocus? Too slow.
Snap Focus? Ready.
Practice This
Pick one distance.
Go outside.
Shoot 100 frames.
If you’re using:
Ricoh GR III / GR IV (28mm):
f/8
Snap Focus: 2 meters
Ricoh GR IIIx (40mm):
f/9
Snap Focus: 3.5 meters
Then just walk around and point and shoot.
Stop Thinking
When you see something…
Just click the damn shutter.
Don’t worry about:
Settings
Focus
Technical perfection
That stuff gets in the way.
Snap Focus removes all of it.
The Core Idea
At the moment you click the shutter:
You are only responsible for:
Your position in space
Your relationship to the scene
Your instinct
That’s it.
Final Thoughts
Snap Focus is one of the most innovative features in any camera system for street photography.
It gives you:
Freedom
Speed
Intuition
You can literally shoot one-handed — point and shoot.
Today we’re going to be discussing my process with the Ricoh GR4 monochrome in today’s Street Photography Diary entry number two. I’ll be looking at photographs with you, discussing my philosophy, technique, and the way that I hit the streets.
If you’re new to the channel, I’ve been photographing for the past decade all throughout the world on the front lines of life.
Here I have my prototype for a book I put together of my work in color. This photograph was made outside in my village in Zambia, Africa when I was a Peace Corps volunteer. I’ve got photographs from all over the world — from conflict situations in Jericho to the mountaintops of Mexico City and everywhere in between.
I went out in the world with my camera as a way to explore, as a way to express my courage and follow my curiosity as a young photographer learning this craft.
I learned the hard way and the long way.
And honestly, I’m thankful for that.
It increased my ability to make strong photographs.
But now going forward, my goal is longevity. I want to last consistently making photographs.
From Hunting Photographs to Practicing Photography
I’m no longer on the hunt for the next best scene or thing to photograph.
With this monochrome process, photography has essentially become a solution for practicing daily.
The reason I use a monochrome camera with JPEG settings and a streamlined workflow is simple:
Photography becomes inevitable.
The joy and the goal are found within the process itself — walking, observing, and responding with my camera.
Not hunting.
Not striving.
Not searching for interesting frames.
The mindset shift of being detached from the outcome is one of the most important things a photographer must face.
Photography requires enormous amounts of time in the world before you come home with anything interesting.
This book has around 63 frames from seven years.
There were days and months where not a single interesting frame was made.
It took a long time to synthesize content with light, timing, and the visual power needed for strong photographs.
And honestly, a lot of the superfluous things about photography get in the way of enjoying the process.
Yes, composition matters.
Yes, you should know how to make a strong frame.
But instinct is where your style is born.
Your Vision vs Social Media Photography
When you look online — Instagram, social media — you may get inspired by trends or the way other photographers shoot.
But most of what you see online is junk.
Those photographs are designed to be looked at for one second on a phone screen.
That kind of imagery can actually get in the way of finding your authentic expression.
I purposely disconnected from that world.
And since photographing in my own space, I’m discovering the way that I truly feel and see life.
My vision is consistent across my work.
But color, black and white, or aesthetics have nothing to do with expression.
Your perspective is what matters.
Forget Photography
The goal is actually to forget photography.
Remove the identity.
Remove the ego of being “a photographer.”
Stop walking around with a camera on your neck trying to make a great frame.
Instead:
Follow the light and fall in love with life.
My philosophy is about returning to the sunrise every day with enthusiasm.
Photography becomes play.
Not something serious.
Not something heavy.
Just curiosity.
By creating constraints — monochrome, automatic settings, a simple black box — I cultivate instinct.
Photography becomes a natural part of everyday life.
I’m not burdened by outcomes.
I’m just enjoying the day.
Photograph From Your Childlike Curiosity
If I could give advice to photographers looking for improvement or inspiration, it would be this:
Disconnect from contemporary photography.
Delete Instagram.
Photograph your everyday life.
Your walk to work. Walking your dog. Your neighborhood.
Photograph the way you experience life.
Go out and photograph from your pure, childlike, innocent curiosity.
That’s where your style will emerge.
Don’t worry about the outcome.
Instead, cultivate a body that wakes up full of energy.
Get good sleep.
Wear good shoes.
Build a strong body.
Photography Is Physical
I personally wear barefoot shoes like:
Vibram FiveFingers
Vivobarefoot Primus Lite All Weather
Having strong feet and a strong body changes everything.
When your physiology is strong, enthusiasm follows.
And when you’re enthusiastic about life, photography becomes inevitable.
Your internal state — courage, curiosity, intuition — begins to guide your photographs.
Why I Photograph in Monochrome
Photographing in monochrome gives me infinite possibility.
Everything comes down to following the light.
Light is always changing.
You can stand on the same corner every day and never make the same photograph twice.
That idea keeps me curious.
I’m not thinking about photography.
I’m curious about how life renders onto the sensor.
Monochrome strips away technical distractions.
It pushes me into a flow state.
And when I come home to review the photographs, I’m curious about what I captured.
That curiosity keeps me practicing daily.
Photography Has Nothing to Do With Photography
Photography actually has nothing to do with photography.
It has everything to do with how you engage with humanity.
When I enter a space with my camera:
I’m present.
I’m grounded.
I’m observing light and patterns.
I’m smiling.
I’m engaging with people.
Photography becomes a reflection of how much you love life.
Train Your Body Like an Athlete
Behind me I have a full home gym.
I recommend dumbbells, barbells, anything.
Photography is physical.
I treat it like a sport.
Lifting, walking, staying strong — it absolutely influences my photography.
All the frames I make stem from courage and physical energy.
You’re not going to make photographs sitting on the sidelines scrolling Instagram.
You have to wake up and seize the day.
And when you live like that:
Photography becomes effortless.
Flow becomes inevitable.
A Crazy Day in Philadelphia
Today in Philadelphia was a crazy day.
There was a fire in the subway system.
Transportation shut down.
The entire city was backed up.
People were stuck on the streets trying to get home.
There were fights, police, firefighters — chaos everywhere.
But honestly, the photographs I made still came from instinct.
Shooting With the Ricoh GR
The Ricoh allows you to move seamlessly through scenes.
You can shoot from the hip.
Hold the camera by your waist and just click the shutter.
Your instinct tells you where to stand and when to shoot.
You don’t have to overthink composition.
For my practice, that’s the goal:
I don’t want to think. I want to respond.
If you’re curious about the work, check out Flux Volume 1 — the link is in the description.
Askesis (Greek: ἄσκησις) means exercise, training, or discipline. It originally referred to the physical training of athletes but later evolved to describe spiritual or philosophical discipline—a practice of self-control and inner cultivation.
In the context of Stoicism, Cynicism, and Christian asceticism, askesis refers to the intentional practice of self-denial, simplicity, and mental fortitude aimed at achieving moral or spiritual excellence.
Think of it as:
Askesis = voluntary hardship for the sake of inner strength.
Examples:
A Stoic waking up at dawn to journal and reflect.
A monk fasting to purify the soul.
A philosopher walking barefoot to toughen his body and detach from luxury.
It’s training not for the body alone—but for the soul.
