The streets provide music for my ears

First and foremost, I believe that repetition is critical for improving in any field of art. In terms of street photography, it’s even more practical because a lot of the time it’s difficult to find something throughout our daily walks with the camera. In order to increase our chances, I suggest following a similar route each day during your commute. Ultimately, the name of the game is in the mundane. Find beauty in the same walk each day and increase your chances of finding something.

Don’t use the case, keyboard, or pen. Handheld with voice dictation is supreme. Also, for photography just use a USB-C to SD reader and the built in photos app. Super simple workflow and the fastest way to edit work.

THE NOW

When walking down the street, recognize that all we have is now. Embrace every single fleeting moment. Forget about the past, and don’t worry about the future. Simply empty your mind and find yourself in a state of wonder and awe.

“The mundane existence of everyday life is worth finding beauty within…”

Curiosity and Exploration

Honestly, when I wake up in the morning, I’m merely wondering about what’s out there in the world. There’s something so special about curiosity, exploration, and making art. It’s a combination unlike anything else that the human experience provides.

“To walk is to live, to walk is to discover. To follow your intuition and your curiosity is ultimately the name of the game with photography.”

How curious can you become each day? This Lust for Life fuels everything—photography, exploration, art. The movement of your legs, the drive to go out into the open world where there are no limits and no ceilings, this is where motivation is found.

Embracing a Childlike Curiosity

When I wake up each day with a curious, childlike mind—forgetting everything I think I know—I find myself more open to what life has to offer. Letting life flow slowly, I find more to photograph, more to discover. Curiosity is key. At the end of the day, I look through the catalog of photos I’ve taken, wondering about the results and the lessons they reveal.

“To find yourself in a curious state and to question all the things around you—this is the way to grow.”

Finding Beauty in the Mundane

Photography becomes a way to learn, grow, and let go of the past. It’s about switching up the process, allowing yourself to let loose, and finding beauty in the mundane through a curious, childlike mind. Ask yourself: How curious are you? How much Lust for Life do you have?

Every day, let curiosity lead you to explore and find inspiration in the world around you.

A winter ride along the Schuylkill River Trail in Philadelphia. One of our greatest gems in the city is our bike trail. My favorite ride is from Center City to Valley Forge. In this video, I ride along and reach Conshohocken. There was a detour along the trail so I rode around the streets of Manayunk for a bit. You can checkout this interactive map of the trail that shows how far it extends into Pennsylvania.

Be Mindful of the Music You Consume

I feel that music plays a vital role in modern society. We often listen to music during our downtime, filling the void of silence with something entertaining. It’s important to contemplate the music we listen to. Make sure to choose artists that increase your vigor.

The Power of the Wanamaker Organ

My personal favorite is listening to Philadelphia’s Wanamaker Organ. It sounds twice per day (except Sunday) at 12 and 5:30 pm. The Wanamaker Organ is an architectural masterpiece, and it blows my mind every time I pass through to give it a listen.

I recently adopted a new process with my photography, where I merely set the camera in automatic mode, and embrace the snapshot approach.

It’s simple and fun

I believe that simplicity is king. When it comes to photography, we often times get bogged down by the gear itself, camera settings, and other superfluous things. When it comes to the snapshot approach, it simplifies this. It allows you to simply remain in the moment, recognize the life in front of you, and press the shutter.

Think longevity

My goal is to photograph until the day that I die. Just think, as you grow older, are you going to want to carry around a big camera and use slow processes? The weight of the camera actually does matter. To be able to carry a camera with you wherever you go that fits in my pocket is critical for my daily practice and Photography.

Imperfection is more beautiful

When it comes to photography, I actually believe that imperfection is very beautiful. Especially in the realm of street photography where we embrace spontaneity, it only makes sense to not have everything perfectly aligned. The snapshot naturally embraces this imperfect aesthetic and it’s something that I have been interested in.

Speed

I find that the snapshot is the fastest approach to making a photograph. Just point and shoot, man! When I photograph something, I like to photograph with intensity. I will typically make many pictures of a single subject. I also enjoy moving my physical body while photographing. When you embrace the snapshot, it allows you to move fluidly through the streets, and press the shutter more often than not. A lot of the times, in street photography, we subscribe to the notion of the “decisive moment,” but I believe in speed. I say, click the shutter more than less.

Only make media that you wish to see manifest in the world.

“Do it for the gram!”

Only make things that you actually want to view. Don’t ever make things *only* for other people. Imagine, would you make a gear review video for yourself to view ten years from now? Definitely not! This is probably the biggest trap about social media and using YouTube and Instagram specifically as a way to market yourself as a photographer or artist. I believe that most people get suckered into making things for viewership and an audience. This is not the approach that I recommend. When you’re out there on the street and you find something interesting, make a picture for yourself as a personal record. Make a video with your GoPro as a way for you to remember this experience.

An uplifting thought

Even if only one other person views your work, or media that you create, I say it’s a success! Just think, one other person took the time out of their day to watch that thing you made or view that photo you created. To me, this is a beautiful notion to consider. When you create media, treat it like you’re creating for yourself and one other person.