Before you hit the streets, you should lift weights. Not only will this make you stronger, but it will give you the confidence and courage to go out there into the world and to face the chaos headstrong.

The farmer’s walk is the best lifting technique for street photographers. It promotes full body strength, perfect posture, and is something you can do daily.

I believe walking slowly can improve your street photography. The slower you walk, the more that you will see, and ultimately the more that you will photograph. Walk 50% slower than everybody else on the street.

It’s easy to get caught up with the tempo of other people on the street and to follow the beat of their feet. I’m guilty of this too and sometimes subconsciously will move faster than I should when I’m practicing my street photography. I believe you should intentionally walk as slow as humanly possible with your head up, shoulders back, and chest open.

Walk elegantly on the streets.

The camera should be treated as an extension of your body and moved fluidly during the act of photographing. Recognize the connection between your body, mind, and eyes. The slower you walk, the more you will enter the zen state required to observe the patterns in both nature and human behavior.

Street photography is like meditation. There’s no need to rush.

$4 per pound from the Amish!

A World Without Art is an Ugly World

Imagine a world without great art.

As I look out of my window, I see the free public library, the Franklin Institute, the art museum, and the beautiful fountain at Logan Square. These spaces and structures bring life and beauty to the world, yet we often take for granted the places we inhabit.

Philadelphia: A City of Art and Beauty

When I walk past beautiful art, I can’t help but admire the beauty that surrounds me. Philadelphia, in particular, holds a wealth of artistic and architectural treasures. Take a stroll down Broad Street, through Old City, or down any side street in Rittenhouse, and you’ll find that the alleyways are rich with details—hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

Philadelphia has some of the most beautiful architecture in the United States, and for that, I am forever grateful.

When I think of life I consider it like an adventure. Every new experience becomes a new chapter. Your story naturally unfolds the more that you move through the world itself. Traveling has opened me up to the endless possibilities of the world and has given me a greater sense of things. It’s impossible for me to stay still and I’m always looking for a new adventure.

Perhaps I seek danger. I am naturally drawn to situations that make me feel challenged both socially and physically.

Consider the box your iPhone.

I believe the more that we gather information about the world through our phones and stay connected to the world this way, the further we stray from what truly matters. What matters is the physical flesh in front of you.

We should focus more on our own communities and whatever neighborhood it is that we live in. Our immediate surroundings are what is most critical.

This is why I’m not a fan of consuming social media, the news, and staying in touch with the world. I’d rather create my own world through the process of making art and photographs each day.

Perhaps being naïve is an antidote to the tragedy of life. It’s impossible not to look at the ugliness of the world with critique. I try my best to remain optimistic and to look at the world in a positive way, but this is merely naïve at best. This is why I believe it is important to return to the childlike state and to embrace the spirit of play. Everything becomes beautiful again once you look at the world with a fresh pair of eyes and a lack of knowledge.

I say we must go beyond knowledge. Knowledge is boring anyway. It’s time to forget everything I think I know.

Consider using macro mode, or simply putting the camera as close as possible to the subject.

Darker photos are more sublime

We must go beyond beauty. Darker images are more aesthetically beautiful. When you use the Ricoh GRIII, you can set the exposure compensation -1, and achieve an abstract image that goes beyond reality.

Ease yourself into the process of making pictures. If you’re just getting started, don’t get caught up and looking for those hero shots. Make sure to keep longevity in your mind and to think about the process as a stream of becoming.

The goal is to photograph until the day you die.

Lately, I’ve been embracing details on the street a lot more than my typical approach to candidly photographing people. I find the details can tell a fuller story of your hometown, or wherever you are in the world. Philadelphia has endless terrain to explore, and it’s very walkable. This allows me to revisit the same places over and over again, and find details in the mundane.