Yo. What’s popping people? It’s Dante. We’re in the underground. Check it out. We the new kings of the underground. 👑
What It Means to Be a Vessel
I’m a vessel for the medium of photography.
What does that mean?
It means I’m completely empty right now. No food digesting. My gut is clear. There’s a straight line between my gut and my mind. My eyes are sharp. My mind is still.
“When I’m empty, I see clearly. When I see clearly, I move intuitively.”
Snapshots and the Ricoh GR
I’m walking the street with my camera in hand — wrist strap connected. Ricoh GR. Small. Concealed. Invisible. Feels like I’m not even holding a camera.
Everything’s automatic:
High contrast black and white
Small JPEGs
Everything baked in
All I do is point and shoot. Middle finger on the shutter. Boom.
“I’m not composing. I’m not calculating. I’m just seeing.”
Chaos, Beauty, and Being Present
That guy had a cool hat.
That woman? Beautiful. Took her photo. She smiled.
Another guy was carrying around clippings of bikini photos — peculiar.
Glad I got out alive.
This is what I love: You walk into chaos with courage, and it feels like floating on a feather bed. Nothing will stop you.
Intuition Over Intellect
I’m not building a frame with foreground, middle ground, background. I’m not using my rational mind.
I’m responding to life with my gut. My intuition. My primal instinct.
“The magic of photography lies in the irrational response — not in the controlled composition.”
No contrivance. Just connection.
Anti-Style, Maximum Contrast
My work? It’s anti-style.
Just:
Light
Shadow
Maximum contrast
Zero expectations
No project. No theme. No book. No gallery show.
I’m walking. I’m observing. I’m alive. And I’m clicking the shutter when my soul says yes.
Reveal the Heart
“Photography is just courage and curiosity made visible.”
That’s all it is.
And courage? From the Latin cor, meaning heart. So when I shoot, I reflect my heart. I reveal my soul. I live through curiosity.
Flow State and Spiritual Practice
This process? It’s spiritual. I enter a flow state. I forget what I’m doing.
“I’m not trying to become anything. I’m just being.”
No seriousness. Just play. No control. Just response.
Empty Yourself
Empty the body.
Declutter the mind.
Photograph through intuition.
This is how you become a vessel for the medium.
Forget the rules. Forget the masters. Forget what you think you’re supposed to find.
Walk. See. Respond. That’s all I’ve got in this chaotic frenzy of thoughts.
Because once your mind, body, and soul have been purified and aligned with God, you are free to move onwards and upwards without the weight of the world on your shoulders. Essentially, any physical or mental burdens that you have faced don’t affect your spirit or your love for life. You simply feel compassion for others, wish them goodwill, good health, and hope they too find the same awareness. It’s not even coming from a sense of loftiness or superiority, but from a truly deep sense of humility and compassion in its purest form—because you just want everyone to flourish.
What’s poppin, people? This is the complete archive of my Street Photography Breakdown series — 20 videos, nearly 5 hours of raw insights, composition breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes stories from the street.
Every photo you’ll see in this series was made by me over the past 10 years — in cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, Rome, Jericho, and more. I break down how each shot came together, why I pressed the shutter, and what was going through my mind in that moment.
“This ain’t about gear. This is about how to see. How to move. How to live.”
Whether you’re new to street photography or looking to refine your instinct, this is a series made to train your eye, spark your curiosity, and remind you that photography is a physical, emotional, and spiritual act.
All of that is available here on my site, episode by episode. Scroll down and dive in. This is the kind of series I wish existed when I was first starting out.
“Even if one photo or one idea sticks with you — then this all means something.”
Street Photography Breakdown – Full Episode Index
Here’s the full lineup of all 20 episodes. Each episode has its own dedicated post with a linked slideshow, full-size images, and text breakdowns of how the photos were made and why they matter. I wanted to give you something you could study — not just watch.
These aren’t just videos — they’re full visual essays to help you see deeper and shoot with more intention.
Topic: Bitcoin, Time, and the Engineering of Generational Wealth
Opening Message
“Satoshi’s fire is now unstoppable. The network is unstoppable.”
Michael Saylor steps onto the stage. The energy in the room is electric. After taking selfies with hundreds of Bitcoiners, he launches into one of his most iconic and detailed talks to date.
Macro Backdrop (11 Months Ago)
Bitcoin: Up 55% and outperforming everything — NASDAQ, S\&P, gold, bonds.
Bitcoin: A \$1 trillion asset class, still just 0.1% of global wealth.
Forecast: 29% CAGR over 21 years → \$13 million per BTC.
“Bitcoin will grow to be 7% of global assets — the preeminent monetary asset in the world.”
What Changed in 11 Months?
Government Shift
White House embraces Bitcoin.
Cabinet-level officials call Bitcoin “the one decentralized crypto network in the world.”
Support from JD Vance, RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, Cash Patel, and more.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve becomes real policy.
Wall Street Joins the Game
\$150B in capital, 1.4M Bitcoin held.
Public companies like Trump Media and GameStop race to adopt.
“I thought I was late in 2020. Now, everyone’s playing catch-up.”
Institutions & Analysts Turn Bullish
Equity analysts now place price targets on Bitcoin.
Tech investors call it as revolutionary as the light bulb or Model T.
Bitcoin seen not as speculation, but as technology.
“Bitcoin is digital energy, not an oddity, not anarchy — it’s the next great technology.”
Embrace by the Financial System
Fed, SEC, OCC all give green lights.
Fair accounting for Bitcoin now discussed.
ETF approvals are happening.
Legislative & State-Level Moves
Bitcoin Act, Genius Act, and Clarity Act in Congress.
Governors and states support Bitcoin as money for the people.
Global Adoption
Voices from Ireland, UK, Bhutan, Russia, El Salvador — Bitcoin is no longer fringe.
The Industry Itself Bows to Bitcoin
Other crypto leaders acknowledge Bitcoin is the foundation.
> “Bitcoin is the reserve currency of the crypto economy — the unshakable protocol everything else is built on.”
Bitcoin vs. Everything
Up 61% — outperforming S\&P, Magnificent 7, gold, real estate, bonds.
ARR: 56% over last 5 years — double the S\&P.
Cost of equity = 13%
Bitcoin = Only asset that beats cost of equity consistently
Inflection Point: The World Still Doesn’t Know
“99.8% of capital still acts like Bitcoin isn’t happening.”
We’re ahead of the curve. The digital transformation is here. The monetary revolution is already happening.
Saylor’s Bitcoin Prophecy
“\$21 million Bitcoin in 21 years. 21% CAGR. 21% volatility. The magic number is 21.”
Bitcoin = The best investment in 2046
Will outperform everything with no counterparty risk
No CEO, no supply chain, no labor force to regulate — just energy
Running at light speed across layers 2 and 3
Volatility is Vitality
“Volatility is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful. Without it, the rich would’ve bought all the Bitcoin.”
Vol = Opportunity. It keeps the door open for the rest of us.
Your 21-Year Head Start
“If I told you Bitcoin would be \$21 million tomorrow, that’s not useful. But I’m giving you 21 years.”
Strategies to Build Generational Wealth
1. DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging)
\$50K/year, increase savings 5% annually
21 years → \$2M input = \$40M outcome
2. Leverage
Borrow \$1M @ <10% interest
Smart borrowing = \$190M
3. DCA + Leverage
Recycle 5% of stack annually → \$260M
4. Recycle 15% Leverage
Still safe in large drawdowns → \$370M
5. Business Strategy
10% leverage + 5% equity dilution annually
NAV x2 multiple → \$760M
Tradecraft: How Not to Get Liquidated
Never borrow short-term at high rates (4 weeks @ 30% = *”you’re a lone shark victim”*)
Ideal: Long-term (10–30 years), <10% rate
Mortgage at 3% to buy BTC = genius move
“Swap 3% interest for 29% return — that’s just math.”
Equity Game
Selling at high NAV multiples = Pegasus status
Below 1x NAV = shareholder dilution → avoid it
Addressing Objections
Objection: “It’s too late”
“It’s not too late to use the wheel, fire, electricity, or English. Why would it be too late for Bitcoin?”
Objection: “It’s a Ponzi”
“Bitcoin is technology. Technology is never too late to master.”
Final Words
“The cowards never started. The weak died along the way.”
You must build something. You must act. Build a machine. Harness the energy. Plug into the network.
What’s popping, people? It’s Dante. This morning, I’m walking around Center City Philadelphia along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway — just came from Logan Square’s fountain. Very beautiful place to start the day. Yeah.
Barefoot Shoes That Don’t Look Ridiculous
Quick note — If you’re curious about barefoot shoes that don’t make you look like a cartoon character…
Get the Vivo Barefoot Primus Lite All Weather.
They feel like Vibram Five Fingers (the ELX model) but look like normal sneakers. I wear them to work too. Just feels proper having closed-toe shoes on the job, but I still get that barefoot connection with the ground.
Thought of the Day: Return to Day One
Alright, now to the real reason I’m walking and talking — photography.
Here’s what I’ve been reflecting on:
“Every day should feel like Day One.”
This is straight-up Zen in practice. It’s how I try to operate as a human being.
The Red Ring of Death Philosophy
Every night, I assume I’m not going to respawn. Like, imagine you’re in some ultra-hardcore video game. You put your character to sleep… but maybe the game just crashes for good. Red Ring of Death. You’re done.
So when I wake up in the morning?
It feels like I’ve been born again. Miniature birth. Blank slate. Everything is new.
And when you live like this — You move through the world with childlike curiosity. You seek the sun. You drop down to study the cracks in the sidewalk. You see the glimmer on a pothole.
Infinite Curiosity = Infinite Photography
With this mindset:
The mundane becomes mesmerizing
Scratches on a street sign become art
Light glancing off a bench is enough
“Through childlike curiosity, you can infinitely photograph and find meaning in life.”
Forget the Checklist. Empty the Mind.
We know so much about photography in 2025. Photo books, gear, techniques, scenes, locations — it’s endless.
But the real canvas is internal.
“Detach from the output. Turn inward. Empty the mind. Return to Day One.”
This is where authentic photos come from. Not from striving to be some capital-P Photographer. Just from being.
Love Thy Neighbor
I passed this sign: “Love Thy Neighbor” Simple. Profound.
Philadelphia — phílos (love) + adelphós (brother).
That’s the Quaker philosophy this city was built on. That’s the teaching of Jesus. And honestly?
“Love thy neighbor as thyself is the law that replaces all laws.”
If people actually lived by that… We wouldn’t need systems, bureaucracies, rulers. We’d bring the kingdom to Earth.
Stop Taking Yourself So Seriously
Photography doesn’t need to be this calculated, strategic act.
I don’t make checklists. I don’t have “projects.” I don’t decide to go to 15th & JFK to shoot a theme. I’m not covering a “topic.”
I’m not trying to say something. I’m just walking, being present, and snapping what moves me.
Kill the Notion of Style
Style? Forget it.
Look — Caravaggio had chiaroscuro. Gilden had harsh flash. Alex Webb has lush layers and wild color.
But the future photographer isn’t chasing style.
“The future photographer empties themselves and becomes a vessel for the medium.”
No seeking. No striving. No becoming. Just being. Just seeing.
Be a Vessel for the Medium
I’m not trying to make a photo that screams, “Dante took this.”
“I don’t care if it looks like my photo. That’s not why I’m making it.”
So stop striving. Stop branding yourself. Stop chasing identity.
Just empty yourself like a Zen monk. Let go. Be curious. Walk slowly. And become a vessel for the medium.
Manayunk (“MNYK” or “The Yunk”) is a hilly, vibrant neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River — just a ~15‑minute SEPTA train ride from Center City .
🏘️ History & Character
Industrial roots: Founded in the early 1800s around the Schuylkill Canal, it was originally called “Flat Rock” before being renamed Manayunk, a Lenape word meaning “place to drink” .
Borough to neighborhood: Incorporated as its own borough in 1840, it became part of Philadelphia in 1854 .
Architectural charm: Characterized by Victorian-era rowhomes, cobblestone streets, preserved mills, and the historic Main Street district listed on the National Register .
Community & Demographics
Population: Approx. 6,000–10,000 residents — mostly young professionals, families, and a longstanding working-class community .
Culture: Originally settled by German, Irish, Polish immigrants; now a blend of old and new, anchored by churches like St. David’s (1831) and Pretzel Park with its iconic pretzel sculpture .
Lifestyle & Amenities
Main Street scene: A pedestrian-friendly hub with ~60+ restaurants, bars, boutiques, galleries, breweries, plus the upcoming Source Brewing—a 3‑story rooftop venue set to open in Fall 2025 .
Events: Annual StrEAT Festival and Arts Festival attract crowds with food trucks, live music, crafts, and gallery shows .
Outdoor options: From the Canal Towpath and “Wall” at Levering Street to kayaking on the Schuylkill and the Manayunk Bridge Trail offering 24/7 pedestrian access .
Transport & Accessibility
Regional Rail: Manayunk Station (Cresson & Roxborough) on SEPTA’s Manayunk/Norristown Line offers easy commutes (~7.6 mi from Center City) .
Buses/Highways: Served by multiple SEPTA bus routes and close to I‑76 for driving.
Walkability: Highly walkable along Main Street and green trails; parking is hill‑challenge but manageable .
Living Here
Real estate: Mix of historic rowhomes, renovated mill lofts, new townhomes, condos on Venice Island .
Safety & vibe: Considered one of Philadelphia’s safer neighborhoods — quiet, community‑oriented, and liberal‑leaning .
Ideal for: Outdoor enthusiasts, dog owners, arts and dining lovers, commuters (train/bus), young families, and professionals seeking urban‑suburban balance.
Notable Spots
Pretzel Park: Dog-friendly with unique walkways and sculptures .
St. David’s Episcopal Church: Historic 19th‑century landmark .
Venice Island: Recreational park with a theater, courts, and splash area (opening phase).
In short, Manayunk is a blend of small‑town charm, historic character, and urban amenities. Ideal for those seeking a lively Main Street, outdoor activity, and convenient commuter access—all while preserving a tight‑knit community feel. Let
What’s poppin, people? It’s Dante. Currently on my morning walk here in the Centennial Arboretum. Check out all the beautiful trees — perfect way to start the day.
The Ricoh GR Workflow That Changed Everything
Today I was thinking about my workflow and photographing with the Ricoh. Here we got the Ricoh GR III — and I saw that the Ricoh GR IV was just announced. Yeah, I’ll probably grab that. Not because I need it, but because it’s just cool they’re making a new one.
But that’s not really the point of this. Today I just want to drop a very simple idea:
Why you should try photographing with the Ricoh GR and high contrast black and white JPEGs.
Not for Everyone — But It Might Be for You
Let me be clear: This isn’t for everyone. You can do whatever you want with your photography. I’m just here to share why this way of shooting brings me more joy.
Stripping down to high contrast black and white… it’s like everything becomes infinitely fascinating again. Even the mundane.
Rediscovering Photography Through Simplicity
It’s easy to feel like:
You’ve seen it all
You’ve shot it all
You’ve done everything you can with your camera
I’ve been there.
But coming back to black and white felt like returning to day one as a photographer. Now I’m finding infinite ways to articulate the world in a photograph.
“Everything becomes infinitely novel and infinitely photographable.”
The Joy of the Amateur Mindset
I think the joy comes from staying amateur. Compact camera. LCD screen. Fits in my pocket. I don’t have to wear the photographer hat anymore.
No big mission. No need to go out and tell some dramatic visual story. I’m just following my inner child and snapshotting my way through life.
I follow my intuition. I let the chips fall where they may. I move through life with my camera in hand — not looking or hunting, just being open to what comes.
Visual Diary of Daily Life
This whole workflow is like keeping a visual diary.
It’s not really about documenting life as it is, but rather:
How I interpret reality
What it could be
Abstracting the world through the lens
“Life can be so real that it feels unreal.”
By shooting this way, I’m emphasizing my way of seeing — through light.
“Light is what gives life meaning in my life. It’s my subject. My medium. My way of making photographs.”
Seeing Through the Veil
When you crank the contrast and grain to the max and shoot in B&W…
It’s like:
Holding up an x-ray to the world
Peering beyond the veil
Finding beauty in what seems boring
You give yourself the freedom to explore like a kid again. And yeah — you give yourself permission to break the rules.
Going Against the Grain in an AI World
As AI and camera tech get better at making hyperrealistic images, this approach feels even more important.
“By photographing this way, you go against the grain quite naturally.”
I want to transcend reality through a camera. To make something extraordinary out of the ordinary.
And yeah — it’s hard. But when you let yourself break the rules a bit, it becomes fun again. It becomes yours.
Infinite Output, Infinite Possibilities
This workflow lets me shoot so much more. Hundreds of thousands of photographs these past few years.
It’s the most prolific I’ve ever been as a photographer.
“The more photographs you make, the more keepers you’ll find.”
So yeah — if it works, keep rolling with it. This way suits me. I walk slow, I observe, I snapshot, and I don’t take it too seriously.
Embracing Imperfection = Finding Your Voice
All the grain. All the contrast. All the weird little digital details…
That’s the juice.
It’s funny, people ask:
“Isn’t that just a style?”
But to me, it’s the anti-style.
“You’re just a vessel for the medium. You work with light and shadow. You make instant sketches.”
Not worried about finding some perfect “signature look.” Just staying present and letting the photos come.
Transcending the Medium
This is my wild vision:
“Photographers of the future won’t just make photos — they’ll transcend photography.”
So if you’re curious about trying this out, I got you.
The reason why I am so abundantly grateful and joyous about photography—still after a decade of shooting—is that it provides endless meaning in my everyday life. One of the most interesting ways in which I’ve been framing my practice is just treating it like a visual diary of my day. What this means is, I simply photograph for myself and myself only. I think through making pictures this way, you can reflect your most authentic voice as a photographer.
Delete Your Instagram
Checking your Instagram in bed when you wake up in the morning is the equivalent of taking a shit in your hands and smearing it all over your face, your eyes, putting it in your mouth, and just having this disgusting sludge that you consume every morning. Would you wanna wake up with poopy in your eyes every day? No. So just delete your Instagram account.
Why? It’s so distracting. There’s infinite ads and degenerate content, mediocre photography, and pretty much just an endless place for you to scroll and let your brain rot away. If you want clarity and purpose and give your photography a place to live and breathe, just start a wordpress.org website and host your first name and last name on bluehost.com. It’s very simple—just use the Astra theme and create your own little space to put your work each day.
Even if you don’t wanna publish work, that’s cool too. Just buy a little sketchbook and the Canon Selphy CP1500, print out small thumbnails, cut them out, and paste them with double-sided tape in the sketchbook. You don’t need a book deal. You don’t need a gallery show. You don’t need anyone looking at your photographs, frankly. Just put them in a sketchbook and call it a day. You can get back to the photos at a later date. The goal is to stay in the flow state.
How to Enter the Street Photography Flow State
The more I think about flow, the more I realize how much it derives from your physical body. For instance, the vagus nerve connects from your gut to your heart and your brain and is responsible for like 80% of the information that is sent up to your brain. All of your emotional winds and feelings and thoughts are all starting within your physical body, not your mind.
And so when you recognize this very fundamental fact, you recognize the importance of gut health, and the connection between your gut health and intuition is most critical.
And so what is the most fundamental trait that a photographer must possess—especially a street photographer who is making candid photographs of strangers, indecisive moments?
Intuition.
Intuition is King
I think we should stop thinking so much, living in our brains too much. Yes, I have a brain that’s connected to my eyes that allow me to see and perceive the world with sharp visual acuity, but that’s not the thing that’s telling me to press the shutter.
What’s telling me to press the shutter is that gut instinct that I have that is very primal within my physical body. There’s a dopamine rush. There’s a hormone that fires. There’s testosterone in the air, and that’s what’s channeling my inner energy to then click the shutter.
It’s not like some visual game of me looking at the world like I need to make something so beautiful and perfect—it’s a gut feeling. It’s a very primal thing that derives from my body that makes me press the shutter.
Wanna replace the dopamine hit you get from using Instagram? Very simple:
Click your fucking shutter.
Join the Cult of Flux Photography
So I’ve been thinking about my process and came to the conclusion that I’m embracing flux, change—and this to me is at the forefront of my philosophy and practice.
You cannot make the same photograph twice.
The way the light casts upon surfaces, people, places, and things will always be different and will never be the same.
You cannot make the same photograph twice.
Is this not the most abundantly liberating and inspiring thought to have as a photographer? For ultimately, the name of the game is in the mundane.
And the ultimate question that you should ask yourself as a photographer is:
Can you walk the same mundane lane every single day, but still find something worth uplifting in a photograph?
If you find embracing the mundane to be challenging and you can’t find anything interesting to photograph—well, then maybe you’re just a boring human being.
But the audacious, courageous, and curious photographer is ultimately going to be able to go out into the world and articulate the unknown, put order to chaos, no matter what comes their way.
We enter a flow state, a stream of becoming, through making images.
What’s the Mindset?
Life affirmation.
Our next photographs are our best photographs. I simply know that the next click of the shutter will be my next best shot. I’m not throwing on the photos I made yesterday or tomorrow or even 10 years ago. Whatever. I’m just in the moment, making pictures in a stream of becoming, and moving onto the next one—letting the chips fall as they may.
I’m not thinking like I’m some serious documentary photographer with my vest on, wiping down my lens, putting my camera on my neck and my photography hat on, going out into the world to tell visual stories and change the world and make a gallery show that depicts what it’s like to live in the city as a youth or some mediocre topic that contemporary art loves.
I’m simply following my joy. I’m following my courage, my spiritedness, my Thumos, and letting that guide my photography.
Put on the Armor of God
When David slayed Goliath, he was a simple and small farmer boy. But by armoring himself with courage, with God, he overcame the beast and became king of Israel.
We should be more like David—having an ultimate and undeniable conviction, and knowing of God’s protection over your physical body, over your spirit—so that when you go out into the chaos and the open world, you come out unscathed on a feather bed.
When you recognize the fear that’s within you—that is natural and normal to have—but overcome it through courage and the conviction you have in God, nothing can break your spirit or your love for life. When you have no more fear of death itself, anything is possible.
But this only comes through tapping into the source: God. Something greater than yourself.
Personally, I just consider myself a disciple of Christ. I don’t even like the term “Christian.” I don’t know why—I just like the idea that I’m a disciple of Christ. I think that ultimately the human being must strive for the divine.
I think Christ is the truth. And I think that by following this inner light within you, you feel so much more abundantly powerful.
Every single day, I start with gratitude and prayer and just thank God for the day. When I go into the chaos, I have Saint Michael the Archangel on my shoulder. I’m a warrior, and I feel like he’s always guiding me and watching me and protecting me.
Ever read The Iliad? I found the most fascinating thing about that book is the way in which they summoned the gods to protect them in battle or called for Athena to guide them in war.
I think this is what’s missing in modern life—a connection to something greater than yourself. And so, my way of connecting to something greater than myself is through Christ—through not only his teachings and moral guidance, but the symbol of sacrifice—of him dying on the cross for the forgiveness of all of humanity.
The ultimate victim. The perfect sacrifice. God manifested in the flesh, shedding his blood for all people.
The most radical person who’s ever lived on earth. More radical than the myth of Achilles. More radical than the myth of Hercules. More radical than the myth of any ancient Greek or Roman god or goddess.
Why?
Because he was a real-life human being who walked this earth—God, manifested in flesh.
Created in the Image of God
And so if you tap into the source, you recognize the divine signature of love within you.
When you’re connected to Christ, not only do you have an insatiable love for life itself, but you have love for all people—whether they’re good or bad, enemies or friends. You have love for nature and animals, plants and trees, and all of the things of this world.
You have no hatred in your heart, because you’re so full of love and gratitude.
So when you recognize that all humans are divine manifestations of God, you can’t help but see God within all of humanity. You can’t help but see the light within another person.
My thought is that maybe some people have a little flicker in their candle, and they just need to be ignited.
Some people are in limbo—still atheist or in denial. And maybe these people are the ones that are always going to be stuck in the material world, in the rat race, in the pursuit of status and money and all the boring things that provide no sustenance in life.
But when you look at the birds, and the way that they fly from canopy to canopy, or the way the worms crawl through the dirt that then nourish the birds, or the way the spiders weave their webs—they’re all simply being.
They’re not striving to become anything.
They are provided for, because God provides for all of His creations.
But we make up this illusion in our head that we have to become something or try to do something to be worthwhile or valuable in society.
But when you no longer give two shits about what society thinks about you, and you’re connected to God, you know that that’s the only person watching that genuinely matters.
Once you no longer need validation from anybody of this world—because let’s be real, if you’re following Christ at the forefront, you’re really not of this world, you’re just kind of in it—well, then you can go out there and play, dance, sing, live your life like a living work of art.
Because ultimately, Providence is guiding you, and God is always watching, and Saint Michael the Archangel is slaying all the beasts over your shoulder as you go through the chaos.
Be Like a Child
I think that nature and children are the most pure forms of inspiration that you should find as an artist.
When you look at nature, and the different complexities of patterns in the trees and the leaves and all the natural things, and you surround yourself on a nice hike in the woods, you’re allowing life to breathe into you.
When you look at the word inspiration, it basically just means to breathe into. And there’s this spiritedness that breathes into you when you were created through God’s manifestation and will.
And so when you have that inner spirit within you guiding you—that fire within—you’re fueled with courage and curiosity.
And when you look at a kid—or even just remember my time as a kid—exploring in the woods, climbing trees that were insanely tall and I could probably die if I fell, building teepees, trying to hunt deer with spears, building bridges with stones, just exploring the unknown, all on my own—I was fearless and courageous and basically in the Garden of Eden.
But then once we ate the apple and we got all in our heads and started thinking so much, we lost our innocence. We were no longer in the childlike state.
But through letting go of the mind, and listening to your gut and your heart, I find that you can actually find the Kingdom of God here on earth.
The kingdom is a metaphor. It’s a philosophy. A way of life. It’s the way of the child—unbothered by societal norms, embracing their most authentic self, not thinking, but just doing.
Think of a child and the way they play—they’re simply eager to wake up and go play tag with their friends or go ride bikes.
I remember growing up, I used to love just hopping on my bike, biking over to my friend’s house that was my neighbor, knocking on his door, and we’d just go from there—door to door, getting all our friends together, going for a bike ride, going to the woods, etc.
We were voluntarily playing.
But as you get older, you start to involuntarily play.
Nothing feels like playing anymore. Why?
Because the school system has indoctrinated the entire mass of our population to succumb to mental and physical slavery. We listen to the bell ring. We move from class to class. We’re playing in a way that is not necessarily in our control or what we’re designed to be doing as young men.
Men aren’t supposed to be sitting on their balls for eight hours a day.
And I think that ultimately, a lot of modern society is trying to suck all the energy from your balls.
Harness the Power of the Sun
Our body is the vehicle, and we are driven by courage.
Charge your soul through the power of the sun.
There’s a reason why Jesus said that we are the light of the world, and that we are like lanterns, that the eye is the light of the body.
The more time you spend out in direct sunlight—with the light literally emanating into your eyes by waking up in the morning and catching the sunrise, and getting the sun in your eyes at sunset—you’re fueling your physical body with vitality.
You’re setting your circadian rhythm, which will then allow you to get deep sleep, and the more deep sleep you get, the more energy you’re gonna wake up with.
And so the body is like a battery, and we must plug ourselves into the source that will charge our souls—which is the sun itself.
I’m not saying we should worship the sun like some sun gods, but if you think about it, there’s a reason why the ancient Greeks and Romans worshiped Helios or Apollo.
It’s a very practical and physical feeling that you get through having the vitamin D and the UV rays emitting through your eyes, and charging your body through touching your skin and producing melanin.
People always ask me how I get so tan, and it’s very simple: I just go for walks with my shirt off in direct sunlight, with no sunscreen.
The more tan my skin becomes, the more power I feel I have—the more energy, vitality, Thumos, and spiritedness that I possess.
So just go out, every single day, for at least a half an hour, and get direct sun exposure.
I actually think that sunlight boosts my testosterone and energy more than anything.
It’s a very primal feeling that you get from just basking in the glory of the sun.
Follow the light. Chase the light. Charge your body in the sun.
Shoes and Sunglasses Are for Domesticated Zoo Animals
So my theory is that we are domesticated like zoo animals.
I’m walking on the trail and I’m writing this essay out loud, watching as people are rattling their bones around going for runs in the morning—with sunglasses on. They’re all very pale.
And I think it’s because of the sunglasses.
When you’re wearing sunglasses and spending all your time locked away inside of an office, you’re not giving your body the natural ability to integrate sunlight into your life.
It’s really a strange behavior that we’ve adopted—spending eight hours inside, sitting down in cars and offices, wearing sunglasses when we’re outside—it’s all just very unnatural.
Domestication.
Almost like self-imposed slavery.
So the primal way is simple: Just remove your shoes. Buy the Vibram FiveFingers EL-X Knit version. Walk with your shirt off. Embrace direct sunlight.
Don’t run. Don’t rattle your bones. Just simply be.
You don’t have to do anything. Go play. Go run up a hill if you wanna rattle around, or go for a hike in the woods. You don’t have to do anything forcefully like a hamster on a wheel, living this routine existence of mental and physical slavery.
Philadelphia is Street Photography Paradise
Philadelphia is the perfect city because you can be surrounded by the woods, in nature, in parks, chilling by the river, finding your Zen, your peace, your calm…
But you can also go straight into Center City, surround yourself in a bustling environment with chaos and people rushing around.
It’s the perfect city for a street photographer because it’s just big enough and just small enough and just populated enough for you to go out there and get the shots you need—and cover the entire city every single day.
I can literally walk the entire city every day and find candid moments every single time. There’s always something going on, always enough chaos and energy, and always a way for me to escape and find clarity in nature.
This, to me, is what makes Philly so perfect—how walkable it is, and how natural it is for you to walk from river to river, from neighborhood to neighborhood.
You don’t need to own a car. You can get around as a pedestrian easily.
I have zero desire to travel anymore because I’ve realized that paradise is where you are now. Paradise is right here in my hometown.
I feel like I’m in Athens and I never wanna leave. Or it almost feels like ancient Rome at the peak of its civilization—where there’s pretty much nowhere you wanna be but Rome, right?
Philly is the new Rome. And I am very grateful to call it my home.
Photography is the Ultimate Excuse
And so I find that ultimately, photography is the ultimate excuse for me to go out into the world and do whatever the fuck I want.
I can wake up, grab my camera, and move forward with purpose and meaning every single day.
I can walk endlessly—even aimlessly—and find meaning in it. I can find infinite ways for me to engage with humanity, chatting with people, traveling to new cities or places—even just within my hometown I can go from river to river, find myself on the outskirts of the city, in places that are more gritty, and experience all of life’s complexities because of photography.
Without photography, sure—life is still beautiful.
But photography is what makes life worth living.
When you’re full of vitality and curiosity, and you have the spirit within you that needs to unleash itself—what better vehicle to drive you out there into the world than a camera?
The camera is like a sword, and I wield it to strike through the chaos.
The camera is like a passport that unlocks all the experiences and places that I can have and go to.
With the camera, anything feels possible. There are no more limits. There’s just an endless horizon, an endless canvas
Real Street photographers have no political intentions. We are vessels for the medium that photograph life as it is.
🐒 Why the Garry Winogrand “Monkey Photo” Is So Controversial
The Garry Winogrand “monkey photo” has sparked debate for decades due to its complex mix of race, ethics, and photographic intent. Here’s a breakdown of why it’s so charged:
📸 The Photo in Question
Winogrand captured a photograph at a zoo where a chimpanzee dressed in human clothes is holding hands with a Black woman. The chimp is wearing a dress and hat. The woman is smiling. This photo was included in his Women Are Beautiful series.
⚡️ Why It’s Controversial
1. Racial Implications
The image evokes a long and painful history of racism in America, where Black people were dehumanized and compared to apes.
Even if unintended, pairing a Black woman with a chimpanzee in a single frame recalls these deeply offensive associations.
Critics argue that this image reinforces harmful stereotypes, regardless of artistic intent.
2. Ambiguity of Intent
Winogrand often stated that he didn’t photograph with a clear agenda; he was interested in how things looked, not what they meant.
This ambiguity leaves the photo open to problematic interpretations.
Many ask: Did he consider how this image would be received, or how it might impact the subject?
3. Street Photography Ethics
Winogrand was known for candid, unposed photography — often without permission.
But photographing someone in a way that can be read as demeaning or exploitative introduces ethical concerns.
The photo raises tough questions about power, representation, and responsibility.
💬 Why Winogrand Defenders Push Back
Some claim the photo is about absurdity or surrealism, not race — the strange pairing is meant to make you look twice.
Others see it as a commentary on the spectacle of modern life, not a statement about the subject.
Winogrand’s defenders often say he was simply capturing the world as he saw it, without narrative or judgment.
🧠 Final Thought
Whether or not Winogrand intended it, the meaning of a photo lives in the eye of the public. It’s not just what the photographer sees — it’s what the world sees in the frame.
“You can take a picture of anything. But you can’t control what it means.”
That’s what makes this photo both powerful and problematic — and why it continues to provoke discussion today.
