So this morning, I’m thinking about desire—and what it is that I truly want from life itself. The thing is, when you think about desire, it’s typically about longing for something that you don’t currently have, which can maybe become a problem. However, recognizing exactly what you truly desire—what you truly want out of your life—is perhaps a good idea. That way, you can make a roadmap to get there.
And so when I look at the word desire, it derives from:
desiderare — “to be without your star” or “to miss the stars.”
I find this interesting because the more I contemplate my desire—what I truly want, seek, and hope for in life—it’s actually all about following a guiding star… the sun.
My Ultimate Goal: Never Miss Another Sunrise Again
The other day, I sat on a bench talking to a stranger about my ultimate desire: to stand upright, never miss another sunrise again, and walk toward the light perpetually throughout my lifetime. When I said it, it sounded like it would be a cliché response, but the more I think about it, the more it is genuinely an authentic expression of my desire and what I see in life.
Like for instance, as I’m writing this essay right now, I’m walking and voice dictating, heading toward Logan Square’s fountain because I know that this is the exact time of day, at the exact place, that I can actually catch the sunrise peering above the horizon and allow it to emanate in my eyes.
My philosophy behind never missing another sunrise is simple: it’s all about my will to power.
Photography Is My Will to Power
And so as a photographer, of course I’m drawn to the sunrise—it’s naturally beautiful and a great time of day to photograph. However, I think it goes beyond the aesthetic beauty of the sunrise and more so toward the philosophy of being simply eager and curious about life itself.
I find that the more I’m in tune with my intuition and curiosity, the more joy I find in life. And the more joy and love I have for life itself, the more I’m gonna be waking up early just to catch the sunrise.
This is my will to power. Waking up for the sunrise, bringing my camera along for the ride, and Snapchattin’ my way through life.
Stop Waking Up to the Alarm Clock
One of the weird modern-day phenomenons is waking up to an alarm clock. Just become in tune with the sun. Rise with the sun and sleep with the sun. It’s very simple…
Just eat one hour before the sun sets. And then, when the sun is setting—going beyond the horizon—you should be naturally falling asleep at that time. Whatever that time is, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you’re allowing the sun to illuminate through your eyes right before it dips, and this will set your circadian rhythm.
You will then naturally wake up and probably even have really vivid dreams, at the perfect time that your body needs to rise.
And then, when you rise without an alarm clock, you have this abundance of energy. And then when you’re finished taking your shower and shaving and shit, by the time you go outside, it’s gone—and there’s the sunrise.
You really do set your body up in the perfect sort of way when you just align with the light and align with the sun.
And so once again, my ultimate aim and desire—golden life—is simply to never miss another sunrise again. Because I find that when you align with the sunlight, literally everything else falls into place.
Without vitality, there is no curiosity. Without curiosity, there is no enthusiasm.
Become Possessed by God
The word enthusiasm derives from:
enthousiasmos — “having a god within” or “being filled with the divine.”
And honestly, doesn’t this make sense? When you’re enthusiastic and eager and smiling and joyous and full of power, there’s this feeling that is very divine that flows from within. And then ultimately, through photography, I make an outward projection of that enthusiasm through my images.
If you’re not waking up enthusiastic—eager for the day, eager for the sunrise—why would life even be worth living?
Prioritize Your Physical Vitality
The reason why I’m so big on weightlifting, vitality, eating clean, fasting, etc.—it’s because as a photographer, I recognize how physical the medium is. Our goal should be to simply be able to stand upright and walk throughout the entirety of our day.
And so I highly suggest you pick up the Vibram Five Finger EL-X Knit version shoes—because ever since I started wearing these about 2 ½ years ago, I’ve become so much stronger, and can walk way longer distances.
Not to mention, they slow you down. You have this tactile feel about the surfaces you walk on, and it feels like you become much more connected to the ground, the earth, everything.
It may sound woo woo, but seriously, it puts you in this meditative state when you’re walking and you feel everything.
Eat Like a King
One of my life hacks that I’m starting to think more critically about is meat—and why you should only purchase the highest quality meat. And so, by reaching out to a local Amish farmer, going directly to their farm, actually meeting them in person—specifically in Lancaster, Pennsylvania—you’re gonna be getting the highest quality meat you can possibly find in the country.
The Amish have been using the same farming practices for centuries. This is why I trust the Amish more than any other farmers. Not to mention, they’re just such great people.
I’ve got my Rogue squat rack with pull-up bar and dip bar at home, my Nuobell adjustable dumbbell setup—and a big deep freezer behind my couch where my home gym is. It’s like 14 ft or something, and it fits a full half cow, butchered by the farmer, with cuts of steak, ground beef, burger patties, thinly sliced steaks, liver, iron round roast, chuck roast—just a variety of cuts.
I eat about half a cow every three months. Two cows a year. That’s the move.
People say I’m crazy for fasting all day, not eating breakfast or lunch, or for not enjoying my life because I’m not snacking or buying dumb shit.
But when you think about it—I’m actually living and eating like an absolute fucking king.
Embrace the Physical and Tactile Nature of Life
When I walk around the streets, I enjoy the feeling of the concrete, the grass, the dirt, the gravel, and all the surfaces around me. I love to pick the flowers, sometimes put them around my ears or in my bag. Pick up leaves, look at them, photograph them, smell things, touch things.
This is a way to unlock new neural pathways. To cultivate novelty in the mundane.
In this brave new digital world, where everything’s becoming digitized, just experiencing real life in the open world—with your physical touch, your sounds, your smells, all your senses—you become more connected to the present moment and exist outside the passage of time.
Why I’m Becoming More Interested in Metaphysics
Despite my love for the physical, I’ve been more interested in metaphysics lately.
Like time—it’s not necessarily a tangible thing, but it’s something we experience in a way. We have clocks. Alarm clocks. I’m looking at the clock at City Hall Tower. The sun rises and sets at certain times… but ultimately, when I’m moving my physical body, observing the fleeting moments, photographing—
I feel like I exist outside the passage of time.
We have a past and a future, but these things aren’t of your concern when you’re simply embracing the now.
Pick the Flowers and the Leaves
So back to the physical again—and my interest in horticulture, where I tend gardens throughout my day—I have this keen fascination with the flowers and leaves and all the natural things around me.
There’s something about the patterns you find in nature—and even in human beings and our biology—that’s just so profound and surreal.
So real, it’s not real.
For instance, when you hold a leaf and look at a leaf, I feel like you can see the entire universe in the palm of your hand.
We All Have the Light?
Something changes when you recognize the divine manifestation of God within a human being.
Have you ever looked into someone’s eyes and experienced a deep sense of remembrance—almost like anamnesis—where you remember God? Where you remember what love is?
Not falling in love or obsession—but genuinely remembering what eternal, pure, divine love is?
I’ve experienced something like this recently. And ever since, I can’t unsee the divine nature of human beings.
It’s like I can genuinely see a light within somebody when I see their eyes.
Sometimes it’s dim. Sometimes it’s bright. It’s not about eye color. It’s something metaphysical. Something intangible.
And maybe God is our conscience. Our intuition. The gut feeling. Look at the physical pattern of your gut and brain—how similar they look.
What if God is in our gut?
Becoming vs. Being
In the modern world, we’re all trying to become something. But what if you just be?
Like a bird. A spider. The ocean.
Human beings are the only ones that don’t seem to just be.
We’re always in a state of becoming. Striving. Improving. Hustling. Posting. Gaining. Chasing.
But when you let go of all that striving—and instead volunteer your full authenticity—you stop trying.
Not because you’ve lost ambition.
But because you’ve remembered who you are.
Only Do What You Want To
The path to being?
Only do things that you want to do.
Whatever it is that your intuition tells you—follow that.
Despite what society says. Despite what your mom or your neighbor or your pastor says.
Just follow your heart.
Your Inner Child Leads You to the Kingdom
By following my inner child, I found paradise on earth.
I remember being a little boy, exploring in the woods, building teepees with sticks, throwing rocks, climbing trees, swinging from vines.
Now, at 29, I’m putting down stones in a stream by my workplace, walking through the forest, surrounded by nature.
This isn’t childish. This is childlike joy.
Childishness is immaturity. But childlike curiosity?
That’s the path to the Kingdom of God.
What Is Love?
Love is selfless and unattached. Love is like the fountain at Logan Square—always flowing.
Children play in the water, under the sun, enjoying the fruits of the fountain.
Love doesn’t ask for permission. It expects nothing in return.
Love is divine.
When you realize that God loves you, then you have the permission to love all people.
And when you love all people, love pours out of you, effortlessly.
Maybe you give a stranger a hug. Maybe one of your photographs. Maybe a conversation on a bench. A compliment. A wave.
Love is what occurs when you recognize the inner light within you—and you simply let it shine.
Treat Your Life Like a Living Work of Art
What is your mythos?
As an artist, I seek to live my life like a living work of art.
I am the main character. I’m here to create, to dance, to sing, to explore, to grow stronger, to conquer, to exert my will to power.
Some days I’m Jesus. Some days I’m Achilles. Sometimes I’m Apollo. Other times Dionysus.
So…
What do you desire? What is your guiding star?
In order to find your true desire, maybe we should start thinking about how to carry out our life like a myth. A legend. A living work of art.
Because once you start living that way, you give birth to a shining star…
And maybe that shining star that you give birth to from within, is what you desired after all.
Paideia (pronounced pie-DAY-uh) is an ancient Greek concept that refers to the process of educating a person into a well-rounded, virtuous, and cultured citizen. It’s more than just schooling—it’s about shaping the soul and character.
Etymology
From Greek παιδεία (paideía) meaning “education, upbringing, culture”
Rooted in παῖς (pais) meaning “child”
What Paideia Encompasses
Moral development – forming virtue and ethics
Intellectual training – philosophy, logic, rhetoric
Physical discipline – gymnastics, military training
Cultural formation – appreciation of music, poetry, art, myth
Philosophical Context
Plato saw paideia as education of the soul—leading someone out of ignorance (as in The Republic’s Allegory of the Cave).
Isocrates emphasized rhetoric and civic participation.
Aristotle focused on forming virtuous habits through repeated action.
Modern Use
“Paideia” can be used today to talk about:
Holistic education
The formation of character, not just intellect
Liberal arts ideals
🧠 It’s education not just for making a living, but for living well.
The Peripatetics were followers of Aristotle, forming a school of philosophy founded in the Lyceum in Athens around 335 BCE. The term Peripatetic comes from the Greek word peripatein, meaning “to walk about,” because Aristotle was said to teach while walking in the colonnades of the Lyceum.
🔍 Key Features of the Peripatetic School:
Founded by: Aristotle
Name origin: From peripatos (covered walkway), emphasizing walking lectures
Main location: The Lyceum, Athens
Famous successors: Theophrastus (botany, ethics), Strato (natural science)
🧠 Core Ideas:
Empiricism: Knowledge begins with observation and experience. The senses are a valid source of truth.
Teleology: Everything in nature has a purpose (telos). For example, an acorn’s purpose is to become an oak.
Four Causes: All things can be explained by material, formal, efficient, and final causes.
Virtue Ethics: Virtue lies in moderation — the golden mean between extremes.
Logic: Aristotle systematized logic into syllogisms and deductive reasoning.
What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante. Just getting my morning started here in Philadelphia—snapshotting some quick shots of this beautiful foggy morning. We got the Comcast Tower looming above and the subway moving below me.
These are the arteries of the city—
the underground,
the transportation,
the buildings,
the skyscrapers.
This is the information. All the people inside working at their computers, making things move through the bureaucratic systems.
“We’re in a big computer grid. Thank you, William Penn. You laid out the city perfectly for me to walk upon endlessly.”
But it seems the city is bleeding from the heart… apparently SEPTA’s transportation is being cut 40%. Which is phenomenal, right? I mean—not the good kind of phenomenal. Because the bus drivers are the pulse that keeps the bloodstream flowing upon the streets.
“The people on the bus are like cells, like nutrients carried through the living organism that is the city.”
And it’s kind of bad this is happening. I just found that out on the street yesterday.
What Triggers You in Street Photography?
So today’s thought— What triggers you in street photography?
This is a fun topic, right? Because there’s something to be said about that moment—the gesture, the glance, the look. But for me, I gotta reframe this whole idea. I’m not really out here being triggered by life itself anymore.
“Light itself is my trigger.”
The Power of Light
When I go out on a foggy day like today and look up—tall skyscrapers, mist, eerie light—I’m not just waiting for something to happen. I’m reacting to the quality of the light.
High contrast
Black and white
Moody atmosphere
That’s what draws me to make photographs.
I’m less interested in that traditional “decisive moment” stuff— Like a bird in flight, a hand gesture, a person mid-stride. Those are great, but…
“Even just looking at artificial light and photographing it to see what it will become is more intriguing to me.”
Because light always hits differently. On people, on walls, on places. And we can’t control it.
We can control where we put ourselves, when we press the shutter, what we include in the frame. But not the light. That’s out of our hands.
“It’s that spontaneous element of light that triggers me to go out and photograph.”
The Flow State of Modern Tools
Think about it: Today I’m shooting with the Ricoh GR—a small camera, shooting high contrast JPEGs, straight from the camera, no post. One click, move on.
This tool allows me to enter the flow state. Just like Atget in 19th-century Paris with his big rectilinear lens and bellows camera. But now I can do it more effortlessly.
And because of that…
“I’m triggered by subtlety in the streets.”
No Lightroom. No film developing. Just shoot and move. And that flow reveals something deeper.
Your Subconscious Becomes the Photographer
When you shoot like this—every day, over and over again—your subconscious starts to show itself.
The rational mind fades.
The authentic voice emerges.
You start to recognize what you care about.
“Detaching from the outcome liberates you. You find your voice not by thinking—but by doing.”
Photography becomes less about the perfect shot and more about the process of transformation, evolution, and change.
Maybe I’m Triggered by Joy Itself
Yeah. Maybe that’s the truth. Maybe I’m just triggered by joy.
That childlike joy. The feeling you get when you spot something beautiful, something subtle—a flower with morning dew, a leaf’s intricate pattern, a shadow on a wall.
“Childlike joy is the superpower. The cheat code.”
Remember playing Tony Hawk and entering that combo to unlock the secret room or find the tape? That’s what joy feels like. It advances you.
Photography as Voluntary Play
We used to play games voluntarily as kids. We wanted to be out on the playground.
That’s what photography is for me now— Voluntary play in the real world.
And it doesn’t have to be photography for you—
Writing
Music
Cycling
Climbing
The gym
Whatever gives you that spark—that’s the power source.
“Find joy in the mundane. Find joy in the moment.”
Create Your Own World
With a camera, you can create your own world. You don’t need to be chained to the grid.
You’re not disconnected in a negative way—you’re just unattached. You’re not drowning in the noise. You’re expressing your own reality through the lens.
“To press the shutter is to declare your version of reality, to create a world from your own joy and curiosity.”
That’s what it means to be triggered on the street— Not to wait for something to happen, but to walk with joy, follow the light, and remain endlessly curious.
Final Word: Get to Philly 📸
Beautiful morning. Logan Square. Philadelphia.
“If you’re a New York street photographer, get to Philly fast. This is the future. This is mini Paris.”
Welcome to the final episode of the Street Photography Breakdown series, Part 20. In this finale, we break down five photographs, diving deep into the behind-the-scenes of how each image was made. I’ll be discussing not only my technique, but also the philosophy that drives me to press the shutter—so you can apply these thoughts to your own personal photography.
1. Girls Playing in Baltimore
This scene was all about playfulness—both in subject and spirit.
“Photography has everything to do with how you engage with humanity out there in the open world, on the front lines of life.”
On the right: a girl’s legs hanging from a tree, filling half the frame
On the left: her sister smiling, holding onto the tree trunk
In the background: grass and a simple Baltimore building
Using the Ricoh GR, I held the camera high to isolate and separate the subjects. I split the frame in half with intention, making a relationship between the joy on the left and the gesture on the right.
“Go out with curiosity, but also understand the visual relationships between foreground and background.”
2. Carnival at Penn’s Landing (Philadelphia)
A woman inside a ticket booth. A Ferris wheel in the background. It’s a simple juxtaposition that drew me in immediately.
“The world is a visual puzzle—and photography is how I solve it.”
Left: tired woman in a blue shirt, hand on her head
Right: Ferris wheel, vibrant and full of color
Center: ticket booth splitting the frame
Color harmony: blue shirt of the woman + blue light from Ferris wheel
By instinctively applying the rule of thirds, I positioned the woman and Ferris wheel in opposition. Photographing at night is rare for me, but this one worked because of the composition and timing.
3. Boy Through the Window (Philadelphia)
I saw the boy’s head press against the window—looking up at his mom—and I knew I had something.
Dropped to a low angle to separate his face from the triangle of light
Middle: the gesture of the boy in center
Left & Right: reflections of the Masonic Temple and the outside world
“Photography is physical. Drop lower, shift position, align the pieces—then shoot.”
I even went inside to show his mom. A genuine, playful interaction. One I remember vividly.
4. Palestinian Youth Hangout (Jericho)
This was made during my time in Jericho, hanging out with a boy named Yahya—his name even shows up above his head in the graffiti.
“Sometimes, just spending time earns you access—and lets you become a fly on the wall.”
Foreground: tense gesture of a boy holding a bottle
Background: Yahya on a bed frame with another bottle
Setting: an in-between space—half barn, half open-air hangout
Backdrop: Palestinian flag, graffiti, chair, bed
This one came together with instinct. Left and right split, foreground and background aligned, subtle gestures enhanced by a gritty environment.
5. Cigarette Smoker on JFK Blvd (Philadelphia)
This one is raw. One of my first Ricoh GR2 photographs, made around late 2015.
Left: a man calmly smoking a cigarette, glasses sliding down his nose
“By introducing a strong foreground gesture, the background chaos takes on a whole new energy.”
I stepped out of my house. Saw this scene on my block. Got close. Stayed patient. And then—click. A gritty, powerful example of street photography born from proximity and courage.
Closing Thoughts – The End of the Series
That wraps up the 20-part Street Photography Breakdown series. We’ve gone through 100 photographs, each with a story, a technique, a mindset.
You can find all these posts at dantesisafo.com on the Start Here page, where you’ll also see my full lecture playlist and other resources for your photography journey.
“Even if one photo or one idea inspired you, then I feel I’ve done my part.”
I made this series because I wish I had something like this when I was starting out. A guide—not of gear—but of how someone thinks and works the street. That’s what I wanted to give to you.
“Photography has fueled my love for life itself—and if it can do that for you too, then this all means something.”
What Street Photography Means to Me
It’s about adventure
It’s about walking into the unknown
It’s about putting order to chaos
It’s about living outside the four corners of your room
It’s about recognizing the beauty in the mundane
“Set your body in motion—without preconceived notions of what you will find. Go out there and explore.”
Thanks for being part of this. See you in the next video.
If life was a video game, wouldn’t she want to get to level 100 as quickly as possible?
If you ever played Skyrim, you knew the ultimate goal was to get the best armor in the game as quickly as possible: the Dragon Armor. How did you achieve this?
You needed to have level 100 smithing. And in order to get there as quickly as humanly possible, you had to use some exploits—sometimes even glitch out of the map. You know how in video games you can see the matrix pattern that separates the out-of-bounds area from the playable area? This was only for the bold—the player who explored the outskirts and tried to push the limits of the game.
So you’d climb the walls of Whiterun, jump in a very particular way, and land in between a very specific rock that would slide you under the map—under the matrix. From there, you could go directly to the source of the shop owners’ chests and steal from them without being noticed. You gather all their materials, all their valuables, and then return to your save point. Then you go directly back to the shop owners and sell them their own goods. You do this on repeat and stack your gold as quickly as possible.
With your gold, you then spam iron daggers at the blacksmith, crafting them over and over and selling them back to him, leveling up your smithing to 100. Now that it’s maxed, you’re ready to unlock that sweet Dragon Armor.
Bitcoin Is the New Out-of-Bounds Glitch
I like this metaphor in relationship to Bitcoin, because it feels like you’re glitching out of the matrix—stealing from the chests in Whiterun when you receive fiat currency from your 9-5 job, and then going right back to them and selling them their goods for a 10x profit by buying Bitcoin.
To have the balls to buy Bitcoin, you have to explore the outskirts, take the dangerous paths, and slip out of the matrix. But you’re ultimately gonna wind up at the god-tier with Dragon Armor on before the rest of the players.
Mario Bros. Was Trying to Teach You
Another simple metaphor is Super Mario Bros.—everybody knows Super Mario Bros., but maybe not Skyrim. I’m talking about the very first one.
Remember level two? That underground zone where the spooky song turns on and there’s those spiky crabs, green pipes with piranha plants, and those elevators? I’m surprised how many people who played that game didn’t know about the elevator glitch…
To advance from level two to world seven or nine or something ridiculous, and basically beat the game in two minutes—it was actually super simple. But it required a risk.
I even remember when I found it. I was just a little seven-year-old boy, tinkering, trying to break the game. You’d jump on the elevator and ride it all the way to the top, out of the bounds area on the ceiling of your Game Boy screen, and then run endlessly to the right. Eventually, you’d fall into a warp zone where you could skip all the way to the end of the game.
Eighth Grade Was a Digital Hustle
Even in eighth grade, when the iPod Touch came out, nobody knew how to jailbreak their iPods. I had like 20 iPods in my backpack at one point. Everybody paid me five bucks so I could jailbreak their iPods and get them games like Tony Hawk Pro Skater.
And everybody who played Tony Hawk knew the most important attributes to max out were Speed and Air. Why? Because when those two were maxed out, you could find the secret tape faster, jump further, and advance at a way faster rate than if you were wasting points on Rail Balance or Hang Time.
The Moral of the Story
The moral of the story is this: the intrepid, the bold, the daring—the ones willing to experiment—are always the ones who innovate and advance faster in this video game we call life.
What’s poppin, people? It’s Dante. The world is so open. There’s so much to do, to see, to explore, and to photograph. I mean, it is such an abundantly beautiful world out here.
Check out the beautiful view of the Fairmount Water Works — standing atop the cliff, catching that sunset. Seems like there’s a wedding. Yeah.
Light Is My Subject
Today I’m thinking about light — and why I treat light as my subject in photography, and what this means to me.
“Photography — photo meaning light, graphé meaning writing or drawing — is the act of writing with light.”
When I’m out here with my camera, I treat each frame like an instant sketch of light itself. And that’s a very empowering thought.
Because no matter where I am, no matter what I see — the photograph I make will never be the same. Light is always changing. It’s always in flux, like the river flowing endlessly in the Schuylkill.
Same Path, Different Light
I can walk the same lane, follow the same path, stand at the same vantage point, look at my shadow at the same time of day — over and over again. And still make something new.
There’s something so beautiful about recognizing change through light.
“Photography becomes a search for truth through light itself.”
Not Reality — Abstraction
When I’m making photographs, I’m not trying to depict reality. I’m abstracting it.
Light becomes not only the subject — but also the medium.
When light casts upon surfaces, when it emanates through my lens, touches the sensor and forms an image — it’s a beautiful lie. It’s not showing life as it truly is.
Looking at my shadow down there — that’s actually really beautiful. I’m gonna make a photo of that.
“Photographs are like casting shadows on the wall.”
It’s not reality — it’s an abstraction of it. And when I shoot in high-contrast black and white, with the contrast settings cranked to the absolute max — it’s like I’ve got x-ray vision, looking beyond the veil.
Evoking Feeling, Not Stories
I’m not trying to capture a moment or a story. I’m trying to evoke what it feels like to exist.
“I want to make a photograph that evokes a sensual, emotional experience for the viewer.”
Using light as my subject and medium is a return to the essence of photography.
And by doing that — maybe I’m also chipping away at life, and revealing the eternal forms of beauty itself.
I Follow the Sun
I literally orient myself toward the sun. I don’t have a plan. No preconceived notion of what I’ll find. I just follow the light.
The way it casts across a bench
The shadows on the floor
The glow of leaves held up to sunlight
The macro details of nature
The vastness of trees
The humanity of people
All of it — touched by light.
Photography becomes meditation — a practice of presence, a spark of bliss.
Light Heals and Creates
Sunlight kisses the skin. Vitamin D, UV rays — they awaken the body. They synthesize hormones, make me feel strong.
While I’m photographing, I’m affirming life.
“There’s this feeling you get when you create something — it’s godlike.”
Light created the universe. Light created me. So when I return to nature — to trees, to birds, to pinecones — I’m reminded:
“God is within everything. Everything that light touches bears God’s divine signature.”
The Soul in Others
Look into someone’s eyes — and you see their soul. There’s a light within us all.
“When you recognize the light within another person, it charges your soul like a tuning fork striking the heart.”
And when you see someone else as a divine creation, you feel an overwhelming love for humanity — for flowers, animals, people, plants, everything.
Following light brings you back to this: a reverence for the essence of all things.
Eternal Light
No, maybe we can’t live forever. But a photograph? A photograph might.
“When I photograph, I hope to evoke my soul in the image. If the soul dies when we die — then maybe we can live forever through the act of creation.”
So keep walking. Follow the straight and narrow path. Follow the light.
Welcome to Street Photography Breakdown, Part 19, where we look at five different photographs, breaking down their compositions and how the images were made—each with a story rooted in play, chaos, light, and life.
1. Palestinian Children at a Construction Site (Jericho)
These scenes of playful youth are often what’s most available when you’re out exploring neighborhoods around the world. In this case, I found children playing on cinder blocks at a construction site in Jericho.
“It’s the innocent youth against a gritty backdrop—and I find that visually and emotionally compelling.”
Foreground: a boy looking downward
Right side: a peace sign gesture, just cut off
Background: the mosque, purposefully framed
Middle ground: boys squeezed between blocks
Even with some limbs cut off and a forehead peeking at the bottom of the frame, there’s beauty in imperfection. These slices of life, fragmented yet whole, carry the image.
“Go to the outskirts. That’s where the most fruitful photos are made—not always in the busy markets.”
2. House Fire in Baltimore
This was an unplanned moment. I was drawn in by the sound and smoke—then saw children on bikes right in front of a burning house.
Right side: smoke filling one-third of the frame
Foreground: child covering his face, heroic presence
Background: a woman walking away, covering her mouth with an Obama shirt
“Emotion and composition work together here. It’s not just about drama—it’s about depth and readability.”
I wasn’t thinking in rule-of-thirds terms—I just physically positioned myself to let the background and foreground interact. That’s how this came together.
3. Mimi on the Rooftop (Philadelphia)
A very personal moment. My grandmother—arms stretched out in red nails and lipstick—sunbathing poolside on her rooftop.
“This is one of my strongest street photographs, and it came from family life.”
Left: gesture of her arms outstretched
Right: Angelo, Kevin, and others in conversation
Background: Philly skyline, chairs, fencing, a small cloud across the blue sky
What made this image work was dropping low—getting to her level—and letting that angle create clean separation between all the layers.
4. Children in the Tree (Penn’s Landing)
During the 2016 DNC, I was on assignment—but this photo came from walking around and staying curious.
Foreground: boy grabbing the dangling shoes of another boy in a tree
Middle: brother looking toward the moment
Background: another boy hopping the fence and a man smoking a cigarette
“Layered photographs like this come from awareness—plugging in each part of the frame like a puzzle.”
And the backdrop—lush greenery, park benches, sunlight—sets the scene of a Penn’s Landing that no longer exists. A nostalgic capture of Philly.
5. Palestinian Children Playing at the Border (Jericho)
Another joyful scene from Jericho—kids playing along the border wall with gestures and movement.
“It’s your spirit on display. If you’re in a state of play, your images will reflect that.”
Foreground: boy hanging on a pole (main subject)
Background: Israeli settlement on a hill
Left corner: boy’s face peeking in
Bottom right: mysterious hands thrown up into the frame
I was drawn in by a single gesture—then waited for the rest to fall into place.
“Work the scene. Be patient. Be present. Then press the shutter.”
Final Thoughts
Photography is less about technical mastery and more about spirit, timing, repetition, and awareness. If you’re out there, not taking yourself too seriously, you’ll gain access to frames that reflect that energy.
If you enjoyed today’s video, feel free to visit dantesisafo.com and click on the Start Here page for more street photography resources.
You can also visit YouTube.com/@StreetPhotography to explore my lecture series and POV videos, including my work in Mumbai.
“Thanks for watching. I hope something I said today inspired or informed your journey. See you in the next one.”
It’s Dante, currently walking through Jefferson Station here in Philadelphia. It’s a bit rainy today, so I stepped inside. And yeah—today’s fun thought is about walking and exploration and why I truly believe walking is one of the greatest joys in life.
The Joy of Walking
Walking’s the greatest joy in life because:
Your muscles are contracting
Your body’s moving
Your hormones are firing
You literally give yourself this sensation of bliss—dopamine spikes, testosterone flows, and you just feel good.
“You can derive all of your pleasure from your feet and your legs and just the movement of your body.”
And look, pleasure isn’t bad if it’s something this simple. Like… it’s not like walking ever hurt anyone. It’s not hedonism—it’s embodiment.
Barefoot Life
I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes for over two and a half years now. Changed everything.
Now when I walk:
I can feel the concrete
I can feel the grass
I can feel the gravel
I can feel the water when it rains
All those sensations underfoot—that’s data. That’s life. There’s something about the novelty of walking, the texture of different surfaces, that fires up neural pathways in a way you just don’t get if you’re numbed by rubber soles.
I pull the camera out of my pocket while I walk, and suddenly I’m creating—I’m providing life with meaning.
“Meaning is found through curiosity.”
It’s not something the world gives you. It’s something you cultivate—from the inner child, from the intuition, from the heart. And that’s why I photograph.
Because it connects me to that childlike curiosity
Because it makes the mundane radiant
Because it gives meaning to solitude
“Despite how monotonous the routine may be of just walking by yourself all the time—it’s so meaningful.”
The Flâneur Mindset
I’ve basically been marching in solitude for the past three, four, five years. Every day I’m out here, working on this new black-and-white process, and honestly, it’s fun. Like genuinely fun.
Walking slowly. Observing life. Letting it all flow toward me. Wandering like a flâneur. And I’m prepared.
Camera’s in hand
Heart’s open
Eyes are sharp
And yeah, today seems like one of those big protest days. But I’m down here in the underground, staying dry, avoiding the noise, and chasing light. I just made a photo of a hand—reflections, symmetry, weird layers of glass and people looking on. That kind of moment, that rush, that dopamine hit—you can’t fake that.
“You intuitively throw the camera at whatever piques your inner curiosity.”
The Light and the Gloom
It’s gloomy today. No sun. And yeah, I do think there’s a real connection between sunlight and joy. When the sun’s gone, the joy’s… dulled a little.
But even on days like this, I share these thoughts because maybe it helps you see walking—and photography—in a new way. On a physiological level, it’s powerful.
“There’s nothing more powerful than that feeling of dopamine when you make an image of something and it scratches your curiosity.”
And that’s what we replace in the modern world, right?
Endless media consumption
Hedonism
Alcohol
TV
Protests
Outrage cycles
Distractions
All that… instead of just walking and making pictures.
The Superpower of Inner Child
This is what I’m thinking more and more about:
“The inner child is the ultimate superpower in life.”
Let it come out. Let it play. Let it speak through:
The way you walk
The way you speak
The way you dress
The way you shoot
Look at me today—blazer, black shirt, barefoot shoes. This is how I feel most myself. Comfortable. Curious. Alive. And I think that’s the point.
“Nothing can break your love for life if you allow your inner child to come out and play.”
Let Go of Meaning to Find It
And maybe…
“In order to find more meaning in life, you have to let go of the idea of finding more meaning in life.”
Just be a kid again. Take your shoes off. Run around. Be weird. Be free.
Some days my ideas are sharp. Some days they’re scattered. But that’s the beauty of just streaming consciousness and letting go.
Philadelphia: The New Athens
Every time I look around, I feel it.
Welcome to the New Athens.
Philadelphia is the New Athens.
“I’m gonna pull up to the symposium with my feet out like Socrates.”
And to the protesters out there… hey yo:
“Just download Coinbase. Buy Bitcoin. Go home and chill.”
