What’s poppin, people? It’s Dante. This morning, I’m thinking about a very simple idea—a mindset to adopt as a street photographer. The idea is this: your next photograph is your best photograph.

When I’m on the streets, I completely detach myself from the outcome, from the result of the photographs that I’m making. This way, I never get burnt out from practicing street photography.

The Challenge of a Great Photograph

It’s very difficult to achieve a photograph that cohesively describes your vision. By that, I mean a photograph that brings together so many elements:

Composition
Emotional impact
Layering
Timing
Characters and subjects
The story

These elements are incredibly hard to align every single day. Making a great photograph is rare, and if your goal is ultimately to create great photos, you need to recognize that it will take a lot of time.

A Process of Experimentation

For over two years now, I’ve been experimenting with a completely new process. To give you an idea, I’ve made 250,000 images in the past two years. That’s not an exaggeration. If I scroll through my photos app on my iPad, I can literally go all the way back to the beginning of this process.

In these two years, I haven’t missed a day of photographing. Maybe a few days here and there, but for the most part, I’ve been out there every single day, pushing forward and moving onward. It’s about momentum.

“The photographic process is about moving onwards, pressing the shutter more, making more photographs.”

The Reality of Great Photos

Here’s a crazy realization: out of those 250,000 photos, there might only be 10 that meet my standards of what I consider good. That’s it. Just 10.

A lot of photographers don’t realize this early on—you’re going to have to make a lot of photos. The odds are stacked, and the only way to beat them is through persistence.

Even now, I’ve barely scratched the surface of my new work. I haven’t made major selections yet. When I look at my catalog, I’m not thinking about the results or the “perfect” photo. I’m just in the process. And even though some photos randomly stand out—like the one with the gun in the background—they’re just steps along the way.

Immersion in the Process

“We want to be so immersed in the process, detached completely from the outcome, that we let go and simply enter this flow of production.”

It’s about entering a stream of becoming where every day is an opportunity to create. It’s about going out there into the world with your camera, making pictures in the spirit of play, and detaching from the results. That’s the shift.

Here’s the mindset I’ve adopted:

Your next photograph is your best photograph.
Don’t dwell on past photos or results.
Every click of the shutter is another chance to make something great.

Why This Mindset Fuels Me

For over two years, I’ve gone out every single day without missing a beat. I’m not looking back because I know today is the day I’ll make my best photo.

“The next photograph you make is your lifeline. It’s the stream of you going out there and saying yes, chipping away at life, and getting closer and closer to those moments you deem the best.”

This mindset has fueled me, and hopefully, something here can fuel you too. When you’re on the streets, treat every moment as your next chance to create your best work.

January 15, 2025 – Philadelphia

Why do you do what you do?

The adventure of your life is waiting just outside the door

Intuition in Street Photography

What’s poppin people? It’s Dante. I’m getting my morning started here, thinking about intuition in street photography, how I use intuition, and why I believe intuition matters.

When I look at the word intuition, it derives from the etymological roots * intuērī*, meaning *to watch* or to contemplate. That meaning really resonates with me.

Observing Life, Not Just Photographing It

I think a lot about how we can get caught up in our heads too much. As much as we’re watching life through our two eyes, through our vision, and even through our camera lens, I’m not actually looking at life through the camera.

I’m not looking at life and thinking, This is a composition. This could be a potential photograph. I simply watch. I contemplate. I recognize potential in a certain situation to make a photograph.

But when I make that photograph, I’m not glued to the camera like a hawk with my eye to the viewfinder. I recognize patterns in nature and human behavior, position my body in a particular way, and at the right time, I raise the camera to press the shutter.

“I’m looking at life for what it is. And then my photographs reflect that intuitive state—much like a flow state.”

The Flow State

Street photography is unpredictable. There’s so much chaos out there. But when you press the shutter, and you recognize that moment through your gut, that’s when you bring order into the composition.

And this doesn’t come from an analytical mind that says, Let me put this element here and that element there. It flows naturally. It comes from tapping into your gut.

Time Spent Watching and Wondering

This kind of intuition only develops with time spent outside—wandering, contemplating, looking, and watching life unfold. When you go out without preconceived notions of what you’ll find, you open yourself to unexpected moments.

“Let go of expectations. Let go of results. Let life flow to you and just be open for the ride.”

Examples of Intuition in Action

Jericho: Connecting Through Instax

One of the first times I traveled abroad to make photographs was in Jerusalem. I decided to take the bus from Jerusalem to Jericho, bringing along an Instax camera. My gut told me to use this camera like a tourist—playfully—and gift the photos I took to the people I met.

The first photograph I made was at the border. I saw sheep, a man smoking, and children nearby. I made some Instax photos and handed them out. That simple act broke the ice.

Later, my intuition guided me to a mosque where everyone was gathering. I entered, prayed, and was invited for tea by a group of men. They even invited me on a journey to the top of the Wadi Kelp mountain range.

Responding to the Unexpected

On the way up the mountain, their car broke down. I started photographing the scene. My first shots were just of the car, but something felt flat about the composition. Then my intuition kicked in, and I decided to lower my perspective. I used the vehicle as a foreground element, which elevated the frame and told the story better.

“Life unfolds in front of you, and you respond to it with your gut. That’s where the magic happens.”

Mexico City: A Mountain Adventure

In Mexico City, I found myself photographing in obvious locations—markets, streets, the usual spots. But I saw a distant mountain range and felt drawn to it. Without any plan, I followed my curiosity. I took a gondola ride up the mountain and discovered boys climbing a cross at the top.

By remaining curious and open, I let the scene unfold naturally. I dropped low to include the cross prominently in the frame and captured the moment intuitively.

Practical Tips for Intuitive Photography

Shoot More: Don’t hesitate. Take multiple photos from different perspectives and review them later.
Stay Curious: Follow your gut to unexpected places.
Be Patient: Observe a scene and let it develop naturally.
Play: Approach photography with openness and a sense of experimentation.

Recognizing Patterns

When I photograph, I’m not looking at life as a collection of pictures. The photograph is a result of positioning myself at the right time and pressing the shutter. For example, when photographing a boy doing a wheelie, I knew intuitively to drop low. If I’d stayed at eye level, the boy would have been crushed by the background.

Similarly, when I photographed a man holding a snake in front of City Hall, I dropped low to position the snake and the architecture in the same frame. These decisions weren’t analytical—they were instinctive.

“Tap into the flow state. Follow your intuition. Recognize patterns. And respond with courage.”

Final Thoughts

When I’m on the streets, I’m not overthinking. I’m simply observing, contemplating, and responding. The camera becomes my guide—a compass pointing me toward the magic of life.

So get out there. Let intuition lead the way. Shoot more, be curious, and let life flow to you.

How does a compass work?

A compass works by aligning itself with the Earth’s magnetic field, enabling users to determine direction. Here’s a detailed explanation:

1. Magnetic Field of the Earth:

The Earth acts like a giant magnet, with its magnetic field generated by the movement of molten iron and other metals in its outer core. This magnetic field has two poles: the magnetic north pole and the magnetic south pole.

2. Compass Needle:

A compass contains a lightweight, magnetized needle that is free to rotate on a pivot. The needle is magnetized so that one end (usually marked) points toward the Earth’s magnetic north pole.

3. Alignment with the Magnetic Field:

The magnetic needle aligns itself with the Earth’s magnetic field lines. The north end of the needle points toward the Earth’s magnetic north pole, while the opposite end points toward the magnetic south pole. This alignment allows the user to identify the cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west).

4. Declination:

The compass points to the Earth’s magnetic north, which is slightly different from the true geographic north (the North Pole). The angle of difference is called magnetic declination and varies depending on your location. Maps or local references often provide this information to adjust compass readings for true navigation.

5. Damping Mechanism:

Many compasses include a damping mechanism, such as liquid-filled housings, to stabilize the needle and make it easier to read.

By observing the direction of the needle and making necessary adjustments for declination, a compass helps determine directions accurately, which is crucial for navigation.

Delete all social media accounts where you don’t have any messages coming in.
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