The Ricoh GR Photography Channel recently hosted an exciting GR City Meetup in Rome, Italy. Following successful events in cities like Madrid, London, Berlin, and Amsterdam, Rome’s vibrant photography community welcomed this opportunity to connect and celebrate their passion for the GR series cameras.
A Day of Creativity and Connection
The event was more than just a meetup—it was a celebration of photography, community, and creativity. The day included:
Talks and Presentations: Experienced GR users shared insights into their creative processes and how the GR series has transformed their approach to photography.
A Photo Walk: Participants explored Rome’s stunning streets, capturing the essence of the city with their GR cameras.
Delicious Food: Of course, no Roman gathering is complete without some amazing pasta!
Photographer Perspectives: Why GR Stands Out
Attendees shared their personal experiences with the Ricoh GR series cameras, highlighting key features that make them exceptional:
Compact and Lightweight: Ideal for street photographers and travelers, the GR camera fits comfortably in a pocket without sacrificing quality.
Macro Photography Excellence: The GR’s minimal focusing distance allows incredible close-up shots, making it versatile beyond street photography.
Simplified Workflow: Many photographers praised the high-contrast black-and-white JPEGs straight out of the camera, eliminating the need for post-processing.
Creative Freedom: The GR isn’t just a street photography camera—it adapts to diverse styles and preferences, from landscapes to macro work.
Highlights and Memorable Moments
The event brought together hobbyists, professionals, and GR enthusiasts:
Samuel’s Insight: Samuel from the Ricoh GR Photography Channel highlighted how incorporating unexpected elements, like car windows, can elevate compositions.
Community Stories: For some, the GR series represented a return to the joy of photography, free from the pressures of commercial work. Others discovered its ability to simplify their process while maintaining exceptional results.
Join the Movement: #ShootGR_City
The Rome meetup ended on a high note, with participants sharing their photos under the #ShootGR_Rome hashtag.
If you’d like Ricoh GR to visit your city, keep using the #ShootGR_City hashtag on Instagram. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, the GR series offers a platform for endless creativity.
Compact is the Future
As the event wrapped up, the recurring message was clear: Compact is the future. The Ricoh GR series exemplifies this ethos, providing powerful performance in a portable form. Stay tuned for future events and keep shooting with the GR!
What’s popping, people? I’m out for my morning walk here in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. This tree in front of me is magnificent, and the sun will rise soon enough—I can’t wait. Just getting the day started and thinking about this idea: creating a digital time capsule.
Reliving Memories Through Media
Last night, before going to bed, I was thinking about my trip to Rome and some of the adventures I had with my brother in Costa Rica. I started looking through some old video footage—us visiting coffee shops, hiking trails, and just exploring. There were even videos of me talking out loud, sharing my morning thoughts, much like this moment. Watching those clips made me smile and chuckle. It was so enjoyable to review and relive those experiences.
Maybe that’s the approach—using something simple like a GoPro to share your thoughts authentically. Just snapshotting your way through life. Using a GoPro, a Ricoh, or whatever you have, you create these little memories in a way that’s not so serious but still meaningful.
“Creating in the spirit of play allows you to relive memories one day, like you’re walking through them again.”
The Joy of Revisiting Photos
Yesterday, I had a great conversation with a local photographer on the street—shoutout to Spencer! He talked about how much he loves going through his photos when he gets home, reliving the day or that specific walk. I completely relate to that. For me, it’s about those 10 years of photographs I’ve stored. Whenever I go back and look, it brings such joy. It’s like stepping into a time machine.
The Power of a Digital Time Capsule
The idea of a digital time capsule is fascinating. It feels like the easiest way to store memories for the future. When I dig through old closets at home, I find these ancient photos—pictures of great-great-grandfathers, old documents, and family history. These memories fade over time. The photos get lost or damaged.
In the digital world, we face a similar challenge. Files get corrupted, or things go missing. But the beauty of the internet is that platforms like YouTube provide almost infinite storage. YouTube is owned by Google—it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. That makes it an ideal place to upload memories that can potentially outlive us.
“If we’re seeking to create memories that will live on forever, maybe it’s wise to share them using platforms like YouTube.”
The Problem with Instagram
The issue with platforms like Instagram is their closed nature. You need an account to view photos. That’s why I always encourage people to create their own websites. A personal site becomes your space—your archive of work, thoughts, and experiences.
Make a website. Own your space.
The Creator and the Consumer
When you start producing—photos, videos, writing—you eventually become both the producer and the consumer of your work. Going back through what you’ve created can feel overwhelming at times, but it also fills you with joy. It’s a cycle of abundance.
“Retracing your steps, reliving the things you’ve experienced, can be a rewarding feeling as time keeps fleeting.”
Outliving Ourselves
Using cameras, technology, and the internet, we have the tools to outlive ourselves. We can create something lasting, a time capsule of our lives, for future generations—or even just for ourselves. One day, when we revisit these memories, they’ll remind us of the richness of the lives we’ve lived.
“Time may be fleeting, but through our creations, we can live on forever.”
Yo, what’s poppin’? It’s Dante here, and today I want to dive deep into a philosophy that’s been fueling my life and photography for the past couple of years—a love for life itself.
A Love for Life
Today, I’m thinking about life, affirmation, photography, and what that means to me. This is a philosophy I’ve been approaching every day for the past two years, and I find it brings ultimate joy to my life.
I have this immense biophilia. Bio meaning life. Philia meaning love.
I have a love for life, a lust for life itself. I love all living things. I love the plants, the trees, the bees.
I enjoy my time in the city, surrounded by chaos. I love walking through the mall just to be around other people. I love photographing people.
I love working in nature. In the greenhouse here in Philadelphia, I tend plants. I have an appreciation for green spaces, for humanity, for all living things.
Photography as Affirmation
Through photography, I believe we can uplift humanity, champion the human experience, and perhaps elevate it to new heights through the photographs we create.
But on a personal level—disregarding the photographs themselves—I find that photography fuels my life with meaning.
When I’m out there making a photograph, this is me saying yes to life itself. With each click of the shutter, it’s like a lifeline, a stream of becoming.
When you detach from the outcome or the result of the photograph, that’s where true joy can be found. The process of making photographs becomes an end in itself.
The Joy of the Process
It’s an autotelic approach, where the goal is just to make photographs and affirm life. When I affirm life through the camera—by saying yes, looking at life with wonder and awe, questioning why and what—there, I find joy.
When I’m photographing and not thinking about what exactly I’m capturing, but merely looking at life and saying yes to it, I feel bliss.
This is the ultimate way I’ve found to approach photography.
The Camera as a Compass
The superpower of photography is simple. I see the camera almost like a compass. When you step into the world, it can feel overwhelming. There’s chaos, transience, fleeting moments, unpredictability, spontaneity. But through the camera, by putting four corners around life, I affirm that chaos.
I put order to the chaos. That fuels my life with purpose and moves me forward every day, using curiosity as my guide and the camera as my compass.
No matter where I am or what situation I find myself in, I can always find meaning in the mundane. By recognizing the beautiful patterns and intricate details of life, I can lift the ordinary to the extraordinary.
Immersion in the Present
Despite external or internal circumstances, nothing can break my spirit. When I have a camera in my pocket, on my wrist, or around my neck, I have the ability to create something from nothing.
It’s about being detached from the result, but so immersed in the present moment and details around you. This becomes a meditative practice.
Of course, we all have a past and a future. But when you’re not dwelling on either and exist in the present moment, so close to life—this is bliss.
Fueling Life with Meaning
Through walking, moving, and experiencing life’s complexities, I affirm my existence. I affirm humanity. I affirm life itself.
When I’m photographing and chipping away at life, I hope to get closer to what it means to live. Through that search, I fuel my life with meaning.
No matter what I’m photographing or what the result might be, it’s not my concern. My concern is fueling my love for life each day.
Falling in Love with Life
As photographers, we should find joy in life itself. The process is where the beauty lies.
The photographs we create come from our hearts and how we see the world. They are our love letters to life.
And for me, that’s the ultimate goal: to fall in love with life every single day.
It’s Dante, getting my morning started, and I’ve been thinking about mindset—specifically, the power of mindset as a street photographer.
What is the street photography mindset? What is my mindset? How do I approach the world and each day as a photographer?
The Tourist Mindset
One powerful way I frame my days is by adopting the mindset of a tourist.
Think about it: when you visit a new place, you wake up eager to catch the sunrise, to get out there and explore. Everything feels new, full of novelty, and exciting.
What if you could bring that same energy to your hometown?
For me, the tourist mindset is about being open, eager, and ready to explore the familiar with fresh eyes. It’s about approaching every morning as an opportunity to rediscover the world around me.
Success Through Simplicity
My goal as a street photographer is simple: never miss another sunrise. Wake up eager for the day, explore with curiosity, and stay in a flow state of creation.
Success is not about recognition or perfection. Success is simply making more photographs.
“Each day you make photographs is another day to be successful.”
Cultivating the Child’s Mind
I believe in the importance of cultivating the mindset of a student—to stay curious, open, and willing to learn.
“I don’t ever want to be a master of photography and feel as though I’ve seen it all.”
Imagine living each day as though you were just born yesterday. What would you photograph? How would you see the world?
When children see something as simple as a red balloon, they’re filled with wonder and excitement. That’s the spirit I try to channel in my work.
Forget Everything You Think You Know
To adopt this mindset, you have to let go:
Forget everything you think you know about life.
Forget everything you think you know about photography.
Approach every day as though it’s day one.
This mindset fuels curiosity, propels you forward, and helps you see the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Shaping Your Reality
A friend once told me, “There’s nothing to photograph—it’s just people walking by.” To me, that sounds like a problem with mindset.
“Maybe you’re boring. Maybe the way you’re perceiving the world is that of a boring person.”
When you see the world as dull, it will appear dull. But if you approach it with gratitude and wonder, it transforms.
“Your thoughts shape your reality.”
Affirming Life Through the Shutter
Each time I click the shutter, it’s my way of saying yes to life.
“Each shutter click is an affirmation of life. Through that affirmation comes joy, and through joy, we create beautiful works of art.”
This mindset is what fuels my photography. It’s about embracing curiosity, gratitude, and a playful spirit to keep moving forward.
Practical Lessons in Patience
Photography isn’t just about luck—it’s about mindset, observation, and persistence.
One summer at Logan Square Fountain, I noticed how the sunlight created a rainbow in the spray. I told myself, I will photograph this rainbow. I stayed in the scene, moving my body, adjusting my perspective, and throwing myself into the water to get closer.
Another moment that stands out to me is from my time in Mumbai. I was waiting near a bustling scene, watching the patterns of birds in flight and positioning myself to capture the perfect moment. Tourists around me asked, “What are you waiting for?” My answer was simple: the bird.
I remained patient, observing the light, the movement of people, and the geometry of the scene. When the bird finally flew into the frame, everything aligned perfectly—the person in the window, the woman on the right, and the bird as the cherry on top.
“Moments like these aren’t luck—they’re the result of patience, observation, and an affirming mindset that shapes reality.”
Eventually, the moment unfolded perfectly. I made the photograph, but it wasn’t luck—it was the result of patience, focus, and belief.
Thoughts to Carry with You
As you head out into the world to photograph:
Go slow. Let life flow toward you.
Forget everything you think you know.
Embrace the mindset of a tourist and the spirit of play.
Stay curious, like a child.
Be grateful for each day and the opportunity to create.
“When you seek, you shall find.”
Mindset matters. So get out there, stay open, and press the shutter.
If all the land in the world has been conquered, all the roads are paved, and there are no good reasons to go to battle, maybe we should just conquer ourselves.
Forever a Student
Our thoughts shape our reality.
If we tell ourselves that we’ve seen it all, done it all, and learned it all, then what more is there to life after all? I feel like because we have the Internet, iPhones, and unlimited information, entertainment, and technology, we like to think that we’ve seen it all or just know it all. I can tell you that this is not how I think.
I seek to forever be a student of life, an adult with a childlike spirit and an open heart and mind. Honestly, my main goal in life is to just never miss another sunrise again.
Why?
I believe being eager for the sunrise goes hand in hand with curiosity. Each day, when the sun rises above the horizon, I remind myself how infinite the possibilities in life are. I think about all of the questions I have, how much there is left to do, to explore, and to understand. There’s not enough time in the day to figure it all out, but I know that when I’m awake in the morning with my eyes wide open, and the sun is coming up, I have another chance—another opportunity to try to figure some stuff out.
Everything Is a Work in Progress
Everything I’m working on is simply a work in progress. I think a lot of artists seek to create the perfect masterpiece, to get things to the point where they no longer need to work on it or finish a project. The thing is, nothing is ever complete, nothing will ever be perfect or finished how you want it to be. I think recognizing this idea is very empowering and will help any artist out there who ever feels burnt out.
For instance, I’m currently going through years and years and years of photographs, and it’s very daunting. I could never finish this project if I didn’t allow myself the idea that it will never be finished. I could put the photos in a book, sequence it how I desire, and even then, I’ll always look back at it as imperfect or incomplete, as there will always be something I could tweak to make it better or improve it.
Because of this, perhaps embracing this notion that everything is a work in progress is empowering. This idea gives me the freedom to continue pushing, to continue doing and creating, because I know that I can always come back and refine things. Nothing will ever be complete. Nothing will ever be perfect. Everything in flux!
Eliminate Choice
Freedom is the elimination of choice.
For instance, when I walk along the Schuylkill River Trail here in Philadelphia, there’s only one path: onward. All the decisions to make have been removed because, when you think about it, you can only go forward or backward. This is where I thrive—on a path like this, moving my body onward, endlessly. If I move to the left, I’ll freeze to death after I fall into the river. If I move to the right, I’ll get hit by a car and die in a tragic accident.
Eliminating the decision of whether or not I want to go left or right, I feel free to continue moving, upward, and onward toward the cliffside behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where I can stand on top of the city, look out toward the horizon with a panopticon view of my surroundings, feeling abundance and power. When I look out at the skyline and the river, I have this childlike spirit that just wants to come out and play, and embrace the day with curiosity.
Decision Fatigue
When you wake up in the morning with this child spirit and you’re just eager to go out there and explore and create and do and think and tinker with life, it can become overwhelming as an artist, knowing the amount of possibilities and choices you can take each day. Because of this, I like to stick to a very disciplined lifestyle. For instance, waking up in the morning and deciding what you want to wear and what kind of coffee you want is a choice. This choice is something I completely eliminate the night before I go to sleep.
The night before I wake up, I already have my clothes laid out for the day, so that when I get out of the shower in the morning, I can slip right into what I need and go straight out my door. Actually, before I go to bed, I even pre-prepare four espresso shots and leave them in my fridge so that when I wake up, I can take four shots and just move on with my day. Even though making espresso is really fast, especially when you have a machine, it’s actually taking up way too much time in my morning. I just want to get that energy boost and move on.
For me, the goal is simple: to get myself outside, to get under the sunrise, and to start moving right away.
When I arrive at work, I go to a corner in the greenhouse where I do some yoga stretching and align my body for the day. This is one of the most important parts of my day, especially when it comes to stretching my legs, as I’m always on my feet and moving throughout the day. Because of this, I prioritize this immediately. While I’m working, I’ll listen to lectures from the Peterson Academy, which is absolutely fantastic, and I highly recommend. I’m currently taking the courses on biology.
On my break, and during my lunch, I always make sure that I go for a 30-minute walk around the trails in the woods to read a book. When I read, I prefer to read while walking outside, and I will sometimes even read out loud to myself.
Eliminating breakfast and lunch is another choice that simplifies my life. By fasting throughout the day, I’m not thinking about what I need to eat or what I desire to eat. The night before, I simply have my meat thawed, ready to go in my fridge for when I come home to cook on the stove, throw in the oven, or slow cook. The carnivore diet is an elimination diet, removing all carbs, sugars, vegetables, etc. It has simplified my life so that I know all I need before I go to sleep is a few pieces of meat and I’m good to go. I treat food like fuel, and it sure as hell does the job.
One huge and very big decision that I’m very proud of, and I encourage you to do as well if you’re interested, is to stop going to grocery stores. Just go to a local farmer and buy meat in bulk. I’ve been buying from an Amish farmer recently, and I store all of my meat in a deep freezer at home. The meat tastes 1,000 times better and it’s just a much better way to go about this thing. Just think—you only ever have to go out there and buy food maybe four times per year. Eliminating all of these very small decisions to make when it comes to the food I eat, I feel so much more free and light.
Another choice that I eliminated is car ownership. I don’t desire or want to own a car. Living in the city, there’s really no need to own one. I can walk, take the bus, or Uber if I really want to go somewhere. I just love having the option and the freedom of movement that comes with not owning a car. My goal is to actually own as little as possible. A car is just a headache and something that will suck up your money.
In terms of investments and money, it seems foolish to diversify. When you figure out that the best place in the universe to store your time and energy is Bitcoin, why would you even store your money in a bank account? Fiat currency will lose its purchasing power each year, and it’s probably most wise to store money in hard money, digital gold, digital capital—in Bitcoin—that outperforms every other asset. Once you figure out what Bitcoin is, there’s no going back. You just go all in, eliminating all decisions to make when it comes to investing and saving money.
Just Do
As photographers, we often get caught up with the point of photography—why we photograph, or what we’re photographing, and what it all means. We think about what the project or theme and topic should be. But what if I were to say that you just need to go out there and make more photographs?
What if your ultimate aim and goal was to simply archive your town, and to have documents that show proof and existence of your town in the future? My goal is to make an archive, to continue pushing the boundaries, and to continue photographing in an artistic way that not only makes the photographs that showcase where I was and where I am, but also how I feel about where I was and how I perceived where I am. I believe that the archive is a much more open-ended and liberating goal to strive toward because it’s simply endless.
Think of Eugène Atget and his documents of Paris and how he photographed a number of different subjects. He didn’t just pigeonhole himself to one way of photographing, but he photographed the entirety of Paris and left these documents behind that, to me, evoke the essence of street photography. This is where I get my direct inspiration. Not to mention, Paris and Philadelphia have a very interesting connection and are practically the same city in terms of layout, architecture, etc.
I Photograph, Therefore I Am
I like to think of a photograph as a thought. A thought is something that comes to you very suddenly, spontaneously, and is also something that is forever fleeting. However, when a thought arises, you might seek to write it down, to remember that idea, to come back to it on a later date.
A photograph is similar in this way. As I’m walking and moving and recognizing life, a spontaneous moment might arise that I photograph. That photograph is like a thought, an idea, something that comes quickly, something that comes randomly, but I make sure to take a note of it and come back to it later.
The Importance of Mindset
I’m starting to really understand the power of mindset and how it can fuel you on your everyday journey of life.
Every morning, I’ve been starting the day off with a simple prayer, and a moment of gratitude for the day. By uplifting my spirit with these positive thoughts, and considering the things that I’m most grateful for in life, like the simple fact that I have another day to wake up and catch the sunrise, and move my two legs and stand upright, have clean water and a piece of meat before I go to sleep, listening to the sound of birds chirping, and observing the chaos of city life, I’m fueled with abundance and this mindset that sets me up for success each day.
There’s a famous quote from the Book of Matthew where Jesus is giving his sermon on the mount:
“Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you.”
When you approach the day with gratitude and prayer and this divine connection to God, you are on the path to seeking truth. When you are open to divine guidance, when you are open to God entering your life, when you knock at the door of prayer, you are seeking intentionally through the pursuit of growth, knowledge, and curiosity. By setting the day up this way with prayer, I lead the day with purpose, reminding myself that the answers I’m looking for will come through faith.
The notion of faith is much more interesting to me than hope, as hope is something that you can maybe just brush off or use as an excuse that you’re hoping or wishing for something more. But having faith is having conviction, and is a much more powerful mindset.
Keep Going
Nothing can break my spirit with a camera in hand.
The power of photography lies in the ability for the individual to give their life deeper meaning. When you make a photograph, you are affirming life. When you go out there, and you make more photographs, you’re conquering yourself through the act of creation.
Creating a flow state of walking and observing life’s patterns and complexities is an experience that becomes very meditative. When you slow down and you let life come toward you, and you just keep moving your body onward, endlessly, life will deliver you beautiful gifts. These beautiful gifts will be everlasting memories that you cherish in the photographs you make.
If you’re out there in the world, and you have no direction, turn to your camera as a compass. For the camera and curiosity will lead you, guide you in life, and find yourself in situations that you can only dream of. It’s like a key that unlocks the door, and all you need to do is pick it up and start knocking. Chip away each day, and photograph in the spirit of play. Recognize the power you possess as a creator, wielding light as your medium, creating upon the world—our canvas—and making more photographs in this open, honest, and joyful spirit.
What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante. Currently walking around the Schuylkill River Trail here in Philadelphia, the birthplace of a nation, photographing these sculptures.
Be the Archivist of Your Hometown
My message today is simple: be the person who creates the archive of your hometown. Wherever you live, whether it’s a bustling city like Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles—or even a small rural town—you can be the one to document it.
Here’s what to photograph:
Sculptures, lampposts, benches, and trees
Rivers, natural elements, and architecture
Construction sites and new structures
Vehicles, buses, trains, and planes
People, fashion, and fleeting moments
Photograph everything. Document where you come from or wherever you may be, and approach it as though you’re responsible for archiving that part of the world.
Why Archiving Matters
Even if you’re in a rural area where few documents or photos exist, your work can hold incredible value. Start publishing your photographs, build a website, and share your images. This can be a meaningful project.
“It’ll give your life more meaning. It’ll provide a service for people to look back on in the future.”
But more than that, do it for yourself. When you photograph with the mindset of creating an archive, it eliminates decision fatigue: What should I photograph? When should I photograph? The answer is simple—just go out there and photograph. Over time, you’ll create something remarkable.
My Goal: An Archive of Philadelphia
For me, the goal isn’t to make a project, a book, a zine, or even a gallery. My goal is to create an archive. I’m photographing to create an archive of the birthplace of the United States.
“If I have any goal in mind that’s really audacious and bold and grand, that’s it. I’m creating the archive.”
And you should, too. Be the person who archives where you’re from. Who cares if the photos gain fame or praise now? Create the archive of your town.
Become the Camera
This approach is more than interesting—it’s essential. Treat your camera as a tool of preservation. Be the person who takes on the job of archiving your surroundings. Over time, your work will become a legacy for others to appreciate, but most importantly, it’ll be something deeply meaningful for you.
What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante. Currently going for a walk here along the Schuylkill River Trail in Philadelphia, and today I’m thinking about something important: why I thrive on the outskirts of the city.
You know, why I prefer these long walks along the perimeter, where there’s typically not a soul in sight. I’m alone, in the unknown. It doesn’t really matter where I am in the world, whether it’s my hometown or another city—I absolutely thrive on the outskirts. I thrive on the outside looking in.
Clear Connection to My Mind
When I’m out on the outskirts, I have a clear connection to my mind. There’s just less noise, fewer distractions.
The trail is quiet.
Nature surrounds me.
The river flows, and I stay laser-focused on one goal: moving onwards.
For instance, if I went left, I’d get hit by a car. If I went right, I’d topple into the water and freeze. But when I’m walking along the outskirts, I remind myself that there’s only one option:
“It’s the straight and narrow path onwards, forwards.”
With my camera in hand, I move with purpose, creating photographs. Out here, I’m reminded of how open the world is, how infinite the possibilities are, how much there is to do, to see, to explore. That’s the feeling that flows through me.
Freedom on the Perimeter
When you’re in Center City, surrounded by tall skyscrapers and the noise of traffic, it’s easy to forget that you are free.
You get trapped in the maze.
You zigzag through the grid.
You stop, yield, and watch every sign: Stop. Go. Danger.
“But when you’re out on the skirts, when you’re on your own on the perimeter of town, it feels like there are no rules. Feels like there’s nothing caging me in.”
Out here, I can look up and see the sky. I can look out and see the horizon. There’s no grid, no maze. Just openness.
My Favorite Trail
This trail, the Schuylkill River Trail, is my favorite place in Philadelphia. I walk it all the time. In the summer, it’s a fantastic trail for biking. You can keep going towards the Wissahickon Forest or wind up at Valley Forge.
There’s so much to explore:
Dirt paths and hidden trails.
The riverbank stretching endlessly.
A peaceful escape, even in the snow.
Just now, I saw a biker out here—riding in the snow! There’s always something happening, even in the quiet.
The Path Less Traveled
This pull towards the outskirts isn’t just a Philly thing. I remember being in Mexico City for two weeks. My intuition told me to climb the mountains on the outskirts of the city. Everyone else wants to photograph in the center—markets, busyness, chaos. But I couldn’t stop thinking:
“What’s out there? What’s beyond those mountains?”
When I climbed to the peak, I found some of my most cherished moments and made photographs I’ll never forget.
It’s not about following the same path everyone else takes. It’s about listening to your intuition, taking the road less traveled, and discovering something new.
The Reminder
The outskirts remind me that the world is open. You can go out there, too. You can keep walking, keep moving, keep exploring.
“The outskirts remind me that life is infinite, and the only direction is forward.”
So, whether I’m on the Schuylkill River Trail or climbing a mountain in Mexico, I thrive on the outskirts because out here, I’m free.
In a world full of distractions I like to wake up and get to moving and doing right away. Basically just treat yourself like you’re some sort of artist, super soldier warrior, Spartan, in training perpetually every single day.
Why?
Self mastery, training, progress, and movement is fun. A life full of vitality is the only life worth living
Drink espresso as soon as you wake up
Disable all notifications (don’t consume any media during the day- I find that media consumption is only good in the early morning for research) ex: hope.com and Michael.com
Grab an iPad and open ChatGPT
Look at photo books for inspiration
Walk around your room, stretch, and write thoughts down
Hot bath, cold shower
Go for walk and create upon your morning thoughts (essay, video, or audio)
Always carry a GoPro and photo camera (GoPro is the new ultimate creative multimedia tool)
Never sit during the day. Always walk and just go for 30k steps daily. For instance, when I’m on break at work, I constantly go for walks around the trails in the park, or just pace around inside, while I’m reading. (Also reading out loud is pretty fun if the story is a narrative)
Read a book and do some yoga
Create more notes on phone or iPad and reflect on them before sleep
Strive to make 1000 photos per day
Lift weights and cull the photos
Stay fasted during the day and eat one massive feast at sundown (only when you finish publishing the pictures to your website)
Go to bed before 9PM and get 8 hours of sleep
Wake up, repeat, and look through your notes from earlier in the day
Today is a new day, a new opportunity for you to detach from the outcome, to detach from the modern world, from Instagram, from consuming endless media, from ingesting, toxic substances, being chained to your past beliefs, your hateful job, etc. The ball is in your court, you possess the key to unlock the chain, and the knife to cut the rope.
Just going for my walk here on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia, looking out towards the skyline and the beautiful Delaware River.
I’ve been thinking about something I pondered two years ago. It was sometime in 2022. I looked out my window, and I saw the world, and it just looked like a big prison.
The World as a Prison
All the perfect little cells that we sequester in—our condos, our apartments, these luxury high-rises, office buildings, and vehicles. I looked at the world, and it kind of looked stark and bleak.
What if the world is a prison? And the city is just the perfect, perfectly designed prison cell? Just humor me for a minute here.
The Shift in Perspective
Now, when I look at the world, it’s just like a big playground. I just want to go out there and play. Maybe it’s just perspective. Maybe it’s how you think and look at things.
But I still see it this way sometimes. I can look at the world and feel like it’s daunting or just this big prison planet or something.
Holding the Key
Here’s the thing: What if you had the key?
You had the ability to unlock the door to the cell.
You had the ability to unshackle yourself.
You had the ability to free your mind, your body, and your spirit.
If you had the keys and you knew that you were a prisoner, wouldn’t you want to use them?
The Question
So, what stops us? Is it fear? Is it comfort in routine? Is it that we don’t even believe the key exists?
The choice is ours. The bridge between prison and playground exists. Maybe all it takes is stepping out onto it.
Your reflection on the dichotomy between seeing the world as a prison and as a playground touches on a profound shift in perspective. The imagery of the city as a meticulously designed prison cell is striking—it evokes a sense of confinement in the structures we’ve created for ourselves. Yet, your observation that the same world can transform into a playground, depending on our outlook, is equally compelling.
The Dual Nature of Perspective
The world can appear stark and bleak, with its rigid grids of condos, high-rises, and office spaces. These structures, while symbols of progress and civilization, often feel isolating and repetitive. Yet, in the same breath, they can be reimagined as part of a vast playground—an arena for exploration, curiosity, and creativity. It seems that this transformation hinges on one’s inner state, a shift from confinement to liberation.
The Keys to Freedom
Your metaphor of the “prison planet” and the notion of holding the keys to your own freedom is empowering. It suggests that the walls we perceive are not just physical but mental and emotional as well. If the world is a prison, the key lies in our ability to recognize it and take steps to unlock ourselves—freeing our minds, bodies, and spirits.
This freedom might mean:
Reclaiming Time: Breaking free from rigid schedules and allowing room for spontaneity.
Cultivating Playfulness: Embracing the world as a space for discovery rather than drudgery.
Nurturing the Spirit: Finding moments of transcendence in nature, art, or relationships.
A Question for Reflection
If one truly holds the key to freedom, the question becomes: What prevents us from using it? Is it fear of the unknown? Comfort in routine? Or perhaps an unwillingness to believe that the key exists at all?
Your walk across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge—a symbol of connection and transition—is a fitting setting for such musings. The bridge connects not only two places but also two perspectives: the prison and the playground. The choice, as you suggest, lies in how we see it.
