Don’t allow anything you don’t want to penetrate through your eyes, through your orifices, your ears, your mouth, etc. Food, media, thoughts, toxic people
What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante. This morning, I’m thinking about why you should get close in street photography. Let’s talk about my philosophy on closeness, how I integrate it within my practice, and why it matters to me.
If you’re new to street photography, you might feel anxious or overwhelmed. Maybe you’re thinking:
“What if I raise my camera to my eye, press the shutter, and get close to people? Won’t they get mad at me? I’m anxious just thinking about it!”
Here’s the thing: we want to be in that anxious, fearful state. Why? Because once we overcome that anxiety—once we push through the fear of pressing the shutter and getting close to life—that’s when the joy starts.
The secret for harvesting from existence the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment is—to live dangerously! — Friedrich Nietzsche
Nietzsche’s idea resonates with me. Living dangerously isn’t just about thrill-seeking; it’s about finding joy in the courage it takes to engage with life. And getting close to life? That’s its own kind of danger.
There’s something powerful about being physically close to your subject. When you’re close, the energy of the moment hits harder, and the emotions feel raw and authentic.
Think about these moments:
When you’re close, you feel the essence of these moments. The proximity between you, your camera, and the subject adds an unparalleled intensity to the frame.
Closeness isn’t just about physical proximity. There’s also an emotional closeness that comes with time spent. For example, I once photographed two men coming out of a masjid, greeting each other with a kiss while smoking and sipping coffee.
That emotional closeness didn’t happen by accident. It came from:
This isn’t your typical walk-around-the-city street photography. It’s a documentary approach blended with candid moments. When you’re emotionally open, you become part of the scene—and the photographs reflect that intimacy.
When you first start practicing street photography, rejection feels daunting. You worry about how people will perceive you. But here’s the truth:
“The more times you get told ‘no,’ the better off you are. Rejection builds resilience.”
Over time, you get used to the awkwardness. You embrace the challenge of photographing strangers, of transcending societal norms that discourage interaction. Through courage, you’ll overcome that fear.
To me, street photography is about living on the edge. There’s joy in pushing past fear and engaging with life at its rawest. The closer you get to life—both physically and emotionally—the more meaningful your photographs will become.
“When you get close to life, it reflects back in your photographs. Courage leads to lasting memories you’ll cherish forever.”
I encourage you to get closer in street photography. Push through the fear. Face rejection. Be open to confrontation. When you embrace the danger, you’ll discover more joy in life and in your work.
“The closer, the better. Get close, and watch your photographs come alive.”
So, grab your camera, head out there, and see what happens when you get close.
What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante. This morning I’m thinking about focal length in street photography and the philosophy behind choosing the right lens. And so, I don’t believe that there’s a “right” lens.
When it comes down to it, my philosophy around focal length is maybe strange or weird, but here it is: focal length doesn’t matter. What mattered most in my journey was sticking to one focal length, practicing with it every single day, and learning to see the world through that lens.
For me, that lens has been a 35mm lens, which I’ve used for 90% of my photographs over the years.
When I started with the Ricoh GR II and its 28mm lens, it felt natural. But as I began to travel and explore the world, I transitioned to the 35mm lens, and that switch was simple. It felt like the right tool for versatility. For five years, I stuck with that one focal length.
Around 2021, I decided to experiment with a 28mm lens again. Looking back, I think that was probably not a good idea. While I made some solid work with it, like a chaotic playground scene where it worked beautifully, I now believe it’s better to stick with one focal length.
“There’s something to be said about sticking to one focal length.”
With a 28mm lens, you get closer to life. It forces you to be out there, right on the front lines of life. But 28mm also makes you pay way more attention to the edges of the frame. Here’s an example:
Now, let’s talk about the 35mm lens. The 35mm gives a little more compression to the image, simplifying the frame and making it cleaner. For example:
“The greatest thing about using the 35mm lens is the fact that you can use layering in your compositions much more fluidly.”
When I was starting out, I showed my work to a salesperson at B&H Photo and asked for advice on a camera upgrade. They recommended the Fujifilm X-Pro 2 with a 23mm lens (equivalent to 35mm). Without asking too many questions, I bought it and stuck with it for five years.
During this time, I made some of my best work. Why? Because I stayed disciplined. Sticking to one focal length allows you to get so in tune with your gear that it becomes second nature.
“Eventually, you want to just stay dedicated to one focal length.”
At the end of the day, focal length is just a tool. What matters is how you use it:
When I’m out shooting, I’m not thinking about compression or technical details. I’m simply positioning myself, my camera, and pressing the shutter at the right moment.
“The composition is in the way you perceive the world. It comes through intuition and how you position your body.”
Right now, I’m using two cameras:
For a year and a half, I exclusively used the 28mm. Now, I’m transitioning to the 40mm, experimenting and finding my groove. But even with this shift, I stay disciplined. I never switch back and forth between focal lengths day to day.
If you’re just starting out, my advice is simple:
“Pick one focal length and run with it. Experiment early on, but eventually dedicate yourself to one lens for a few years. It’ll transform your photography.”
Photography is about the relationship between you and the subject. The gear should disappear. When you master one focal length, your intuition takes over, and all that matters is the moment.
That’s it for now. Peace.
In a modern world of mediocrity, strive to become extraordinary!
I’ve been weight training and lifting, working on my fitness for the past decade, and at this point, I think I’ve dialed in the perfect workflow. What I’ve realized over the years is that a lot of people in the gym focus on bodybuilding and putting on mass. The problem with putting on mass is that the heavier you become, the more sluggish you feel, and overall, your quality of life declines.
To be honest, I think most people are slaves to the gym. Personally, I spend 15 to 20 minutes in the gym max per day. I follow a full-body routine, simply doing one set for each muscle group and taking each set completely to failure. Nowadays, I add a 40-pound weight carrier on my chest and back, dramatically increasing the resistance. The point is, you don’t have to slave away doing endless reps and sets, trying to build all this mass to look like one of those big bodybuilder guys. The goal is simple: gain muscle and shed fat.
What a lot of bodybuilders overlook is mobility. If you’re only lifting heavy weights and neglecting flexibility, you’re missing out. Incorporating super simple practices like yoga and stretching can dramatically improve your quality of life. Being healthy and fit isn’t just about muscle—it’s about being strong, mobile, and functional.
Once you get your body, your physique and your muscle mass to where you want to be, all that’s left to do for the rest of your life is maintain. It now becomes super simple, and there’s no more need to be slave to the gym.
Hut 2, 3, 4—what’s popping, people? It’s Dante here, starting my morning in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. Today, I’m reflecting on fitness, my philosophy around it, and maybe a bit of a critique of bodybuilding.
I’ve been lifting, training, and doing the whole fitness thing for the past decade. Early on, I was dialed in, hitting the gym all the time, lifting heavy, and trying to maximize gains. I focused on the basics: heavy lifting, compound movements, and increasing muscle mass. Over the years, I’ve built my strength, improved my mobility, and achieved a body that I’m pretty much satisfied with.
Now? I feel great. My energy is abundant, and every day, I approach life with strength and vigor. “The reason I feel this way is because of the training I’ve put in and dialed in for the past decade.”
Here’s where my philosophy has shifted: I think the gym is overrated. People become slaves to the gym—going in every day, banging out reps, hitting machines, and obsessing over micro-movements. It becomes a cycle:
Honestly? That’s not the goal for me anymore.
“The goal is simple: feel good, look good, and be strong.”
Bodybuilding can depreciate your quality of life. When you get super big, the excess body mass inhibits your mobility. For me, it’s about being nimble and maintaining flexibility. I want to:
These days, I’ve simplified my fitness routine. I’ve built the muscle mass, and now I focus on maintaining it. The goal is straightforward: increase muscle mass, shed fat, and stay strong.
Here’s what my typical workout looks like:
Occasionally, I’ll do deadlifts, but that’s more of a seasonal thing. Every quarter, I might dedicate one session a month to heavy deadlifts. My routine is concise and consolidated.
“I hit the gym, and I get out.”
My workouts take 10–15 minutes a day. I’ll hit every body part, sometimes adding core exercises like toes-to-bar. The key is simplicity:
Bodybuilding culture emphasizes spending hours lifting, but “I’m comfortable spending the minimal amount of time possible working out and maximizing the rest of my day doing creative things.”
Let’s be real—bodybuilding can suck you into a rabbit hole. People spend so much time trying to gain mass, but what’s the point? “You don’t need to be a big, bouldery gym guy.” Instead:
Simple acts like calisthenics, deadlifts, and basic lifts get the job done. I focus on full range of motion and going to failure with one set per body part per day. That’s it.
Fitness shouldn’t consume your life. By keeping my routine simple, I free up my time to:
“The most simple workflow possible: one set for each muscle group per day to failure. Then, I go live my life.”
This is my minimalist philosophy of fitness: stay mobile, stay strong, and don’t waste time on things that don’t add value to your life. The gym is a tool, not a lifestyle. Use it wisely, and then go out and live.
How do I sleep so early, like around eight, 8:30?
I exhaust every fucking bone in my body. I exert every last drop of energy I possibly have before the day ends. From the moment I wake up in the morning until the moment I rest my head on the bed, I’m in a constant state of movement and production of art, thoughts, and ideas. I’m always learning and growing, always trying my best each day to increase my curiosity by one percent. I’m very physical and always active. I’m always energetic because I’m always getting good sleep.
The relationship between strength and sleep is deeply interconnected, and sleep plays a critical role in muscle recovery, strength gains, and overall physical performance. Here’s how they correlate:
1. Sleep and Muscle Recovery
• Muscle repair and growth: During sleep, particularly in the deep sleep (slow-wave sleep) stage, the body releases growth hormone, which is essential for repairing damaged tissues and stimulating muscle growth after intense physical activity.
• Protein synthesis: Sleep facilitates the process of protein synthesis, where muscles rebuild and strengthen following exercise-induced damage.
• Inflammation reduction: Sleep reduces inflammation by regulating cytokine activity, allowing the muscles and joints to heal effectively.
2. Sleep and Strength
• Neuromuscular recovery: Sleep enhances motor skill acquisition and neuromuscular coordination, which are crucial for strength-based activities. Poor sleep can impair these functions, reducing physical performance.
• Energy restoration: Adequate sleep replenishes glycogen stores, which are critical for sustained physical effort during strength training.
• Testosterone production: Testosterone, a key hormone for building muscle and increasing strength, is primarily produced during sleep, particularly during the REM phase.
3. Impacts of Poor Sleep on Muscle Recovery and Strength
• Slower recovery: Inadequate sleep delays recovery by impairing growth hormone secretion and protein synthesis.
• Decreased strength output: Studies show that sleep deprivation can reduce maximum strength, particularly in compound lifts like deadlifts, squats, and bench presses.
• Increased risk of injury: Fatigue caused by insufficient sleep can lead to decreased focus and poor form, increasing the risk of injury during training.
• Elevated cortisol levels: Poor sleep increases cortisol (a stress hormone), which can break down muscle tissue and hinder recovery.
Optimal Sleep Recommendations for Strength and Recovery
1. Duration: Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep per night to allow for full recovery.
2. Quality: Prioritize deep and REM sleep by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine/alcohol before bed, and creating a dark, cool sleep environment.
3. Post-workout naps: Short naps (20–30 minutes) can supplement nighttime sleep and enhance recovery.
4. Nutrition and hydration: Consume a protein-rich meal post-workout to fuel recovery, and stay hydrated to promote optimal muscle repair.
Key Takeaway
Sleep is as important as training and nutrition for building strength and muscle. It not only facilitates recovery but also optimizes performance by enhancing hormonal balance, reducing inflammation, and promoting tissue repair. Without proper sleep, gains in strength and muscle size can stagnate, and the risk of injury or burnout increases significantly.
Yo, what’s poppin’ people? It’s Dante, out here practicing some street photography in Philadelphia with my trusty Ricoh GR3X. You know, as much as street photographers focus on photographing other people, why not turn the camera on ourselves?
Sometimes, I don’t find anything interesting to photograph. When that happens, I simply turn the camera on myself. I think it’s an interesting way to document the change in your face, your body, and your expression over time.
“Photographing yourself can be just an interesting thing to always have in the back of your head as something that you can do.”
When I’m practicing self-portraiture, I look for light and shadows that make the shot dynamic. Here’s how I usually do it:
Playing with light and shadow can create some pretty interesting and dynamic photos of your own face or body. I recently found myself near a construction site, and I used the scaffolding to cast shadows. It turned out looking like I had an eyepatch or something! It’s all about embracing the spirit of play while you’re out on the streets.
Sometimes, when you’re out photographing by yourself, you might think: “This light would look great on someone.” Well, you’re someone! Just photograph yourself.
“It’s actually been a really liberating and joyous part of my process.”
Self-portraiture allows you to express yourself in ways you might not expect. And ultimately, the photographs we make become a reflection of who we are. So, why not showcase who we are?
Next time you’re out with your camera and don’t have a subject, remember: you are the subject. Embrace the process, use the light to your advantage, and have fun with it. Self-portraits are not just about capturing your physical appearance—they’re about exploring who you are through photography. Why not give it a try?
