What am I grateful for?
What am I grateful for?
The sun, walking, fresh air, meat, and clean water.
I’m grateful for the simple pleasures in life, like the sun kissing my skin, the sounds of insects humming, and the beautiful songs of birds singing. When I walk the city with camera in hand, I enter a blissful state of recognizing the beauty in the mundane. Street photography gives me a superpower. Through the use of a camera, I possess the ability to create a new world in a fraction of a second.
Spartans are Spartans
Spartans are Spartans. Not potters, blacksmiths, carpenters, builders, etc. We should work on our craft as street photographers with Spartan discipline, as soldiers. We’re not just photographers, we are the new Spartans, marching endlessly.
Just march, who cares how you feel.
I don’t really care for excuses, whether or not you feel like shooting, whether or not you feel good, bad, have the time, etc. You should be marching, moving your body endlessly throughout the day. If you are in pain, perhaps it is wise to rest, but if you feel vital, full of energy and power, you must be marching as photographers. This is the goal: to march, like a Spartan.
Perfect is lame. Just do it.
Just do the thing. I’m sick and tired of making perfect pictures, perfect statements, perfect thoughts, perfect ideas, blah, blah, blah. Perfection is so boring, as humans are flawed. We should embrace imperfection in everything we do in life, whether writing, photographing, or even thinking. We shouldn’t strive to always be right, but embrace being wrong, and learn through our mistakes. Imperfection is the best way forward for us to learn and grow. Even this blog is completely imperfect. Nothing is organized, and I simply do things with a stream of consciousness. This, to me, is the most optimal workflow, as it’s easy to hold yourself back from doing something because you deem everything needs to be perfect.
How far can you walk?
Just focus on walking, standing, and posture. Fitness and remaining strong, full of vigor and vitality, is extremely simple. Start every morning with the farmer’s walk, carrying two heavy dumbbells on both sides, with your head up, shoulders back, and chest open. Focus on standing, walking, and posture throughout your day. Maintain a strong core throughout the day, moving your legs with a strong gait. I probably walk more than 75% of people do before 6 AM every single day. Every day, I walk at least a half marathon, or 13-15 miles.
Running is out of alignment with nature.
I think running is one of the most foolish activities that we can ever do in the realm of fitness. Running is a fast way to burn yourself out. Running to burn calories doesn’t make sense either. It’s like a hamster wheel that never ends.
Just workout all day
Yesterday at work, I moved tons and tons of dirt. Honestly, some of these rocks I was moving around were hundreds of pounds and required me to deadlift them. I think the best way to live life is to just work out all day. This is why I enjoy doing physical labor work, as it feels like I’m just working on my fitness throughout the entirety of my day, never sitting down, never still, always moving and contracting my muscles.
Return to simplicity.
My evolution from color photography to black and white is a big deal. While the complexity of color was a fun challenge, embracing the simplicity of black and white is liberating. I’m no longer dependent on good light, photographing at certain times of the day such as the golden hour. I’ve stripped back down to the basics of simple light and shadow. The process I’ve embraced, using a small JPEG file with the Ricoh, has been the fastest solution to making a photograph or an instant sketch of life. No more processing photos, no more large file sizes, just pure simplicity and bliss.
A photograph is my essence in motion.
When I consider a photograph, it is not just light on a surface, a moment, a story, or something visual. A photograph is a reflection of my soul, my heart, or my courage. A photograph is a reflection of my lust for life, as the photographer is responsible for a very simple action: positioning themselves on the front lines of life. The closer to life I am, the better my photographs will be. Because of this, I march through the streets, endlessly, photographing in motion, through physicality. Pictures made through movement result in much more fluid and dynamic compositions than those made from a tripod, standing still on a street corner, waiting around. Through movement and intuition, the photographs I make reflect my essence.
Wield the camera as a sword.
Every Spartan needs a weapon.
I wield my camera like a sword, striking through the heart of chaos to reveal the soul of the street, creating visual order and harmony from the spontaneity of everyday life.
Photography is a universal language. The camera gives a voice to the voiceless. Cut through the noise, and empower yourself through photography.
Soar like an eagle.
An eagle flies alone. When you’re practicing street photography, embark on the solo journey. Don’t shoot with other people, and simply go your own path.
Transmute anger into compassion.
There are so many angry people on the streets these days. Just yesterday, outside of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, during the presidential debate, I heard nothing but an uproar of chaos. People were screaming back and forth at one another like bloody murder. As a bystander of chaos, it is easy to fall into anger. If something or someone triggers you to feel anger, recognize that it is a normal response. However, transmute this feeling into compassion, and recognize that love, forgiveness, and forgetfulness are the answers to most problems. Transmute your anger like melting ice into water.
Nothing in life really matters.
This by no means is a nihilistic view of life. The point is, most things are trivial, meaningless, and not worth paying attention to. Most things of this time, this modern world, are noise, static. Turn it off, and turn inwards and listen to your heart beating. Listen to your gut. Obey your intuition. Find principles that you value and live by them. Everything else is superfluous. So live gloriously, on a heroic path.
Life is not zero-sum.
I have an abundant mindset, where we can all thrive together. We should never hold secrets, things that we keep private, when they could certainly benefit other people. When you’re full of abundance, you just want to give. If you want a free workshop on street photography, and you’re in the city of Philadelphia, my office hours are pretty much every day except for Sunday at 5:30. Just meet me at the Eagle.
We live in strange times.
Most people these days meet through online communities, text messages, social media, etc. No more texting and social media. Honestly, if you want a free workshop, the fee will be simple: you must delete your Instagram. Online communities aren’t real. Let’s return to the physical, face-to-face, and create a new tribe of Spartans.
Simple steps to quickly improve your street photography
Process and practice:
- Stick to one camera and one lens
- Shoot either color or black-and-white. Choose one. No going back and forth.
- Use a digital camera. Either the Ricoh GRIII or the Fujifilm X-Pro3. Ricoh is best because it is compact and fits in your pocket. Either use a viewfinder with the X-Pro, or ditch it entirely with a Ricoh. LCD is superior for street as you can experiment more with composition and work much faster. I highly suggest Ricoh, but there are only really two solid options when it comes to digital cameras for street photography. Avoid digital Leica and ditch film photography because it will limit you and hold you back from improvement.
- Shoot JPEG only, I prefer small JPEG high contrast black-and-white with the Ricoh. The black and white is better with the Ricoh for my preference of crushed shadows. Otherwise Fuji gives you a tri-x or film look alike
- Get the latest iPad Pro, a USBC to SD reader, and import your photographs directly to the built-in photos app. No need for software like Lightroom.
- Use auto focus, automatic settings, automatic ISO, shutter priority or program mode
- Always carry your camera with you no matter what the circumstance
- Make new photos every single day – find a route in your town, and stick to it. If you can, make two laps of this same route daily
- Interact with people on the street. Don’t just be a quiet bystander. A photograph is a reflection of the photographers courage, and lust for life. The closer you are to the frontlines of life, the better your photos will be.
- Back up your new photos every single day to google photos
- Delete your Instagram
- Start a website using bluehost.com and wordpress.org (this way you shoot for yourself, and not an audience. Don’t worry about how people view your work, think about your work, etc. This will help you develop your unique voice.)
- Embrace the process. Street photography is numbers and time game. It will take you years to develop a body of work. Expect to have a “keeper” once per month if you’re lucky. Forget about good or bad photos and embrace failure.
- Experiment like a child. Don’t limit yourself to photographing one way or one subject, theme, or project. Treat street photography like a personal diary of your day. The goal is not to depict what life is, but what it can be. You can create a new world in a fraction of a second.
Become Godlike
Become Godlike
Zoom out. You are going to die.
When I stand on top of the cliff behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where I spend every morning, I like to imagine that I am an eagle, soaring into the sky, seeing myself from the perspective above. The wind could push me, a bee could sting me, and I could go toppling down to the bottom. A vulture would then come eat my decomposing flesh, as the worms crawl through my orifices, leaving my body both nourishing nature and the soil.
Your death gives rise to new life.
We all have an expiration date. We are perishable items like food in the grocery store such as milk or eggs. Recognizing that we are bound by time can free us to live intentionally and without fear.
Live dangerously.
You are what you eat
I like the saying, “you are what you eat.” If you eat chocolate cookie crisp cereal each morning, an ultra-processed food, what are you feeding your body but merely poison?
This food will inevitably make your soul, or your physical body, sick. Consider your soul as your physical body. Everything that you consume becomes a reflection upon your soul. A sick body will ultimately have a sick mind. A sick mind is a damaged soul, perishable goods that are expiring at a rapid rate. Some people will smoke cigarettes, others will consume candy, but on the path to becoming Godlike, we recognize the temptations of tongue pleasure, our best to be avoided.
In the Iliad, the Greeks would often sacrifice hecatombs, or hundreds of cattle, for the gods, to seek favor and fortune in battle. This was not just a religious ritual, but everybody would feast on the flesh of the animals after making the sacrifice. This reminds me of my time in Jericho, during the day of sacrifice, Eid Al-Adha. Hundreds of lamb were slaughtered throughout the streets, and all I smelled was the stench of blood and sacrifice all day long. Everybody in the village fasted all day, and in the evening, feasted together as a community.
This is how I thrive in my daily life, fasting all day, and feasting in the evening.
Become cage-free
The quality of food that we consume is very critical. We should only consume the highest quality cuts of meat, grass-fed beef. Chicken is bad. Don’t eat chicken. Do you want to be a little chickenshit? Buck, buck, buck! Don’t eat chicken. Eat beef.
Do you want to be a bison or a chicken?
The simplest solution and best bang for your buck is perhaps the Wagyu American-raised grass-fed beef from Costco which is $17 for 3 pounds or the lamb leg from New Zealand, which is all grass-fed, no hormones added, and free-range.
As humans, we too, should be cage-free, free-range animals, raised in open spaces. However, this modern world puts us inside a box, both physically and metaphorically. We design our lives around luxury, comfort, and hedonistic pleasure-seeking. We live in office buildings for the majority of our days, sedentary, squandering our time and physical potential through pursuing material wealth. Let’s become free-range, like those free-range eggs that we purchase in grocery stores.
You are the salt of the earth
From grades pre-K to 8, I attended a Roman Catholic school and will never forget learning about the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. I remember this being one of the most important teachings that we learned in school, as they give you a set of principles to live by. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described people as the salt of the earth.
Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”
During my Peace Corps service in Zambia, Africa, I worked with the Department of Fisheries as a rural aquaculture promotion specialist. After men gathered fish from the lake or the fish ponds, the fish was cleaned, gutted, and dried. We preserved the fish by adding salt, which prevents bacteria from growing, through dehydration, drying in the sunlight for a few days.
Like the salt that gives good taste to food, such as that delicious flavor that is added to our grass-fed beef, we too add a lovely flavor to the world. Not only does salt provide flavor, but it is also useful for preserving food. By preserving ourselves, remaining pure of heart, and upholding virtues, we can be useful to our neighbors through acts of kindness and uplifting those around us.
The 40-hour workweek
In hunter-gatherer societies, people would work in sprints, typically for a few days, maybe 20 hours per week, providing all of the resources that they needed for the community to thrive for a week or two. This gave the community much more free time to specialize in other pursuits, tell stories around the campfire, and spend time with family and tribe. This way of life provided a more balanced lifestyle, aligned with nature, providing more time for leisure. Now, in this modern world, with a 40-hour workweek, we drag out the day, toiling for an excessive number of hours, going against our natural state of being. Just think, 75% of the work done in modern cities is done indoors, under fluorescent lights, in air conditioning, sitting down for the majority of the day. This will lead to the decay of the physical body and the ability for the community to thrive and form social bonds through spirituality, family, and stories.
Do you see the carrot on the stick?
If man will fool a donkey with a carrot on a stick to make it move, what makes you think man won’t trick his brother or sister?
The carrot on the stick is the fiat currency that inflates in price every year, that drives our population to move their physical bodies onward, scurrying into the beehives, driving automobiles, and embracing the hamster wheel of life. What’s funny is, we love hamster wheels, running on treadmills, or even this new trend towards SoulCycle, cycling in place, indoors. We will continue moving onwards, so long as we do not see the carrot, this unreachable, intangible illusion of a goal that we are all striving towards in this material world. The carrot will continue to deceive the masses onwards, until the day they drop into the grave, and so the cycle of life repeats.
The food industry corrupt
Unhealthy foods were produced by the tobacco companies, such as Kraft, General Foods, and Nabisco. Most food that you find in cities like Philadelphia is made addictive by design. Just look at the ingredients on the back of the box that you purchased, and notice the laundry list of chemicals added. Nothing is natural about these foods, and the only food in the grocery store worth purchasing is found on the outskirts, in the areas where the meat is stored.
Have you ever been able to eat just one Oreo, or do you find yourself eating the whole sleeve?
Person A: Eats 2000 calories of Oreos
Person B: Eats 2000 calories of red meat
Which person will be healthier and full of vitality? The answer is obvious. Stop counting calories. Just eat real, whole foods, and animal-based protein. If you want to eat vegetables, just eat kimchi or kale. Stop living on the hamster wheel. Don’t weigh yourself on a scale. Counting calories is a scam.
Cattle as capital
In the beginning of The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous, a book I recently read, it discusses the various earliest forms of money ever used in society. It discusses the use of shells, precious metals, livestock, salt, and grains. One of the words I found very interesting that was used in the beginning was pecuniary.
The word pecuniary comes from the Latin word pecuniarius, which means “pertaining to money.” This, in turn, derives from pecunia, meaning “money” or “wealth,” which itself originates from pecus, meaning “cattle.” In ancient times, cattle were a measure of wealth, so the term pecuniary has roots in the idea of wealth being tied to livestock.
When I consider cattle as capital, it makes the most sense after remaining on a disciplined, 100% carnivore diet for two years now. All man truly needs is a place to sleep, meat, salt, and water. Everything else is superfluous. My new idea of real wealth, or capital, is having a freezer full of beef. If you have a freezer full of beef, you are a rich man. This is the new sign of wealth in my eyes.
Salt and salary
Also, the importance of salt in antiquity, especially in Rome, was so critical that Roman soldiers were paid a salarium, which was an allotment of money used to simply purchase salt. This is where we get the word salary from, and is typically what 99% of our population depends on to put food on their plates. So, when we receive our salary, perhaps it is most wise to utilize it for storing capital. We can purchase beef, salt, rent, and then throw everything else into Bitcoin. Why would you want the banks holding your money, that depreciates in value each year, when you can store all of your capital in a property that will appreciate over time? Just go to hope.com, or michael.com, and watch the series: What is Money by Michael Saylor. Only those that need to know will find out. Otherwise, enjoy the carrot.
Real restaurants
The word restaurant comes from the term, to restore or to refresh. In 16th century France, the first restaurants were places where people could go and purchase affordable healing broths from street vendors.
Think of a typical restaurant in the city, like McDonald’s, salad bars, or even Chipotle, which all smell like stinky stockrooms, selling processed slop. I’d say 75% of the restaurants in the city provide zero nutritional value, probably use some sort of weird vegetable oil, fried food, and not fresh.
The only real restaurants in the city of Philadelphia are the Vietnamese beef pho places, such as Pho 75 on Washington Ave, Cali Pho in Chinatown, or Pho Street on both Market and Arch Street. I consider these real restaurants because the bone broth, organ meats, and beef are truly medicinal. I cut my face the other day at work while chopping down a tree, and after eating a hearty bowl of beef, filled with collagen, vital protein used to regenerate tissue and heal wounds. After a bowl of bone broth, and the following day eating some calf liver, the cut actually went away.
Our food can be used for healing or restoration, and we should be most critical about what restaurants we go to. Only go to restaurants that provide you with a nutritious meal, healing food, that subscribe to the original intention of what a restaurant is used for, restoration. Meat is medicine.
Live Dangerously
Focus on what you can change. There is a story about Epictetus, an ancient Stoic philosopher, who was born into slavery. His master was cruel and liked to torture him, one day twisting his leg. As his leg was being twisted, Epictetus told him,
“If you continue, you will break my leg.”
As he continued to twist, he inevitably broke his leg. When it broke, Epictetus calmly replied,
“There, I told you it would break.”
He remained detached from the physical pain, remaining calm by expecting the inevitable outcome of his broken leg. I highly suggest reading the book, The Discourses by Epictetus.
You cannot control external circumstances, but have control from within, through your reaction to external stimuli. We should focus on only what is within our power. You can change your diet, your daily habits, the amount of time you spend standing and walking in the day, and even where and how you store your money and capital. You can change your path, what you do for work, and leisure. You have the freedom of choice, and the ball is in your court. However, what if freedom was the elimination of these choices?
Should I go left, or should I go right?
I seek neither path. The only path is onward, and upward, soaring like an eagle into the sky, living dangerously.
During my morning walk, I sometimes enjoy teetering and tottering along the railing that guards me from falling into the river, on the edge of order and chaos, as I thrive in the unknown.
Just let go. Stop being a slave to your fate or fortune. Remove all hope and fear. This is the path to freedom. We need to go onwards with that IDGAF “I don’t give a fuck” energy. Accept your destiny, and c’est la vie. Thrive in the ups, the downs, and the mundane of everyday life. We live in a very safe, sanitized world, and it is time to take the dangerous path. It’s time to unleash our inner hero and become godlike.
Why You Should Try the Ricoh GRIII
Why You Should Try the Ricoh GRIII
Welcome to the treehouse symposium, where today I want to dive into why the Ricoh GR III—and its counterpart, the GR IIIx—are the best compact digital cameras in 2024, especially for street photographers and everyday creatives. If you’re looking for a tool to reignite your love for photography, this is the camera that can do it.
The Joy of Compact Freedom
I’ve been a street photographer for a decade, and what I love most about the Ricoh GR III is how effortlessly it fits into my life. The camera is compact enough to slide into your pocket, rest on a wrist strap, or disappear in your hand. It’s always there when I need it, like a personal diary, ready to capture the world around me without the hassle of bulky equipment.
The Ricoh GR III lets you photograph life as it happens—candid, raw, and spontaneous. The compact size isn’t just convenient; it changes how you approach photography. There’s no need for preparation or planning. The camera is with you wherever you go, allowing you to shoot life as it unfolds.
A Liberating Experience
Back in 2015, I made the switch from a Leica M3—shooting 35mm film—to the Ricoh GR II. I immediately noticed a shift. Gone were the days of being bound by the viewfinder, obsessing over perfect compositions, and carrying around bulky gear. I put my Ricoh in P-mode, used single-point autofocus, and let intuition take over. Some of my best work emerged during this time because I felt free to engage with life directly through the LCD screen, without the barrier of a viewfinder.
This is the biggest reason you should try the Ricoh GR III: it liberates you. You no longer need to be confined by a rigid shooting process. You can simply point, shoot, and move on. The creativity flows naturally when you’re not overthinking technicalities. It opens a new way of seeing and engaging with the world.
Simplicity is Everything
Photography with the Ricoh GR III is simple. You don’t need to be a pro, you don’t need to think too much—you just need to shoot. P-mode, snap focus, and autofocus make everything fast and intuitive. The barrier to entry is incredibly low, meaning anyone can pick it up and start making photos right away.
I don’t set aside time specifically to take photos anymore. I no longer have to “gear up” or mentally prepare. The Ricoh lets me snapshot my way through life, capturing moments as they come—whether I’m lost in nature, walking through the city, or catching light peeking through a tree.
JPEG Perfection Straight Out of Camera
Another game-changer for me is the Ricoh’s JPEG processing. I typically shoot in high-contrast black and white, using small JPEG files baked into the camera. The results are stunning, and I don’t even need to spend time post-processing. Whether you’re shooting macro shots of nature, street photography, or quick snapshots of daily life, the Ricoh’s in-camera settings produce beautiful, high-quality images ready to share instantly.
You can choose from different film simulations too, like positive film for color, or high-contrast black and white. It’s like creating instant sketches of life with minimal effort.
Fun, Spontaneous, and Democratic
At the end of the day, what really stands out about the Ricoh GR III is that it makes photography fun again. It strips away the complexity and allows you to approach photography with a sense of curiosity and playfulness. If you’ve been feeling burnt out or stuck in your photography journey, switching to a simple, compact camera like the Ricoh could be exactly what you need to rediscover your passion.
This camera is a great equalizer—it democratizes photography. You don’t need to know anything about the technical side. You just point, shoot, and capture the moment. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or a beginner, the Ricoh GR III fits effortlessly into your life and makes you want to shoot more.
Why You Should Try It
If you’re using a camera with a viewfinder, or you’ve been stuck in a more traditional or rigid shooting style, I encourage you to try the Ricoh GR III. Removing the viewfinder alone might open up an entirely new creative world for you. The freedom to shoot spontaneously and intuitively, combined with the Ricoh’s compact size and simplicity, will make you see photography in a whole new light.
Who knows, maybe you can rent one or find a camera shop where you can test it out. Once you try it, I think you’ll be hooked—like trying a new drug (but in a good way). The joy it brings will make you want to shoot more, and the more you shoot, the better you’ll get. That’s the beauty of it.
So if you’re looking for a camera that makes photography fun again, one that fits in your pocket and frees your creative spirit, give the Ricoh GR III a shot. It might just change the way you see the world.
I just want to be left alone!
I just want to be left alone!
Street photography is a solo journey. When I am alone, in the zone, I feel as though nothing can break my spirit and my lust for life. The camera is my passport, my key, that unlocks the doors to the multifaceted complexities of life itself. The seemingly mundane experiences I have along my everyday life become something worth championing, uplifting to a transcendental height through the creation of new work every day. I just want to be a big kid, with my camera, embracing the spirit of play.
Rainbow over Philadelphia
The other day, I had the most incredible experience walking along the streets of Philadelphia with my friend. It was around 6 PM, and the light was divine. It was the golden hour, and it was raining ever so slightly, almost as if the raindrops were merely snowflakes falling on a snowy day, so light, airy, and you could hardly even feel the rain touch your skin. As we walked towards the river, we looked back and saw the most incredible rainbow I’ve ever seen in my life, cast across the sky. The way the light was hitting the buildings and surfaces all around us, from the streets to the walls, provided everything it touched with a glow that made everything pop out, almost dream-like, with a cinematic movie quality to it. This was the first time I photographed a rainbow since adopting my new process in black-and-white, and upon reviewing the image I made of the rainbow, it almost looks otherworldly, like a planet is emerging behind the skyline, as black and white naturally abstracts reality.
Articulate the unknown
A good photograph articulates the unknown. It puts order to the chaos. A good photograph is like a thought that is expressed clearly and distinctly. As street photographers, we should simply walk through life, camera in hand, with the great attempt of making sense of things that are thrown our way. Simply photograph life as it is, but try to the best of your ability to make it visually coherent through your intuition. Photography is like a visual puzzle, and you must solve these puzzles that are thrown your way, quickly, intuitively, from your gut. The speed at which you make your photographs, through movement and repetition, will provide you with an aesthetic that shows life as it is, candidly and spontaneously.
The spontaneous now
When walking, I enter a Zen zone. I almost forget that I exist, and I simply am. I think this is the best place to be in terms of mindset or approach when going through life. Forget about the past, the future, or even shut down all thoughts while walking, and just empty your mind. Street photography becomes this meditative practice for me, moving my legs, and recognizing the patterns in both nature and human behavior. A lot of the time, you’ll be walking along the sidewalk, and never see anything interesting until that random, spontaneous moment occurs within the now, a fleeting moment. Yesterday, there was a breakdance competition outside of City Hall. As I roamed around Chestnut Street, a local freestyle artist was rapping on the corner. Breakdancers were practicing on the sidewalk, before the competition, on the sidelines, on a regular street corner, to a local hip-hop artist. This was such a random moment, that occurs every once in a while. The point is to simply be prepared, to be open, and always have a camera ready to go when the moment strikes. This is what I find happens most times: you walk the streets endlessly, you hardly see anything, but every once in a while, after a few hours or so, something falls right in your lap. You just have to go slow, and let life flow towards you. There’s no need to be on the hunt or in a rush, we have a lifetime, and exist outside the passage of time, practicing street photography in the spontaneous now.
Open world explorer
The other day, when coming home from work, I was taking the bus, and an old man stumbled into my arms. I held him up until he arrived at his stop, complimented his beautiful outfit, and told him to have a great day. I helped him off the bus and went along the rest of my day, hitting the streets to practice street photography. I sometimes like to enter the Reading Terminal Market and photograph the chaos of the lunch rush or people shopping. As soon as I opened the door to the Reading Terminal, this man was standing there at the entrance. I jokingly told the man,
“Hey, I was your savior for the day! Remember me?”
He took a moment to recall who I was, as I was no longer wearing my sun hat, but we both broke out into laughter and greeted each other warmly. He told me about wanting to open up a food truck to sell soul food. He had such an incredible outfit on that I decided to do something I usually don’t do, which is make a street portrait of the man. I asked him if I could, and he was very open to it. It’s moments like these, where things simply align, from the bus to the interactions on the streets, that fuel me with joy during my everyday life. It reminds me to photograph to simply remember, and to cherish the memories and experiences along the way. I think it’s important to remain open as a street photographer, to interact with other people, and not just be shy or a fly on the wall. The best way to live life is on the front lines of life.
Free roam in real life
The greatest video games are ones that allow you to free roam and explore open worlds without borders. Minecraft is the obvious example I have, as the world is endless, and is infinitely novel. When I arrive at the back of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the morning, standing on top of the cliff, gazing out towards the horizon, I remind myself how open this world is. How far can your body take you? How much beauty can you see within this lifetime? The goal of my life is to continuously move my two legs, to explore, and to conquer the world through the medium of photography. Even if I simply live within this perimeter, of Philadelphia, a single city, and never go beyond, I know that I can see so much, just in my backyard, within a lifetime.
Travel VS Vacation
I think there’s a difference between traveling and vacation, and what this means to me. Throughout my journey, I spent my time traveling, with a backpack, volunteering, working on farms, projects, hitchhiking, staying on floors, learning about religions, and different cultures. However, vacation is typically done at a beach, somewhere on a resort, where you can perhaps kick back, drink margaritas, take cool pictures for Instagram, buy knickknacks, come home and tell people how amazing it was. I find that traveling should be used for exploration, creation, and learning. Traveling for the sake of vacation or leisure doesn’t make much sense to me, as I feel as though this mindset or feeling of vacation can occur within your backyard.
How can you design your life where it feels like a vacation every single day? What if vacation was simply a mindset, a way that you viewed everyday life?
The word vacation comes from the Latin word vacatio, which means “freedom” or “exemption” from something, particularly work or duty. Vacatio is derived from vacare, meaning “to be empty, free, or at leisure.”
If you study the word, vacation, deriving from freedom, particularly from work or duty, it puts things into perspective for me. Most people look at what they do on a daily basis as work. For me, this idea of work doesn’t really make sense, and I find the notion of “play” to be a much more virtuous word to use. I think work is a slave mentality.
Work is negotium, tending to public affairs or business, but otium becomes leisure, of both intellectual, creative, and physical pursuits. I choose otium. I think when you’re full of vitality, it’s impossible to feel like anything is work. When you’re full of vitality, the traditional notion of “work” becomes play or leisure.
Memento Mori
There’s this scene from Fight Club, where Tyler Durden points a gun to the head of a man who works in a gas station. He asks him what his dream in life was, who he wanted to be? He threatened this man with a gun to his head, and told him that he must quit his job at the gas station, and go pursue his dreams, what he originally wanted to be or become.
If you had a gun to your head, what would you do with your life next? What decision would you make?
I have no regrets for all of my traveling. I followed my intuition and knew exactly what I wanted to do in life. I’ve always been an explorer since the earliest years in my life as a kid, playing in the woods, biking on trails endlessly. I think that memento mori is all about recognizing mortality and sets things into perspective. I think it’s important not to get caught up in trivial or minute things; they don’t really matter in the grand scheme of it all. Similarly to the notion of trivial matters, perhaps it is most wise for us to contemplate how we want to live the rest of our lives, and have no regrets.
If we are to do the same thing for the rest of our lives, would you thrive, or would your soul slowly die?
Let’s make sure we thrive, and never do things simply to survive.
Losing faith
I attended a Catholic school from pre-K to grade 8. I have nothing but fond memories of these experiences of learning about the life of Jesus, going to church, playing in the grass, going on field trips, and staying with the same classmates for about 10 years of life. You go from class to class, grade level to grade level, advancing in years, but stay with the same people for the entirety of your time in school. I’m really grateful for this because I still hold onto my earliest friends from pre-K. Actually, my closest friend is somebody who shares early memories with me, simply reaching for blocks to play with during recess when we were around four years old. The other day, as we were walking around, we were recalling this time when the iPod Touch came out, and people started to watch YouTube videos, around when we were 12 years old. We both discussed how somehow we stumbled across this strange claymation, a video that showed Satan, in some weird cartoon of the adventures of Mark Twain. We both discussed how after seeing this, we lost our faith in God, and somehow became atheist, or agnostic towards our faith. It was quite a bizarre video, really disturbing at the time, and I believe it is a great example of how media can influence the youth or lead them astray. When the iPod came out, it was like opening Pandora’s box into the unknown, into the real world. I feel like as Generation Z, we were early test dummies for all of this technology. Now, when we look back at it, we just laugh about the memory.
Actually, as we walked and saw the rainbow, we reminded ourselves of how the rainbow is a symbol of the covenant between God and man, or God and Noah. This memory has me thinking more critically about media and the impact it will have on our lives in modernity.
Followers?
When a social media user gathers followers, or an audience, does the social media user then become like a prophet? Why is it that we seek followers? I think of Jesus and his followers, or 12 disciples, or even King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans, as the ultimate leaders. Now, in the social media landscape, you can have millions of followers and become an influencer or a “guru.” However, the big question is, would you rather have millions of Persian slaves or 300 Spartan elites? Or even 12 loyal disciples?
I exist outside the passage of time
To exist – to step out, emerge, come into being.
Ex – out of
Sistere – stare – to stand
Personally, I only feel alive while standing. The other day, I sat in a vehicle for maybe 30 minutes, driving to a birthday party to see family. Sitting in the car, I instantly began to yawn, my muscles relaxed, and I no longer felt good, generally. However, when I’m standing upright, muscles contracting, metabolism firing, body moving, I feel most alive. When my body is moving, I feel most real, most present, outside the passage of time.
What is your essence?
I remember a famous quote from Garry Winogrand, where he says that practicing street photography becomes the closest thing to not existing.
Esse – to be
One thing he said that I find quite profound is:
“I photograph to find out what something will look like photographed. I have nothing to say in any photograph. It’s the photograph that has something to say. It’s not about what the world looks like, but what the world doesn’t look like. You can’t trust your eyes.”
When I’m looking at a person, place, or thing, it exists, it is real, in the physical world. However, when I photograph something, it becomes something else. Maybe when you’re photographing, moving your body, you’ve returned to the essence of what it means to be human, which is to stand upright, to move your physical body. This act of movement is my essence, what my purpose is. However, when I photograph something, I’m not depicting reality simply for what it is, or bringing it into existence, but rather, the photographs I make become a reflection of who I am, or my essence.
Perhaps when I photograph, I’m not just making photographs of the world’s existence, but how I relate to it. A photograph is my essence in motion.
Nietzsche: Challenging Morality
Nietzsche’s Critique of Opposites: A Philosophical Exploration
The Faith in Opposite Values
“The fundamental faith of the metaphysicians is the faith in opposite values. It has not even occurred to the most cautious among them than one might have a doubt right here at the threshold where it was surely most necessary— even if they vowed to themselves ‘de omnibus dubitandum.'”
Nietzsche critiques the metaphysical assumption that opposites are fundamental, raising the question: Are love and hate truly opposites, or are they interconnected aspects of the same phenomena? He challenges us to reconsider whether opposites exist at all, or if such distinctions are merely “foreground estimates” or provisional perspectives.
The Question of Genders and Opposites
Nietzsche’s reflections lead into contemporary cultural debates, such as the binary categorization of genders. The assumption that there are only two genders presupposes the existence of opposites. However, the presence of masculine women and feminine men complicates this binary model. Nietzsche’s ideas indirectly influence thinkers like Foucault, who question the rigidity of categories and oppositions.
The Higher Value of Deception, Selfishness, and Lust
“For all the value that the true, the truthful, the selfless may deserve, it would still be possible that a higher and more fundamental value for life might have to be ascribed to deception, selfishness, and lust.”
Nietzsche provocatively suggests that qualities traditionally considered negative might have intrinsic value. He questions whether virtue requires the repression of aggression and lust or if true virtue involves integrating these darker aspects of human nature into a higher unity. This idea resonates with Jung’s concept of incorporating the shadow, arguing that growth is about synthesis, not suppression.
The Frog Perspective and Simplistic Moralizing
Nietzsche describes the moral judgments that categorize motivations into “good” and “bad” as a “frog perspective,” a simplistic viewpoint from beneath. Such categorization often leads to a rejection of so-called negative traits, particularly by older generations attempting to regulate younger ones. But Nietzsche, like Jung after him, advocates for integrating these traits as part of personal and moral development.
Aggression and the Shadow
Aggression, often viewed as negative, becomes valuable when integrated into a higher-order purpose. Nietzsche likens this to Ares, the god of war, whose energy—when controlled—can make one unstoppable. Jung echoes this sentiment, positing that aggression is not an enemy to be vanquished, but a force to be harnessed for good.
The Dangers of Unquestioned Morality
Nietzsche critiques the tendency of oversimplified moralism, which divides human motivations into strict opposites. True growth, he argues, lies in the balance of opposing forces. Even Freud, who dealt with similar issues, recognized that the id’s primal drives weren’t necessarily immoral, and the superego’s moralistic repression could itself be pathological.
The Unity of Good and Evil
“It might even be possible that what constitutes the value of these good and revered things is precisely that they are insidiously related, tied to, and involved with these wicked, seemingly opposite things—maybe even one with them in essence. Maybe!”
Nietzsche suggests that good and evil might not be opposites but interconnected in essence. This radical idea leads to the understanding that the best people possess both virtue and the capacity for mayhem. People like Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter, who try to embody only goodness, fail because their shadow—the dark aspects of their psyche—is not integrated.
Beyond Good and Evil: The Integration of Opposites
Nietzsche challenges the traditional understanding of good and evil. The process of moving beyond these categories involves integrating traits we might too quickly label as negative. This integration allows individuals to ascend to a higher unity that incorporates both positive and negative aspects of the human experience.
Personal Confessions and the Roots of Philosophy
“Gradually, it has become clear to me what every great philosophy so far has been: namely, the personal confession of its author.”
Nietzsche views philosophy not merely as the pursuit of knowledge but as the personal expression of the philosopher’s life. Every philosophy is an autobiographical revelation, rooted in the moral and immoral intentions of its creator. This connection between philosophy and personal life aligns with Jung’s theory that we live out myths, often unconsciously.
The Drives Behind Philosophy
“Accordingly, I do not believe that a ‘drive to knowledge’ is the father of philosophy; but rather that another drive has, here as elsewhere, employed understanding and misunderstanding as a mere instrument.”
Nietzsche posits that philosophy is driven not by the pursuit of truth, but by deeper, more primal instincts such as anger, lust, or a desire for power. These drives shape our thinking and even entire philosophies. For Nietzsche, these drives need to be understood as forces that can take over and guide perception, emotion, and even reasoning.
Instinctive Thinking and Unconscious Philosophizing
“By far the greater part of conscious thinking must still be included among instinctive activities, and that goes even for philosophical thinking.”
Nietzsche points out that much of our thinking is unconscious, shaped by instinctive drives rather than pure rationality. This idea influenced the development of psychoanalysis, particularly Freud and Jung, who explored the notion that much of what we consider conscious thought is actually driven by deeper, unconscious processes.
The Role of False Judgments in Life
“The falseness of a judgment is for us not necessarily an objection to a judgment.”
Nietzsche introduces a radical idea: falsehoods can be valuable if they promote life. He challenges the Enlightenment assumption that truth and moral good are always aligned. For Nietzsche, truth is not just about objective facts but about whether it serves life, survival, and growth. This distinction between “objective truth” and “life-affirming truth” lays the foundation for his pragmatic view of truth.
Life-Affirming Truth vs. Objective Truth
Nietzsche argues that we must prioritize truths that affirm and sustain life over mere objective accuracy. This Darwinian perspective sees truth as something that must enhance survival and adaptive capacity, not just adhere to rigid, factual correctness. In this sense, truth becomes something more dynamic and tied to the vitality of life itself.
The Necessity of Falsification
“Without a constant falsification of the world by means of concepts, man could not live—that renouncing false judgments would mean renouncing life in a denial of life.”
Human beings use simplified concepts and false judgments to make sense of the complexity of the world. Nietzsche argues that these simplifications are necessary for survival, even though they are not strictly true. This is a form of pragmatism, where truth is measured by its utility in helping us navigate life.
The Danger of Too Much Accuracy
Nietzsche warns that if we demanded absolute accuracy in every judgment, we would become paralyzed, unable to move forward in life. In this way, certain “untruths” are indispensable for life, allowing us to act and make decisions even in the face of uncertainty.
Philosophy as an Adventure
“But who has the will to concern himself with such dangerous maybes?”
Nietzsche presents philosophy not as a sterile intellectual exercise but as a romantic adventure. He invites a new kind of philosopher—one who is willing to confront dangerous questions, explore unknown territories, and challenge the very foundations of thought. This spirit of adventure is essential for pursuing truth in a dynamic, ever-changing world.
The Call to Adventure: Abraham and the Pursuit of Truth
Nietzsche’s vision of philosophy as an adventure aligns with the biblical story of Abraham. God calls Abraham to leave his life of security and venture into the unknown. This call to adventure is a metaphor for the philosophical quest: confronting the difficulties of life voluntarily rather than seeking comfort in security.
Happiness vs. Adventure
Nietzsche questions the common desire for happiness, suggesting that what people truly seek is not comfort, but a worthwhile adventure. Happiness, as commonly understood, is static and lacks the dynamism of a life filled with challenges and growth. Nietzsche’s alternative is an adventurous goal, where the pursuit of truth involves struggle, excitement, and the overcoming of obstacles.
The Role of Conflict in Relationships
Nietzsche’s view of life as an adventure extends to relationships. The word “Eve” in Hebrew means “beneficial adversary,” highlighting the role of conflict in personal growth. A healthy relationship involves optimized conflict, where both individuals push each other toward growth and renewal, rather than settling for static happiness.
Philosophical Truth Beyond Good and Evil
“To recognize untruth as a condition of life—that certainly means resisting accustomed value feelings in a dangerous way; and a philosophy that risks this would by that token alone place itself beyond good and evil.”
Nietzsche’s philosophy moves beyond traditional moral categories of good and evil. He challenges us to rethink our simplistic divisions of right and wrong, recognizing that life is more complex than these binary oppositions allow. True growth comes from integrating both the positive and negative aspects of existence into a higher unity.
The Integration of Shadow and Light
Nietzsche anticipates later psychological theories, such as Carl Jung’s concept of the shadow. Just as individuals must integrate their darker impulses to become whole, societies must integrate opposing forces to achieve unity. Nietzsche’s call is for a new understanding of morality that goes beyond good and evil, recognizing the importance of both light and shadow in the development of a higher-order unity.
Conclusion: Philosophy as a Confession of Life
“Gradually, it has become clear to me what every great philosophy so far has been: namely, the personal confession of its author, and a kind of involuntary and unconscious memoir.”
Nietzsche closes by suggesting that all philosophy is, at its core, an expression of the philosopher’s life. Each system of thought grows from the moral or immoral intentions of its creator, reflecting their deepest values and struggles. In this sense, every philosophy is autobiographical—a personal revelation of the thinker’s inner world and ethical stance.
Nietzsche’s critique of opposites, his call for adventure, and his questioning of traditional moral categories invite us to rethink how we approach life, truth, and philosophy. His work encourages the integration of all aspects of the self, the pursuit of dynamic growth, and the rejection of simplistic divisions between good and evil.
Who is Dante Sisofo
Dante Sisofo is a street photographer from Philadelphia with a deep passion for capturing the spontaneous and candid moments of life. He emphasizes curiosity and the joy of the process in his photography, using compact cameras like the Ricoh GR III for its portability. His philosophy extends beyond photography into life itself, where he focuses on the beauty of nature, personal strength, and continuous self-improvement.
Dante has been pursuing street photography since the age of 17 and finds the city of Philadelphia to be an underrated and rich environment for his work. He has also won first place in a photography contest judged by Martin Parr and received a scholarship to learn under Alex Webb. Besides his achievements in photography, Dante has worked as a photojournalist for the Democratic National Convention and was involved in the campaign that won Joe Biden the U.S. presidency.
He enjoys reflecting on deeper philosophical themes, often drawing inspiration from Ancient Greek mythology, Stoicism, and personal experiences in nature. He also follows a strict carnivore diet, enjoys physical activity, and believes in a minimalist, frugal lifestyle. Throughout his work and life, Dante strives for excellence while maintaining a beginner’s mindset, never wanting to become a master but always learning.
Epictetus
Epictetus, born around 55 AD in Hierapolis (modern-day Turkey), was a Stoic philosopher whose life story is particularly compelling because he was born into slavery. Despite his condition, he embraced philosophy and became one of the most influential Stoic teachers. Here are a few stories from his life that capture his resilience and philosophy:
1. Epictetus and His Broken Leg
One of the most famous stories about Epictetus involves an incident during his time as a slave. His master, Epaphroditus, was known for being cruel and violent. One day, Epaphroditus was torturing Epictetus by twisting his leg. Epictetus calmly warned him, saying, “If you continue, you will break my leg.” Epaphroditus did not stop, and eventually, the leg broke. Without anger or complaint, Epictetus simply remarked, “There, did I not tell you that it would break?”
This story is often cited to illustrate Epictetus’s mastery over his emotions and his acceptance of things outside his control. The breaking of his leg, an external event, was something he could not prevent, but his reaction—calm and detached—was fully within his control.
2. Epictetus on Freedom
Even though he was physically enslaved, Epictetus believed in the Stoic concept of inner freedom. He taught that true freedom comes not from external circumstances, but from the mind and how we choose to respond to life’s events.
Epictetus would often say that a slave can be freer than a king if he controls his mind and desires. He believed that slavery is not a condition of the body but of the soul, and that the true chains are our attachments to things like wealth, status, and even life itself. For Epictetus, the freedom of the mind was paramount, and his teachings emphasized the importance of focusing on what is within our control—our thoughts, judgments, and actions.
3. Learning from Musonius Rufus
Epictetus was eventually freed and went on to study under the Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus, a prominent teacher in Rome. Epictetus quickly absorbed Stoic teachings and developed his own approach to the philosophy. He became known for his straightforward, no-nonsense approach, and his deep conviction that philosophy should be practiced, not merely discussed.
Musonius Rufus emphasized that philosophy should not be an intellectual game but a way of life. Epictetus adopted this rigor and taught that philosophy is meant to guide how we live every day, especially in how we react to adversity, pain, and other challenges.
4. Exile and Teaching in Nicopolis
Epictetus’s life took another significant turn when the Roman Emperor Domitian expelled all philosophers from Rome around 93 AD. Epictetus, like many others, was forced to leave the city. He settled in Nicopolis in northwestern Greece, where he opened his own school of philosophy.
Despite the challenges of exile, Epictetus thrived and attracted many students, including notable figures like the future Emperor Hadrian. His teachings were primarily oral, as he did not write them down, but his student Arrian compiled and published his discourses, ensuring that Epictetus’s wisdom would survive.
In his school, Epictetus taught that life’s hardships should be met with courage and composure. Whether it was the loss of a loved one, illness, or even exile, the Stoic response was to maintain equanimity and to focus on inner virtue.
5. The Stoic Teacher
Epictetus was not known for his wealth or high social standing, but for the strength of his character and the simplicity of his life. He lived humbly, often with minimal possessions, embodying the Stoic principle of living in accordance with nature and needing little to be content.
In his teachings, Epictetus often used simple, everyday examples to convey his ideas. For instance, he compared life to a banquet: if something is passed to you, take it politely, but if it doesn’t come your way, be content without it. This analogy underscored the Stoic attitude of accepting what life gives us without grasping or longing for more.
Epictetus taught that we must prepare ourselves for life’s unpredictability, using philosophy as a way to build inner resilience. His life as a slave-turned-philosopher became a living testament to this idea. He famously said, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
The stories of Epictetus are enduring examples of how a person can rise above adversity, control their own responses to external events, and live a life guided by virtue and wisdom. Despite his early life in slavery, he found freedom in the Stoic philosophy, and his teachings continue to inspire people today.