Joseph and the coat of many colors is a famous biblical story found in the Book of Genesis. Joseph, one of Jacob’s twelve sons and the firstborn of Rachel, was favored by his father, which caused jealousy among his brothers. Jacob expressed his special love for Joseph by giving him a richly ornamented coat, often described as a “coat of many colors.”
The coat symbolized Joseph’s preferred status and possibly his future role as a leader, which further fueled his brothers’ envy and hatred. Joseph also had dreams that predicted he would rise to a position where his family would bow down to him, which only aggravated the situation.
Driven by jealousy, his brothers conspired against him. They initially planned to kill him, but instead, they threw him into a pit. Later, when a caravan of Ishmaelites passed by, the brothers sold Joseph into slavery to these traders, who then took him to Egypt. To cover up their deed, they dipped Joseph’s coat in goat’s blood and showed it to their father, Jacob, who concluded that a wild animal must have killed Joseph.
In Egypt, Joseph endured slavery and imprisonment but eventually rose to become the Pharaoh’s chief administrator, thanks to his ability to interpret dreams, which he used to save Egypt from a severe famine. Years later, his brothers came to Egypt seeking food due to the famine affecting their own land. They did not recognize Joseph, and through a series of tests, Joseph eventually revealed his identity. The story ends with a family reconciliation and Joseph inviting his entire family to live in Egypt under his protection.
This narrative is rich in themes of forgiveness, redemption, divine providence, and the complexities of family relationships. It has been influential in various cultural, religious, and artistic contexts.
Cities have large populations of pigeons primarily due to the availability of food and suitable nesting areas. Here are some key reasons:
Abundant Food Supplies: Cities often provide plentiful food sources for pigeons, such as discarded food waste, bird feeders, and unintended food spills. This easy access to food supports larger populations than might be sustainable in less urbanized areas.
Few Natural Predators: In urban environments, pigeons have fewer natural predators than in the wild. This lower risk of predation allows pigeon populations to grow.
Roosting and Nesting Sites: Buildings and other structures in cities offer many nooks and crannies that are ideal for pigeons to roost and nest. These structures often mimic the natural cliff sides and ledges where pigeons would typically nest.
Warm Microclimates: Cities often create warmer microclimates due to human activities and the heat absorbed and re-radiated by buildings and roads. This can make urban environments more comfortable for pigeons, particularly in colder climates.
Adaptability: Pigeons, particularly rock doves (the species most commonly seen in cities), are highly adaptable and have successfully coexisted with humans for thousands of years. They can quickly learn and adjust to urban life, which aids their survival and proliferation in city environments.
These factors combined create an ideal habitat for pigeons, leading to their prevalence in urban areas.
The fact that you can go outside each and every day without any high hopes or expectations, and still find something, that sparks your interest, that keeps you curious, that makes you inspired to continuously going out into the world, is what I love about photography. You really don’t have to come home with anything, but just something new, something that sparks your curiosity, something that you can look at, and say, huh…, maybe photography is endless, and there are infinite possibilities within this medium. The world is an endless canvas, the world is open, and there’s so much to photograph. There’s so many possibilities that can happen on the street corner, the different people, places, and things that you see along the way. This is what makes photography so inspiring to me. It’s the fact that it’s endless, and that there is unlimited opportunity to create. 
I’ve been photographing for about a decade now. I can tell you from my experience that time tells all. This means, it will take you lots of time to become a better photographer. It took me about 2 to 3 years to master the basics, technical settings, and get the fundamentals down. For context, I first used a Nikon FM with black-and-white film when I was in high school around 16 years old, and then transitioned to my uncle’s Leica M3 with a 35mm lens. It was there that I learned how to frame on the streets, using the rangefinder, seeing the world through the glass window, making pictures through spontaneity, and work that made sense to me. Once I got to Baltimore and studied in university, I transitioned to using a Ricoh GRII. It was there I learned to liberate myself through using automatic modes, LCD screens, and making pictures in a way was 10x more efficient and effective at expressing how I see the world.
I arrived at a basketball court, where I was greeted by a beautiful scene. It was there that there was nice light, the golden hour during sunset. It was there that I learned to simply set the camera to P mode, point, and shoot. I learned that technical capabilities of cameras are advanced, and perhaps wise for me to continue using digital cameras as my medium of choice because it increased my love for photography.
Eternal Return to Day One
Photography requires practice and repetition, like basketball. I find that when I go out every day, I increase my chances of finding something. What’s amazing about photography is, you never know what you will find. I think that detaching yourself from the outcome or the photographs themselves is a very wise approach to daily practice. You should never expect to come home with something, but just go out each day, without real expectations at all. Allow yourself to be surprised by the results, and what the camera will see. I feel like each day I’m stepping back onto the court, dribbling my ball (camera) for the first time, and allowing myself time to grow with repetition and practice endlessly. Who knows, maybe I’ll finally top my first shot.
The reason why I love visiting Penns Landing, the Schuylkill River Trail, and the various parks throughout the city of Philadelphia is because of the open space. When I visit open spaces, I can feel myself becoming much more curious, and ultimately happier. I feel powerful when I can look out towards the horizon, feel the breeze, and be surrounded by trees, and the clouds up above. There’s also something about water, and being near bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans that are always flowing and changing. Maybe Bruce Lee was right, we should be like water, formless, and become one with everything around us. When I consider street photography, I’m reminded of the connection I have to the environment, the street, and perhaps we should seek to become the street.
Perhaps it is wise for us to seek power first and foremost. I think that power is what we all seek as men. I don’t mean money, fame, and influence over others. I simply mean, physical power, raw power, power that derives from your physiology, and your body.
Become a Greek Demigod
Let’s sculpt our bodies into Greek Demigods. This means that you are not only an artist, sculptor, but also the sculpture, and the hero within it. I think that we can all become heroes, and become a Greek god, if we choose to. It’s about the decisions that you make, things that you consume, what you do and more importantly don’t do.
We should strive each day to make our bodies the strongest version they can possibly be, through simple acts of weightlifting, and eating red meat. Deep sleep, and sunlight can go a long way, so I say, stay in a state of motion, standing, walking, and moving your physical body throughout the entire day.
When we consider the ancient Greek heroes, such as Hercules, we often look at them with admiration for their courage and strength, and admire them through sculptures. Maybe we can become our own sculptures, by simply making a picture of yourself, without a shirt on, and see your results over time.
Strength is happiness
As you become stronger, you become happier. Weakness is bad because you do not feel power. Strength is good because you feel power. When you feel power, you feel like you can do anything. By overcoming a bit of resistance, you can reach your fullest potential. I know that I feel best when I’m able to overcome challenges, conquer fears, increase my strength, and feel the results of my hard work.
Reject weakness, embrace strength, and seek power.
The word “articulate” has its etymological roots in Latin, stemming from the verb “articulare,” which means “to divide into joints” or “to speak distinctly.” This verb itself is derived from “articulus,” a diminutive of “artus,” which translates to “joint.” The development of the meaning involves the idea of something being clear and distinct, much like how joints are separate and defined parts of a structure.
Over time, “articulate” evolved in English to encompass both physical and verbal clarity. Physically, it refers to the connected structure of joints, as in “an articulated skeleton.” In terms of speech and expression, it describes someone who speaks in a clear, effective, and coherent manner, capable of expressing thoughts and ideas well. This dual meaning reflects the connection between the physical act of moving parts smoothly and the intellectual act of expressing thoughts clearly.
I find that sunlight is the ultimate source of power. Maybe our bodies are like batteries and the sun is the charger. Two days ago it was extremely nice outside with lots of sunlight and I made sure to walk around without a shirt on by the riverside and absorb as much UV rays as possible. What I realize is, basking in sunlight is bliss. Not to mention, the following day, I felt like I had an insane abundance of power that was stored up from the day before. Also, it helps me get better sleep, setting my circadian rhythm or my natural biological clock, waking up before sunrise and sleeping with he sunset.
Why are people anti-sun?
A few days ago, while I was tanning in the park, this guy came up to me and was questioning how I’m able to stand in the sunlight for so long. He told me to put on a hat at least or wear some sunglasses like himself. He was completely covered up with a hat, sunglasses, and full beard. He had very pale skin and looks like he hasn’t been outside for a while. Maybe people are becoming more accustomed to the indoor lifestyle, and because of this, get used to wearing sunglasses. Maybe sunglasses trick your eyes into thinking that you’re still inside, making it harder for your eyes and body to adapt to the sunlight and the way that it interacts with your skin. I think that all people can get tan, perhaps you just have to do gradual increments overtime. I think that having tan skin means that you are full of vitality and energy and healthy. I feel so much better when I’m tan, in the sun, and absorb as much sunlight in my day as possible.
It seems that a lot of people think that the sun causes cancer and that too much exposure is unhealthy. To me, this makes no sense. The main reason why we are here right now, breathing, talking, and thinking is because the sun is positioned at the perfect distance from the Earth. Without the sun, there are no people. I just use this simple fact alone to guide my thoughts in regards to sunlight. Even in the first couple of words in the Bible in the book of Genesis of the Old Testament, you read that God has created light on the first day.
Let there be light!
Without the darkness, there is no light. On the rainy and cloudy days like this, I’m thankful for the good days, the days when the light is out, and the sun is peering beyond the clouds. I’m very grateful for the things, such as sunlight, water, and grass fed beef. There’s very simple things and pleasures that keep me happy.
Painting with light
Let us not forget that photography is merely painting with light. When I consider this, and the way that light casts upon the surfaces around me, the world is an endless canvas for me to draw endlessly upon. There’s infinite potential with photography because of the nuances and changes of light and the way it etches shapes and gives form to objects, people, and places. Because of the change that light provides, you can never make the same photo twice. It does not matter if it’s of the same thing or even a separate photographer at the same place, the light will never stay the same. Perhaps we should embrace this notion of change and create photographs in a stream of becoming. This means, your next photograph is your best photograph, and the goal is to remain curious, continuously evolve, change, and transcend, like a stream ever flowing.
Go beyond
As we go through every day lives, always bring a camera with you. Snapshot your way through life, and embrace the mundane world around you. Find new ways to uplift the things that are seemingly overlooked or banal, and create something from nothing.
With a camera in hand, nothing can stop you, nothing can break your spirit, and your lust for life.
We must learn to appreciate the journey and let go of the outcome. Forget about the pictures, results, galleries, books, contests, and all of the things within the realm of photography. We must continuously push our rock uphill even if we never make it to the top. One fun approach I have to life is to treat it like a video game. Video games are meant to be fun, and so should our photographic journey and life. It shouldn’t feel like a chore to take pictures, but it should be second nature to us. Lighten the load of your rock, and embrace the new, compact, digital camera systems to make the game easier to play. When you’re out there on the street, you never know what stories will unfold on the street corner. The people you meet along the way, things that you see, and experience, are what make this journey worth it in the end. Like in a video game, there are endless stories and paths that you can take. There’s new ways that you can play each day that makes the novelty of video games so enticing to players. Use photography as a way to increase your lust for life, discover new places, and find novel ways to approach the same thing each day.
Elevate your soul
When I consider the goal of street photography, maybe it is to elevate the human experience to new heights that have never been seen before. not only do our photographs become an abstraction of the street and life itself, but it reflects inward on our soul. There is a strange trend towards the tormented artist, the overly emotional, nostalgia, sensational, dark, morose, and emo aesthetic. Think of artists like Basquiat or Pollock. Basquiat died at my age, 27, from a heroin overdose. Pollock died in a car crash while under the influence of alcohol. We should stay sober and find our Dionysian state outside of drugs and alcohol. Embrace danger, and the chaos artists seek in new ways such as weightlifting and travel. We should strive to create from a joyous state of abundance, and ultimately your photographs will reflect this joy, curiosity, and childlike spirit. The world doesn’t need another tormented, drunk, or emo artist. The world needs more dangerous and gay monsters. Achieving the state of abundance and joy is very simple. Just go for long walks, get more sun exposure, eat more meat, and get deep sleep. Also, delete your Instagram, and uninstall all media applications from your phone.
Stop consuming, and start moving.
One practical suggestion I have is to start your day off from an elevated surface. When I visit the cliff behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art, I can look out towards the river, trees, and beautiful architecture. By quite literally elevating myself at this height, I can see beyond the horizon, and recognize the infinite and endless opportunity to explore that the world provides you. Just think, you could live to 120 years old, and never see everything that life has to offer. In this world there is so much to see, do, and explore, and we should remind ourselves this by gazing out at the horizon, and recognize that we can transcend and go beyond it.
Another important thing that I’ve been adopting in my lifestyle is eating one meal a day. When I am fasted, and have no food in my belly, the connection between my mind and my body is extremely sharp. Let us remember that the camera is an extension of your body and your mind, as your mind and your eyes are connected, and your oculus, your two eyes, are what allow you to perceive the world, with sharp visual acuity, recognizing the patterns in both nature and human behavior. This is something to consider, as when your gut is digesting, and there is food within it, I find that your mind and body connection is disrupted. I believe that we must follow our intuition, listen to our gut, and trust our natural instincts went on the street. By remaining fasted, you can tap into that godlike intuition that you possess deep within your physical gut. My theory is that God is with within your body, within your physiology, within your gut.
Test your limits with beef consumption. Don’t eat breakfast or lunch, and buy 3-5 pounds of ground beef. See what your body’s limit is. Just eat until satiation and stop once you are full.
First and foremost, you should get sun exposure every single day. This means more time outside. Preferably with minimum clothing on and to be outside for the maximum amount of time humanly possible. If you’re in a cold climate, just wear a really nice winter jacket. In order to get good sleep you must increase your sun exposure early in the morning. I think if it’s a cloudy day, you can still get some sunlight. Set your circadian rhythm every day and get your ass in the sun.
Sugar hijacks you, and slowly kills you…
The problem with sugar is it hijacks your body. The connection between your gut and your brain is often times overlooked. This is why I’m a fan of kimchi and it’s probiotics that it provides in my gut. Having a healthy gut and strong body is vital for human thriving. The gut speaks to your brain every day. There’s millions of micro organisms that live inside you and are responsible for your brain’s health. Everything’s connected. If your brain is telling you “mmmm yummy cookie, that looks good,” there’s clearly a problem. You shouldn’t be looking at these fake looking foods with bright popping colors, Cheetos, Doritos, Pringles, cookies, candy, etc. with an appetite. They should repulse you. Your gut should be speaking to your brain right in that moment, telling you please do not put this in my body.
To walk is to be human
Humans are bipedal for a reason. We have two legs because we are hunters and gatherers in nature. We should be moving our physical bodies constantly. We should be outdoors all day long. The only time I like to stay indoors is to eat and to sleep. If it’s raining outside, embrace the elements or go and walk around somewhere indoors. There’s no need to be sitting down in the day. If you are a human, you are designed to move. Just let the robots do the other shit.
Death to the media
It’s my belief that our newfound religion in the world is consumerism. To be sedentary and to sit in front of a screen all day is the new norm. This is not good and very unnatural. If you want to become more human, I have some advice. Do not watch the news, do not watch any movies, TV shows, social media, etc. Delete your Instagram, stop watching YouTube videos and Podcasts, and get your ass outside. People that watch TV shows on Netflix or cable, truly baffles me. How can you find yourself enjoying this garbage? Do not consume garbage whether it’s media or food. I’d rather stare at the sky and watch the clouds move slowly. Or even better, create your own media empire!
Drugs and alcohol are for losers
If you’re an adult, and you’re consuming any alcohol, smoking weed, or indulging in any weird drugs, I think that there’s something seriously wrong here. Anytime you take a sip of alcohol, recognize that you are poisoning your body. Why are we purposely doing this to ourselves? I seriously believe that the cultural influences around you and society’s pressures can become a huge toll on us. Make sure that your friends are good people. Stay away from social contagion like the plague. Don’t allow yourself to become indoctrinated by others.
Focus on becoming strong
Your body should be strong. You should be able to lift heavy things. You should be able to lift your own body weight above a pull up bar. You should be doing push-ups every morning. You should be able to stretch and touch your toes. Your core should be like a rock and you should be able to sustain heavy weight on your back. It is our duty as men to be strong!
Fast all day and eat red meat
What is the antidote to modernity? Simulate how we were designed in nature. Keep yourself fasted until the end of the day and eat plenty of red meat. Treat yourself like a Spartan and become a warrior with every step you make throughout the day. We are strong and capable of fasting. You do not need to consume it. Just wait until the end of the day and pretend like you had a full day of hunting. Simulate what it was like to live like our ancestors. Red meat is good for you. Just clear your body of all of the toxins and start fasting. Eating red meat and fasting all day will allow you to focus and become stronger.
Demigod goals
The goal is to lose fat and to gain muscle. We want to become like those ancient Greek demigods. How to do this? Eat more red meat! Get good sleep. Increase your sun exposure. Walk more. Start lifting. Stay away from sugar and toxins. Don’t watch the news or stay in tune with the latest media and avoid social contagion like the plague.
When you are filled with abundance, allow it to flow outwards! Let’s shine as bright as possible while we are here. The secret to joy is to just be under the sun?
