Health is Wealth
1. No breakfast or lunch
2. 30,000 steps per day
3. Farmer’s walk daily
4. Maximize your time spent outdoors
5. Only drink water and black coffee
6. No juice, sugar, fruit, vegetables, or starches
7. Only eat red meat and kimchi
8. At least 8 hours of sleep per night
What is self-flagellation?
1. Photographing when you don’t feel like it
2. Running or cycling as fitness
3. Drinking alcohol or smoking nicotine
4. Considering work and studying as a virtue
5. Dwelling in the past
The WORST Street Photography Advice
The WORST Street Photography Advice
Street photography can be one of the most liberating and enjoyable forms of creative expression. But there’s advice floating around that can turn it into a chore rather than a passion.
1. The Bad Advice: “Shoot Even When You Don’t Feel Like It”
Some say you should force yourself to go out and photograph daily, even when you’re uninspired. This mentality can quickly lead to burnout.
“Who wants to go out there and self-flagellate, forcing creativity?”
2. Why This Advice Fails
- Kills Joy and Creativity
Photography should be about fun, curiosity, and discovery. Treating it like a grind can strip away the joy. - Creativity Requires Authenticity
When you don’t feel like shooting, your work can come across as forced, lacking the spontaneity that makes street photography special.
“Only photograph when you feel like it.”
3. Trends and Pressures
- The Trap of Trends
Following trends, like the resurgence of film photography, can sometimes feel more like an obligation than a creative choice.
“Why subject yourself to grueling processes for the sake of trends?”
4. The Alternative: Photograph with Joy
- Embrace Spontaneity
Let your intuition guide you. Photography should be about exploration and satisfaction, not forced output. - Focus on Quality Moments
You’ll produce better work when you’re genuinely in the mood to create.
Conclusion
Forget the hustle mentality. Street photography isn’t about grinding through uninspired days. It’s about capturing life in its most authentic moments—when it excites and moves you.
“Photographing should be joyful, not obligatory.”
Macro Street Photography
Macro Street Photography
Street photography often highlights grand, sweeping scenes of urban life. But have you ever considered narrowing your focus, literally? Let’s talk about macro mode and its potential to revolutionize your creative process.
1. Why Macro Mode?
Macro mode allows you to:
- See more by focusing on the overlooked.
- Capture textures, patterns, and details that often go unnoticed.
- Transform mundane moments into compelling compositions.
“Everything and anything around you can become photographable.”
2. The Aesthetic of Minimalism
Using macro mode with high-contrast black and white settings can:
- Simplify the frame, stripping it down to its essential elements.
- Highlight the beauty in the mundane and overlooked.
“The name of the game is in the mundane.”
3. What to Look For
Macro street photography encourages you to explore:
- Textures on walls, sidewalks, and buildings.
- Cracks in the pavement or footprints left behind.
- Curves and bends in the streets.
By zooming into these details, you reveal the transient, impermanent nature of life.
4. Unlocking Creative Potential
This shift in focus opens up an endless world of possibilities:
- Ordinary objects become extraordinary subjects.
- Every street corner, every surface, holds potential.
“Anything and everything is photographable, no matter where you are.”
Conclusion
Embracing macro street photography isn’t just about capturing small details; it’s about seeing differently. By diving into the minute, you can unlock the hidden beauty of your surroundings and thrive creatively.
Street Photography is Easy
Street Photography is Easy
Street photography should be easy. It’s not about stressing over perfect settings or hunting for the “ideal” shot. It’s about stepping outside with no preconceived notions, letting your curiosity guide you. Set your camera to an automatic mode—whether it’s Aperture Priority (A) or Program Mode (P)—and just let go. Set it and forget it.
Keep It Simple, Stay in Play
Photography is a way to play and explore. The simpler your setup, the more creatively you’ll thrive. Wear your camera like an extension of yourself, whether it’s strapped to your wrist or hanging from your neck. React to the moment. If there’s even a 1% chance that something catches your eye, snap the shutter. No second-guessing, no hesitation.
“Street photography isn’t about making the perfect picture—it’s about seeing the world with fresh eyes every day.”
Repetition is your friend. Shoot the same locations or subjects daily, like I do with City Hall. Over time, you’ll unlock new perspectives and deepen your understanding of your environment.
A Camera Is Just a Passport
Think of your camera as a passport. It’s an excuse to get out, to see your surroundings in new ways. Street photography is for everyone. There’s no barrier to entry. All you need is an open mind and a curious spirit.
“Return to that childlike state—be a big kid with a camera, exploring and capturing everything around you.”
Don’t pigeonhole yourself. The streets are filled with infinite possibilities. Use a compact camera like the Ricoh GRIII or GRIIIX. These tools make the process seamless, helping you stay in the moment. And remember: there’s no such thing as a bad photograph. Every frame is a new opportunity to learn and grow.
Embrace Minimalism
The Ricoh GRIII’s small JPEG files, combined with its high-contrast black-and-white mode, are perfect for a minimalist workflow. Set your metering to Highlight-Weighted, crank the contrast, and let the camera do its thing.
“Crush the blacks, expose for the highlights, and simplify the frame.”
When it’s time to edit, keep that process simple too. Scroll through your photos on an iPad, favorite the ones you like, back them up to Google Photos, and publish them on your blog. Don’t overthink it. Create, share, and move on.
Start Your Blog Today
Want to share your work? Start a blog. Use WordPress.org, host your domain on Bluehost, and install the Astra theme. FirstNameLastName.com—it’s that easy. Publish your photos and thoughts, and own your creative space.
The Wabi-Sabi of Photography
Street photography embraces the wabi-sabi aesthetic—the beauty of impermanence. Everything is fleeting, and that’s what makes it beautiful. Every mundane detail is worth capturing, every boring moment holds potential.
“The joy of life is found in the mundane details. Embrace boredom, and it becomes your superpower.”
It doesn’t matter where you are—a big city, a small town, another country—everything is photographable if you open your mind. Follow your intuition, trust your gut. Maybe God is in your gut.
So, hit the streets with an open mind, a curious heart, and a simple setup. Street photography is easy. It’s about being present and letting the world surprise you.