VERITAS

Veritas — Etymology

Veritas is Latin for “truth.”


Etymology

  • Root: Derived from the Proto-Indo-European root wer- meaning true, trustworthy, faithful.
  • Latin: In Classical Latin, vēritās meant truth, reality, sincerity, honesty.
  • Related Words:
  • vērus (true) in Latin
  • Old English wær (faithful, aware, cautious)
  • Modern English: very, verify, verdict

Usage

  • In Roman philosophy and law, veritas signified truth not only as factual correctness but also as a moral and ethical principle.
  • In Christian theology and medieval scholasticism, it became tied to the idea of divine truth.
  • Today, Veritas appears in mottos (e.g., Harvard University’s Veritas) symbolizing the pursuit of truth.

Why You Should Shoot Everything in Street Photography (No Limits!)

Shoot Everything: Street Photography Without Limits

Full Audio
PDF Transcript
PDF Slideshow

What’s poppin, people? It’s Dante. Today, we’re going to discuss why you should shoot everything in street photography. To photograph with no limits, what this means to me, and how we can apply this mindset to our everyday lives.

Bringing the Camera for the Ride

I like to bring the camera along for the ride. I simply live my everyday life and snapshot my way through it. No longer am I a slave to my camera—going out with a theme, a project, or a preconceived idea of what kind of photographs I want to make. Instead, I shoot in the spirit of play, chipping away at life with each press of the shutter.

“You cannot make the same photograph twice.”

Every photograph will always be different. The way light casts upon surfaces, people, and places will always provide nuance and change—depending on the time of day, the season, or even the smallest shift in perspective. The world is open. There’s so much to see, to explore, and to photograph.

Breaking Free From Limitations

Photographing with no limits provides an abundant feeling. When I’m out practicing street photography, the smallest details that others overlook become interesting. I’m no longer searching for the perfect moment—I’m shooting through imperfection and embracing reality as it unfolds.

Courage in Going Limitless

It’s easy to box yourself into a particular style or approach, but breaking free actually requires more courage. To photograph through intuition and embrace imperfection might actually become our version of perfection.

“The best way to get better at street photography is to shoot more. Simply shoot everything.”

The more you shoot, the more you see. And the more you see, the more you evolve. Waiting for the perfect moment is hesitation. Instead, press the shutter when something piques your curiosity.

Finding Beauty in the Mundane

I challenge myself: Can I walk the same mundane lane every day and still find something worth photographing? That, to me, is the essence of street photography—going through the routine of daily life yet still finding something worth capturing.

Whether I’m photographing personal moments with family, intimate scenes under the Coney Island boardwalk, or strangers dancing on the beach, the process remains the same:

  • Curiosity first
  • Photography second
  • Judgment last

Tapping Into Transformation

Photography is a means to see the world anew every day. And with each new photograph, I transform. To change is happiness. This endless stream of creation keeps me inspired, pushing my limits, and evolving through the photographic process.

Photographing Beyond the Obvious

Don’t limit yourself to just candid moments of people—

  • Look up and photograph birds in flight.
  • Look down and shoot patterns in the pavement.
  • Explore textures, signs, atmosphere, and details.
  • Shoot macro, silhouettes, shadows, and reflections.

Street photography is more than people—it’s the entire visual world unfolding before you. The discarded newspaper, the water stains on a wall, the way a reflection distorts a familiar scene—everything is fair game.

“Once you stop limiting yourself, the street becomes an infinite playground.”

A Visual Diary of Your Day

Photographing with no limits allows you to build an unfiltered visual diary. Every photograph becomes personal—your own interpretation of the world.

For example, a simple scene at City Hall in Philadelphia: a man making a selfie by a fountain. But as smoke emerges, he steps into it, and suddenly the moment transforms into something more. By remaining patient and shooting through the scene, I captured something intriguing—a moment with a magic touch.

Going Limitless: A New Approach

I’ve been experimenting with new techniques:

  • Shooting vertical frames (a big shift for me)
  • Using macro mode to get closer than ever before
  • Overexposing for dramatic effects
  • Shooting from the hip, embracing blur
  • Switching between the Ricoh GR III and GR IIIx for different focal lengths

Breaking from my past habits has allowed me to see more, shoot more, and learn more.

Photograph for Yourself, Not for Others

Forget what street photography “should” be. Instead, go out and explore what it could be.

  • Don’t seek validation.
  • Don’t shoot for Instagram.
  • Don’t photograph for a project or a theme.

Go limitless. Photograph your reality, your way.

“The next photograph I make will be my best photograph.”

This mindset keeps me inspired to go out every day, to see what reality manifests through the lens. Because ultimately:

  • The more you walk, the more you see.
  • The more you see, the more you photograph.
  • The more you photograph, the more you learn.
  • The more you learn, the more curious you become.

And this cycle of curiosity and transformation is what fuels my photography.

Final Thoughts

I encourage you to make more photographs. Stop overthinking. Stop trying to be perfect. Simply go out there and explore. There are endless ways to create new images—you just have to pick up the camera and start.

If this resonated with you, check out more thoughts on dantesisofo.com or visit my YouTube channel at youtube.com/streetphotography.

Thanks for reading. Now get out there and shoot without limits.

Peace.

Daido Moriyama: Quartet — Now Available for Pre-Order

Daido Moriyama: Quartet — Now Available for Pre-Order

A major new release for fans of Japanese photography is on the way. Daido Moriyama: Quartet brings together four of the most important photobooks that shaped Moriyama’s radical career, presented in a single slipcased edition.

Daido Moriyama (b. 1938) is one of Japan’s most renowned and prolific photographers, known for his gritty, high-contrast black-and-white images that capture the chaos and strangeness of urban life.

What’s Inside

This anthology collects the four seminal photobooks that defined Moriyama’s early vision:

  1. Japan: A Photo Theater (1968)
  2. A Hunter (1972)
  3. Farewell Photography (1972)
  4. Light and Shadow (1982)

Originally released as limited editions in Japan, these books are among the most daring ventures in photographic publishing history.

Why It Matters

  • Spans fifteen years of Moriyama’s early work.
  • Includes excerpts from his diaries, journals, and memoranda for a glimpse into his creative process.
  • Designed as a collectible slipcase volume, making rare and iconic works accessible to a new generation of readers.

Pre-Order Information

Daido Moriyama: Quartet (edited by Mark Holborn, published by Getty) is available now for pre-order in hardcover for $75.00.


This is an essential release for anyone passionate about Moriyama, Japanese photography, or visual culture.

📚 Books by Dante Sisofo

📚 Books by Dante Sisofo

A growing collection of street photography guides, visual archives, and raw knowledge — all 100% open source.

These e-books are free to download, remix, share, and learn from.
No paywalls. No permission needed. Just keep the spirit alive.

If this work brings you value, consider supporting with Bitcoin.


Contact Sheets

The Unedited Frames Behind the Frame
📥 Download PDF

A decade of photographs. 11 full contact sheets from shoots in Baltimore, Jericho, Zambia, and more — paired with real stories and lessons on intuition, composition, courage, and storytelling.

“Don’t leave the scene until the scene leaves you.”


Mastering Layering in Street Photography

Depth, Presence, and the Visual Puzzle
📥 Download PDF

This guide breaks down layering as both a visual technique and a way of being present in the world. Featuring real-world examples, behind-the-scenes GoPro POVs, and field philosophy.

Patience. Presence. Position.


The Ultimate Ricoh GR Street Photography Guide

Settings, Techniques & Workflow
📥 Download PDF

Camera setup. Snap focus. Tourist technique. Composition on the fly. Workflow from camera to blog. Everything you need to master the Ricoh GR as a street weapon — no editing required.

“Your next photo is your best photo.”


🛠 Open Source Philosophy

These e-books are open source.
That means you’re free to:

  • Download and read them offline
  • Share them with friends
  • Remix, quote, and build on the ideas inside

No middlemen. No gatekeeping.


⚡️ Support the Work

If this helped you grow, learn, or create better art, feel free to give what feels right.

⚡ Lightning Address: pay@dantesisofo.com


🔗 More from Dante

How to Find Free Photography Books

How to Find Free Photography Books

What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante. Today, I wanted to share with you a spot I like to go to when I’m looking at photo books—the Free Library of Philadelphia. Check it out.

The Free Library of Philadelphia

This place is beautiful. I’m going to see if I can film in here and show you exactly where I go to find photo books.

Why the Library?

I encourage you to check out your local library and find photo books. I think this is one of the easiest ways to access them. Of course, you can look online at photos, but let’s be real—

Holding a book in your hands and flipping through it is the best experience and the ultimate way to look at photography.

If you don’t have your own collection of photo books—or they’re just too expensive—this is the way to go. Some of these books are crazy expensive, so just coming into the Free Library is an easy way to access them.

Exploring the Library

We’ve got an incredible library here in Philly, and I want to share this beautiful, historic building with you.

  • The photo books are right around the corner.
  • The art section and philosophy section are right next to each other.
  • They always have photos on display in the glass cases.

Finding the Best Photo Books

Check it out—photo books coming in. Art section. Yeah, yeah.

Right off the bat—Sebastião Salgado. Some of the best photography in my hands.


So, yeah, if you’re into photography but don’t want to spend a ton of money on books, hit up your local library. It’s free, easy, and honestly the best way to experience photography in its purest form.

Horticulture by Dante Sisofo

Scroll to Top