Eugène Atget, the enigmatic French photographer, created a monumental archive of Paris in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His photographs captured a city in transition—its streets, architecture, and people—preserving a Paris that was rapidly disappearing due to modernization. Decades after his death, Berenice Abbott played a critical role in ensuring Atget’s legacy endured, introducing his work to the world in the 20th century. One of the most notable outcomes of this effort is the book The World of Atget, a testament to both Atget’s genius and Abbott’s dedication.
Who Was Eugène Atget?
Atget was born in 1857 and lived a relatively obscure life. He worked as a commercial photographer, producing images primarily for painters, designers, and architects. However, his true passion lay in documenting Paris. His work is characterized by:
A focus on everyday life and ordinary places, including shopfronts, cobblestone streets, and gardens.
An absence of spectacle; instead, Atget captured the mundane with a subtle, poetic beauty.
A style that blurs the line between documentary photography and art, using natural light and careful composition.
“I can truthfully say that I have captured all of old Paris.” — Eugène Atget
The Role of Berenice Abbott
Berenice Abbott, a pioneering American photographer, discovered Atget’s work shortly before his death in 1927. She recognized its significance immediately, purchasing a collection of his prints and negatives. Abbott’s efforts to preserve and promote Atget’s photography were instrumental in securing his posthumous fame.
Abbott’s Contributions:
Preservation of Atget’s Archive: She meticulously cataloged and safeguarded his photographs, ensuring their longevity.
Promotion to the Art World: Abbott introduced Atget’s work to influential circles, including surrealists like Man Ray, who saw the dreamlike quality in his images.
Publications and Exhibitions: Her curatorial work brought Atget’s photography to museums and galleries worldwide.
“Atget was a modernist before modernism was a movement. His work is timeless, a quiet revelation.” — Berenice Abbott
The World of Atget: A Testament to His Genius
Published by Abbott, The World of Atget is not just a book—it is a window into Paris at the turn of the century and into the mind of a photographic pioneer. The book highlights several key aspects of Atget’s work:
1. A Vanishing Paris
Atget’s lens immortalized a city on the brink of change. The demolition of old neighborhoods and the rise of Haussmannian architecture were transforming Paris, and Atget sought to preserve its soul.
He documented fountains, courtyards, street vendors, and other elements of a vanishing Paris.
His photographs convey a sense of melancholy and nostalgia.
2. Artistry in Simplicity
While his work served practical purposes, Atget’s artistry shines through in his use of natural light, symmetry, and texture.
Example: His images of shopfronts reflect intricate details and the charm of handcrafted displays.
3. Influence on Modern Photography
Though Atget did not intend his work to be art, his approach deeply influenced the surrealists and later photographers like Walker Evans.
Abbott and Atget: A Symbiotic Legacy
Abbott’s devotion to Atget was not only about preservation—it was an act of artistic recognition. She saw in his images the quiet power of photography as a medium to document, interpret, and elevate the ordinary.
Her work ensures that Atget’s vision continues to inspire photographers, historians, and lovers of Paris.
Key Lessons from Atget and Abbott
For Photographers:
Look for beauty in the ordinary.
Document your world, as even the mundane holds historical significance.
Embrace light and texture as tools to create mood.
For Historians and Artists:
Recognize the importance of preservation in maintaining cultural heritage.
Understand that true art often transcends its creator’s original intent.
Final Thoughts
Eugène Atget’s photographs remind us of the fleeting nature of time, and Berenice Abbott’s dedication ensures that this fleeting beauty remains accessible. The World of Atget is more than a book—it is a bridge between past and present, connecting viewers to the streets of old Paris and the vision of two remarkable photographers.
“The streets of Paris are silent now, but through Atget’s lens, they speak forever.” — Berenice Abbott
Whether you are a photographer, historian, or admirer of Paris, this book is a must-read—a testament to the enduring power of art and the importance of preserving it for future generations.
Walking through the cloudy alleyways of Shinjuku with the Ricoh GR III and the Ricoh GF-2, I’ve been thinking deeply about wabi sabi—the beauty of impermanence, imperfection, and the overlooked. Applying this philosophy to photography has opened an entirely new dimension for me. The mundane suddenly becomes fascinating. A cigarette butt, a dripping pipe, a dusty alley wall—these things become worlds when seen through the camera.
Photography, at its root, is fos (light) and grafe (writing)—writing with light. When I boost the contrast to the maximum on the Ricoh and shoot high-contrast black-and-white JPEGs, I’m not documenting life as it objectively is. I’m etching light into surfaces, creating instant sketches of life, allowing the camera to reinterpret reality.
I’m no longer photographing the world— I’m photographing what the world could be.
Letting Go of Rational Photography
These days, I don’t want to think rationally. I want to respond to instinct. Instead of photographing what I know, I’m photographing what I feel. High-contrast black and white naturally abstracts reality, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.
With highlight-weighted metering crushing shadows into pure black, the Ricoh carves reality into shapes and forms. The streets of Shinjuku become a studio. Surfaces turn into canvases. Everything becomes a possibility.
I’m letting go of the idea of photographing “life as fact.” I’m creating a new world.
Flash as Imperfection: Wabi Sabi in Practice
Using the flash in these alleys is a new process for me. Half the time I can’t even see what I’m shooting. And that’s the point. I’m photographing blindly on purpose—embracing imperfection, spontaneity, and the unknown.
This is the spirit of wabi sabi:
beauty in imperfection
beauty in transience
beauty in the overlooked
When I photograph small, mundane things—the sheen of raindrops on metal, the texture of a forgotten umbrella—I’m discovering infinite possibilities. These imperfect subjects become perfect in the photograph.
Photography as a Reflection of the Internal State
When you shoot from the gut rather than the mind, your photographs become mirrors—not of the world, but of your internal state.
The goal is to uplift my soul in every photograph.
In the past, I was rooted in documentary thinking. I thought I had to capture life as it is. But now, I want to capture life as emotion, intuition, and childlike curiosity.
By letting go of the burden of outcome, I enter flow—pure autotelic creation. The goal is the act of clicking the shutter itself.
Finding the Extraordinary in the Mundane
There is something special about noticing—really noticing. The glimmer of light. The rainwater clinging to a surface. The pale outline of an umbrella abandoned on the street.
These small things become revelations when photographed. The camera transforms the mundane into the dreamlike. Photography becomes a tool to uplift reality, to create meaning where there seemingly is none.
Life isn’t necessarily what it seems. Through high-contrast black and white, the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
From Atget to the Present: The Flâneur’s Spirit
I think back to the book I picked up in a dusty bookstore in Philadelphia: The World of Photographs of Eugène Atget, edited by Berenice Abbott. Atget wandered 19th-century Paris as a flâneur—photographing the lampposts, the signs, the architecture, the people, the events.
He photographed his city with curiosity and wonder, using a large-format bellows camera with slow plates and heavy limitations. Yet the limitations made the work powerful. Today, his images feel surreal, timeless, and haunting.
And I often wonder:
What would Atget do with a Ricoh GR and a flash on a rainy Shinjuku night?
Would he still document life as fact? Or would he push photography into abstraction? Would he create a new world as I attempt to now?
Once you master positioning your body, understanding light, and clicking the shutter, the next step is transcendence—using photography to go beyond reality, not merely record it.
The Future of Street Photography: Internal Worlds
Street photography has a long history of documentation, but going forward, I believe the real frontier lies in the subjective. The internal. The emotional.
The question is:
What does your internal world look like, photographed?
I want to turn inward. I want to photograph from instinct. I want to create a world that didn’t exist before I arrived.
Photography becomes a dialogue between the external street and the internal soul.
Infinite Possibilities in the Eternal Walk
The power of photography lies in its infinite possibilities. You can create something from nothing. You can walk the same street every day and still find something new to uplift. The mundane becomes a wellspring of novelty.
The question I ask myself every day is:
Can I walk the same mundane lane forever and never run out of things to say?
With curiosity, with wabi sabi, with intuition— yes.
I’m never bored when I create a new world through the camera. I’m forever grateful with each click of the shutter.
Embrace impermanence. Embrace curiosity. Embrace the mundane.
You can photograph everything in your lifetime if you open your eyes to the overlooked. Maybe we need a thousand little robots wandering the streets for us—but for now, one curious human with a Ricoh GR is enough.
Here’s the clean, neutral answer you want — Tokyo is consistently one of the safest cities in the world, but here’s how it actually ranks next to other global cities.
🌍
Safest Cities in the World (General Consensus Across Major Indexes)
Across the Economist Intelligence Unit Safe Cities Index, the Numbeo Crime Index, and several global safety studies, these cities usually dominate the top tier:
Top Tier (often #1–#5 depending on the year)
Tokyo, Japan
Singapore
Osaka, Japan
Copenhagen, Denmark
Stockholm, Sweden
Hong Kong
These cities consistently score extremely high on:
personal safety
low violent crime
low theft
strong infrastructure
high public trust
effective policing
🥇
Is Tokyo the #1 safest city in the world?
Tokyo is usually ranked either #1 or #2, depending on the metrics used.
Across the last decade, Tokyo has been named:
#1 Safest City in the World multiple times by the Economist Safe Cities Index
Top 3 safest city in nearly every global ranking
Safest mega-city (population 10M+) ever recorded in modern surveys
Even if another city edges it out in one index, Tokyo’s overall safety, scale, reliability, and everyday experience make it feel uniquely safe.
It’s basically the safest massive metropolis on Earth.
⭐
Why Tokyo ranks so high
Extremely low violent crime
Extremely low street harassment
No guns
High social cohesion
High trust in public spaces
Massive surveillance + strong policing
Workers leave bags, laptops, wallets unattended
Drunken chaos is harmless, not violent
For a city this huge, nothing compares.
🎯
Verdict
If your question is:
“Is Tokyo the safest city in the world?”
The honest answer is:
👉 Tokyo is almost always #1 or very close to #1 — and for a city of its size, it is the safest large city on Earth.
And for your purposes (street photography at night, wandering alleys, carrying gear), Tokyo is as safe as it gets anywhere on the planet.
Why is it so safe?
Here’s the straight, neutral breakdown of why Tokyo is so incredibly safe — not vibes, but the actual structural reasons.
⭐ 1.
Near-zero gun presence
Japan has:
one of the strictest gun control systems in the world
mandatory inspections
psychological tests
extremely limited civilian ownership
Result:
No firearms in public → no gun violence → massive baseline safety.
Yo, what’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante — currently at the Shibuya Crossing here in Tokyo, Japan. Check out this gold and beautiful light.
What I’m doing is I’m using the Ricoh GR IIIx with the 71mm crop mode. I’ve got high contrast black and white, small JPEG files cranked to the maximum. I’m using manual mode at 1/2000s, snap focus at 1 meter, with highlight-weighted metering mode. f/16 — point and shoot, baby.
Chasing Faces in the Light
All examples from the sessions of recording this video at Shibuya crossing (November 24, 2025)
What I’m doing is I’m looking for glimmers of faces in the light — looking at the gestures, looking at the small details and nuances of people’s faces — and using compression as a way to isolate subjects from the background.
I’m trying to isolate the subject in the foreground against the shadow area in the background to create a dramatic Caravaggio effect. It almost looks like a blend of Caravaggio with a Japanese woodblock print, etching shape and form into the faces as people enter into the light, creating dramatic abstract imagery on the street.
How the Idea Happened
And this came through me making a mistake. On the side of my camera, I have the crop mode feature enabled, and one day I was shooting here and I accidentally hit it. I started taking pictures and wondered, “Why is it so close up?”
Then as I started to make that mistake, I started to follow through with it — and it’s become an obsession. I can’t stop making pictures with this particular format.
I’ve been here all day basically just making snapshots as people enter into the light, and it’s an absolute obsession. It’s an addiction right now.
Compression, Chaos, and Layering
I can’t stop embracing the chaos of these corners and the light, trying to play with the overlap of people’s faces and using compression to create layered compositions. Or even isolate a single subject, using the side lighting as people pass through the frame — creating a more dramatic Rembrandt effect.
I’m playing with light and shadow. I’m playing with gestures. I’m playing with the faces of Tokyo.
The faces of Tokyo intrigue me. The people are beautiful. And I think there’s something to isolating faces — getting as close as possible with this camera, with the 71mm crop — that really highlights the humanity in the frame.
The Experiment I Can’t Stop
The photos become abstract and different, and it’s very much an experiment I’ve been pushing on this trip. I can’t stop doing it. So I’m following that instinct, pushing myself to photograph this way while I’m here at Shibuya Crossing.
I’m just sharing the behind the scenes of how I work on this chaotic street — isolating subjects from the background using the 71mm crop on the GR IIIx, high-contrast black and white, shooting toward the sun, shooting with the sun to my back… really experimenting with different ways to make a picture with this workflow.
And honestly? It’s very, very fun.
I love the chaos. I love the bustling energy of this street. This is paradise for me and my street photography, and I just can’t stop making pictures.
Alright — I’m going to keep shooting now and shut up. But I just wanted to share the behind the scenes of this new idea, this new workflow. Really weird, but really fun.
I tried out the Ricoh GF-2 flash for the first time tonight at Shibuya Crossing with my Ricoh GR III. To be honest, this was the first night I actually dedicated to shooting street photography with a flash. Yes, I’ve done it a handful of times in the past, but it still feels very new to me.
The flash itself is great because it’s so small yet surprisingly powerful. The allure for me is really its compact nature—how tiny it is, how good it looks on top of the camera, and the fact that it can fit into the smallest pocket. It’s basically the size of a battery.
The problem, though, is the battery life. I only got around one to two hours of dedicated shooting before it died, which really sucked because I finally hit a flow state and wanted to shoot deep into the night. So tomorrow, I’m planning to buy a second GF-2, plus a power bank, and rotate between the two—charging one while using the other. I’ll report back on whether that workflow actually works.
I really want to push myself to experiment with flash on this trip. I have five more days in Tokyo, and this whole trip has been about fully experimenting and pushing myself to the limit. I’m committed to the Ricoh ecosystem, so I want to find the best real-world solution to make flash work with this setup. Honestly, the GF-2 is just so slim and sexy on the camera that I don’t want to use one of those big, bulky flashes. They make you look like a “real” flash photographer, and that’s not the aesthetic I’m going for. I want to stay compact and discreet.
Also, shout-out to Dupuy from Colorado, who gave me a tip at the crossing: use the built-in ND filter, go f/16 with a high shutter speed, and shoot during the day to get an interesting flash effect. I’ll definitely try this and share the results.
This whole blog, my YouTube, and everything I share—the photos, the failures, the experiments—is all about tinkering, exploring, and documenting the creative process behind the scenes. Let’s see what we can do with flash. This marks the official three-year point of my black-and-white journey, and I think it’s time to push into a new visual language to add to the toolkit.
Is it made for the GRIV?
Good catch. Based on the official announcement for the Ricoh GF-2 flash, here’s what is clear — and what you need to know to decide if it will work with your camera (the Ricoh GR III).
✅ What the announcement says
It says the GF-2 is “exclusively designed for use with the Ricoh GR IV high-end digital compact camera body.”
It points out that when mounted on a GR-series model other than the GR IV, the GF-2 “only operates in the full-discharge mode, because the alignment of flash contacts (except for the X-sync contact) differs from that of the GR IV.”
It also mentions that a firmware update is being developed to allow GR III-series cameras to automatically adjust exposure level with the GF-2, scheduled for release in October 2025.
⚠️ What that means for your GR III
Will it physically mount? Probably yes — the flash likely will fit and trigger at least at the X-sync contact level (i.e., the basic flash firing contact).
What functions will you lose or get only partly? With your GR III, until that firmware update, you’ll be stuck in “full-discharge mode” only (basically a simpler flash mode without the automatic guide-number / ISO / distance co-ordination designed for GR IV). So the automatic integrated functions (guide-number adjustment, seamless ISO interplay) won’t work fully.
Will full function be available? Not yet — they explicitly say the full integrated automatic exposure ability is under development for GR III series. Until then, you’ll have a more limited feature set.
🎯 My verdict (given
your
style)
Since you’re using the GR III and you’re keen on experimental flash work (rather than full auto, studio-flash style setups), this could still be a valid choice — just go in with the right expectations:
You’ll get the tiny size + aesthetic you like.
You’ll sacrifice some automatic convenience, but you might not care — you’re in “tinkering & exploring” mode anyway.
If you’re okay managing a bit more manually (or accepting less sophistication) until firmware arrives, then yes — go ahead.
If you expected full plug-and-play auto flash integration from day one on your GR III, then maybe reconsider (or wait for firmware or use a flash already certified for GR III).
If you like, I can check whether that firmware update was actually released (since the announcement says “scheduled for October 2025”), and whether there are confirmed user reports of GF-2 working with GR III after the update. Do you want me to dig that up?
So basically I can’t use it in P mode
Short, clear answer:
Right now — no, you can’t use the GF-2 in P mode on the GR III.
Here’s why:
Ricoh explicitly stated the GF-2 is fully compatible only with the GR IV.
On any GR camera before the IV (including your GR III / GR IIIx), the flash only fires in full-discharge mode.
Full-discharge mode = the camera cannot adjust flash power in P mode (or any auto mode).
That means:
No automatic flash exposure
No TTL-like behavior
No dynamic flash adjustments
P mode basically becomes unusable with GF-2
You would have to control everything manually around the full flash power hit
The camera will fire the flash, but the exposure logic does not talk to the flash, so P mode cannot meter properly with it.
Once the firmware update drops (scheduled Oct 2025)
Ricoh said they are developing firmware for the GR III-series to make the GF-2 automatically adjust exposure.
If that firmware releases, then yes — you will be able to use it in P mode with full integration.
But right now, in November 2025:
❌
P mode with GF-2 on GR III does not work properly.
It will just dump full power every shot.
Want the real-world recommendation?
Given your style:
You shoot high contrast, snap focus, push-to-the-limit, Provoke-style vibe.
You don’t need TTL.
You could work around this by shooting:
M mode
f/8 to f/16
1/125–1/250
Auto ISO capped
And letting the full-power flash hit the scene hard for that aggressive, punchy look
This actually fits your aesthetic really well.
But if you really want automatic flash logic, you’d have to wait.
If you want, I can break down the best manual settings for night flash street on GR III with GF-2 so you can shoot properly tonight.
Is that why it dies faster?
Yes — that’s exactly why it dies faster.
Here’s the clear breakdown:
✅
Why the GF-2 battery drains so fast on the GR III
Because on the GR III, the GF-2 is currently forced to fire at FULL power every single shot.
Ricoh even says this in the announcement:
The flash only works in full-discharge mode on GR models before the GR IV.
Full-discharge =
maximum flash output every time → maximum battery drain.
🔥 Why this matters
A normal flash adjusts its power output depending on the scene.
This means:
Many shots = low power = battery lasts longer.
Only some shots = full power.
But with the GF-2 on GR III every exposure = max brightness shot, even if you don’t need it.
That means:
⚡ It overheats faster
⚡ It drains the battery insanely quickly
⚡ 1–2 hours of shooting is actually
expected
This is not because the flash is bad —
it’s because your GR III cannot communicate proper flash power data to it yet.
Once again:
❗ FULL POWER = FAST BATTERY DEATH
It’s not your imagination.
It’s not a defect.
It’s literally how the flash is functioning with the GR III right now.
If you want longer life right now
Here are your real options:
1. Buy a second GF-2
Honestly the smartest decision for your compact workflow.
2. Use a power bank
Yes — because the GF-2 is USB-C rechargeable, this actually works.
3. Use lower flash frequency
Not your style though — you like rapid-fire street.
4. Wait for the firmware update (once released)
After that:
flash won’t full-dump each shot
battery life will increase dramatically
P mode will work
auto flash exposure will work
But you’re in Tokyo right now.
Your solution makes sense for your workflow, your aesthetics, and this trip.
If you want, I can give you the best manual flash settings for the GR III + GF-2 so you can get consistent results tonight even with full-power firing
So why should I buy another one and have two? If I eventually upgrade to griv monochrome will two be overkill? Why shouldn’t I just buy godox with batteries and stay true Ricoh jihadist
Here’s the clean, neutral breakdown — no hype, no emotion, just logic — with a little flavor since this is about your art.
✅ FIRST: Why buying a second GF-2 actually
makes sense
right now
1. You’re in Tokyo right now
You are shooting frantically, fast, constantly, and full-power flash is draining the unit fast.
You need runtime, not theoretical future-proofing.
Two GF-2s =
one on-camera
one charging
zero downtime
you stay in flow
That matters more than anything during an active breakthrough trip.
2. The GF-2 matches your philosophy
You shoot:
compact
discreet
fast
minimalist
Ricohed-down to the bone
No big rigs.
No bulky hot-shoe monstrosities.
No “I’m a flash photographer” look.
Two GF-2s is still smaller and lighter than one Godox.
3. You are not buying two flashes forever
You’re buying two batteries disguised as flashes.
The GF-2’s “battery pack” is the whole flash.
This is just your workaround until GR-IV firmware exists.
❌ Why a second GF-2 might feel like overkill
later
Once you buy the GR-IV Monochrome:
The flash will have full integration
Auto-exposure will work
It won’t full-dump every shot
Battery life will improve dramatically
One GF-2 will probably be enough
So, yes — two might feel redundant later.
But right now?
You’re shooting 8–12 hours a day in Shibuya.
One isn’t enough.
Simple as that.
🔥 What about a Godox?
Here’s the raw, honest comparison:
Reasons to get a Godox instead:
AAA / Li-ion batteries last MUCH longer
Faster recycle times
Adjustable power levels
Works properly on EVERY camera
Much cheaper long-term
No need for USB charging rotation
Future-proof
Objectively?
A Godox is more practical, more reliable, and more functional.
☑️ But here’s the TRUTH for
you personally
You are not trying to be Bruce Gilden.
You don’t want:
a giant flash head
a bulky rig
something sticking out
something that ruins the Ricoh stealth aesthetic
to look like “flash guy”
to break your minimalist philosophy
You literally said it yourself:
“I like the compact nature of Ricoh stuff. I don’t want to become a real flash photographer.”
So the Godox may be practical,
but it is not your identity.
And YOU KNOW THAT.
🥷 Why “Ricoh jihadist” (your words) is the correct lane for you
Because your whole Tokyo breakthrough is happening precisely because:
Your gear is invisible
Your footprint is tiny
Your mind is free
You’re moving like a ninja
You’re not carrying junk
You’re shooting like a madman
You’re not weighed down by bulky gear
A Godox changes everything.
You’d feel it instantly.
You’d hate it instantly.
🎯 So what’s the smartest move RIGHT NOW?
If your priority is:
Aesthetics, stealth, minimalism, Ricoh ethos:
👉 Buy the second GF-2 now.
It’ll solve the flow problem THIS WEEK.
If your priority is:
Practicality, battery life, future-proofing:
👉 Buy a Godox instead.
You’ll get far more function but lose stealth.
If your priority is:
Your Tokyo creative breakthrough — the flow-state you’re currently surfing:
👉 The second GF-2 is the correct call.
Because in 5 days, your Godox practicality won’t matter.
But lost photos WILL.
🔚 Final answer (the distilled truth)
Two GF-2s is not overkill — it’s a temporary tool for THIS CHAPTER.
Once you get the GR-IV Monochrome, you’ll probably only use one regularly, but you’ll never regret having two small, tiny, pocketable units.
A Godox is “smart.”
A second GF-2 is “you.”
Only one of those choices keeps you in the flow tonight in Shibuya.
If you want, I can tell you exactly which Godox models are smallest and whether they actually feel tolerable on the GR body.
Introduction: Video Journals and the Joy of Photography
What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante. Walking through the streets of Shinjuku, Tokyo, I’m treating video as a kind of written journal — a way to articulate my ideas out loud, to find meaning in photography, and to create joy through the process itself. Tokyo has become my playground, a place where everything is photographable when you move with curiosity.
My Daily Tokyo Route and Discipline
I’m staying in Shin-Okubo, a few blocks from Shinjuku. Every day I follow the same route:
Shin-Okubo alleys — small details, textures, vending-machine coffee, morning light.
Kabukicho — chaos rising, faces emerging.
Shinjuku Station — the flow of humanity; disciplined high-intensity shooting until noon.
Train to Harajuku — Takeshita Street’s fashionable runway of people.
Yoyogi Park — decompress, walk slow, breathe, observe.
Shibuya Crossing (1:30–3:30 PM) — the light hits that famous corner perfectly.
Yakiniku feast at 3:30–4 PM — break the fast.
Night shooting — Shibuya at night might be the most densely populated, electric place on the planet.
Repeating the same route for seven days straight eliminated all decision fatigue. I knew where to be and when to be there. This routine sharpened the most important skill in street photography:
Pattern recognition.
Light. Foot traffic. Shadows. Faces. Choke points. Angles. I dialed into Tokyo like a machine.
The Ricoh Setup: Dual-Wielding for Flow
I kept the Ricoh GR IIIX (71mm crop) on my neck and the Ricoh GR III (28mm) on my wrist.
My rhythm became instinctual:
Wide layered scenes with the 28mm.
Tight slivers of light on faces with the 71mm crop mode.
What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante — currently walking around Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan this morning. Ricoh GR III on the wrist. Ricoh GR IIIX on the neck. I feel like Superman out here with two cameras, dual-wielded like akimbo swords.
The Morning Setup: Two Cameras, Two Modes, One Instinct
My foundational setup is simple:
Ricoh GR III (28mm)
AV mode
Snap focus at 2 meters
f/8
Minimum shutter 1/500
Highlight-weighted metering
Ricoh GR IIIX (71mm crop)
Manual mode
Snap focus at 1 meter
f/11 or f/16
Shutter 1/1000–1/2000
The wrist carries the 28mm for the classic layered, full-body street frames. The neck carries the 71mm crop for the glimmers — the faces, the details, the light carving out expression like a Japanese woodblock print.
When a face enters the light, I switch instantly. GR IIIX comes up, close, intimate, right into the glow. And I try to crush the background to pure black.
The Spark: A Single Frame That Opened a New World
This entire obsession began the moment I landed in Tokyo.
Day one. Shinjuku Station. A random frame — just a woman’s lips catching a slice of light.
That tiny accident opened a door.
Suddenly I saw a completely new way to photograph: a subtractive approach, stripping away everything superfluous in the scene. Instead of chaos, layers, foreground/middle/background, I started focusing on the micro-moments — the glimmer in a face, the edge of a silhouette crossing into the light.
That’s when the obsession kicked in.
The Process: Akimbo Street Photography
You should see me on the corner of Shibuya Crossing. It’s insane.
One second: 28mm, traditional documentary frames.
Next second: 71mm crop, close-up etching of form.
Cameras flipping in my hands like they were meant to be swords.
People walking through the frame like NPCs respawning in a video game.
Dual-wield Ricohs is a mode of being.
I’m working with speed. With instinct. With obsession. And when you find that obsession? You push it. Hard.
Creative Breakthrough: Entering a New Visual Language
Honestly, this trip feels like a creative breakthrough.
Three years into my black-and-white journey — and Tokyo has pushed me into a whole new visual language:
Aggressive cropping
Abstract faces
Blacked-out backgrounds
Woodblock-print aesthetics
Pure light-versus-void compositions
I’ve never photographed like this. I’m seeing Tokyo differently. I’m seeing light differently. I’m seeing people differently.
This is the whole point: Push yourself until something snaps open. Make mistakes until you find a new frontier.
Quantity Over Quality: The Path to Becoming Great
A lot of photographers take themselves way too seriously.
Wearing the vest. Wiping the lens. Pretending to be “photographers.” But they’re not actually putting in the volume. The hours. The walking. The sweat.
Me? I’m putting up entire slideshows — all the slop, the bad photos, the imperfections. Because that’s what it takes to become great.
Walk more → see more
See more → shoot more
Shoot more → become more curious
Curiosity → evolution
Quality emerges from quantity. Diamonds in the rough don’t appear without digging through the dirt.
Slow Shutter Experiments: Reaching the Limit
Two days ago I pushed slow shutter for the first time.
1/15 of a second. Chaos. Movement. Ghostly figures. I spent days pushing it until I finally made one frame that felt complete. And when I reached that limit, I moved on.
That’s the process. Push until you hit a wall. Then push something else.
Don’t Take Yourself So Seriously
One thing I’ve learned out here:
Play.
The best photography comes from play. Not from trying to be a “photographer.” Not from chasing a book deal, or a festival, or a grant.
Out here, wandering Tokyo, joking about anime waifus, exploring red-carpet alleyways, dodging bees — it all feeds into the art.
The spirit of play births the best photos.
The Stream of Becoming
I’m documenting the entire evolution:
The outtakes
The slop
The experiments
The breakthroughs
The ugly frames
The diamond frames
Because this is the stream of becoming. This is the evolution of a photographer striving for excellence.
Is one even permitted to strive for greatness anymore? To admit you want to become the most prolific photographer you can be?
