But infinite possibilities

I’m not just a bunch of star dust

Philadelphia is the birthplace of the United States of America. I am proud to be born and raised here in this great city! We have bustling streets, diverse people, beautiful parks, rivers, and the greatest bike trail on the East Coast.

The coolest video camera is the GoPro HERO11 Black Mini. It’s so compact and accompanies my Ricoh perfectly on the streets. You can shoot video with one hand, and photo in the other. The future of video is POV and immersion-based? I think people will want more authentic and immersive videos in the future as opposed to traditional cinema.

This is definitely the most minimalist GoPro I have ever used. It has a built in battery and no LCD screen. It’s a simple, magic black box that records everything in front of you. I like that there is no extra battery to carry around with me and no distracting screen. Maybe you want a more robust option, but I prefer this stripped down version of the GoPro.

Ricoh GRIII Camera Settings for Street Photography

Simplifying the Process

The Ricoh GRIII is a minimalist’s dream once you’ve set it up. At first glance, the menu system can feel overwhelming, but the beauty lies in its customization. I’ve refined my settings to focus solely on shooting without unnecessary distractions. With my setup, all I need are two controls: the shutter and the adjustment lever for exposure compensation.

Below, I’ll break down my go-to settings for street photography.

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My Ricoh GRIII Camera Settings

Shooting Settings

• Mode: AV Mode
• Aperture: f/8 (for a deep depth of field)
• Snap Focus Distance: 2 meters
• ISO: Auto (Upper Limit: 6400, Lower Limit: 400)
• Minimum Shutter Speed: 1/500
• Metering Mode: Highlight Weighted

Why these settings? AV Mode lets me control the aperture while the camera adjusts the shutter speed within my defined limits. This keeps my shots sharp and properly exposed in dynamic lighting conditions.

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Image Settings

• File Format: Small JPEG (3360 x 2240)
• Image Control: High Contrast Black and White
• High/Low Key Adjustments: -2
• Contrast: +4
• Highlight Contrast: -4
• Shadow Contrast: 0
• Sharpness: +4
• Shading: +4
• Clarity: +4
• Grain Effect: 3

Why Small JPEGs? They’re lightweight and perfect for quick workflow. The high-contrast black and white aesthetic enhances textures and shadows, giving a bold, timeless look to my street shots.

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Key Customizations

Focus Settings

• Snap Focus: Always on at 2 meters, providing sharp focus from approximately 1 meter to infinity.
• Full Press Snap: Off (to avoid accidental snaps).
• Face and Eye Detection: Off (irrelevant for my style).
• Focus Peaking: Off (unnecessary with Snap Focus).

Button Customization

I’ve customized my function buttons for efficiency:

• Left D-Pad: Snap Focus distance adjustment
• Top D-Pad: Highlight Weighted Metering
• Right D-Pad: Video Mode
• Down D-Pad: Auto White Balance

Additional Settings

• Grid Display: 4×4 Grid (helps align compositions).
• LCD Touch Operations: On (but Touch AF off to prevent misfocus).
• Quick Zoom: 100% (for reviewing sharpness).
• Instant Review: Off (to maintain focus on shooting).

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Why These Settings Work for Me

The goal with this setup is to simplify the process and focus on what matters: capturing the moment. With these settings, I can react quickly to changing scenes, maintain a consistent aesthetic, and avoid getting bogged down in technical adjustments.

Street photography is about staying in the moment. These settings let me shoot with speed, curiosity, and confidence.

Whether you’re new to the Ricoh GRIII or looking to refine your process, feel free to try these settings and adapt them to your style. Happy shooting!