What’s popping, people? It’s Dante. This morning, I’m walking around Center City Philadelphia along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway — just came from Logan Square’s fountain. Very beautiful place to start the day. Yeah.
Barefoot Shoes That Don’t Look Ridiculous
Quick note — If you’re curious about barefoot shoes that don’t make you look like a cartoon character…
Get the Vivo Barefoot Primus Lite All Weather.
They feel like Vibram Five Fingers (the ELX model) but look like normal sneakers. I wear them to work too. Just feels proper having closed-toe shoes on the job, but I still get that barefoot connection with the ground.
Thought of the Day: Return to Day One
Alright, now to the real reason I’m walking and talking — photography.
Here’s what I’ve been reflecting on:
“Every day should feel like Day One.”
This is straight-up Zen in practice. It’s how I try to operate as a human being.
The Red Ring of Death Philosophy
Every night, I assume I’m not going to respawn. Like, imagine you’re in some ultra-hardcore video game. You put your character to sleep… but maybe the game just crashes for good. Red Ring of Death. You’re done.
So when I wake up in the morning?
It feels like I’ve been born again. Miniature birth. Blank slate. Everything is new.
And when you live like this — You move through the world with childlike curiosity. You seek the sun. You drop down to study the cracks in the sidewalk. You see the glimmer on a pothole.
Infinite Curiosity = Infinite Photography
With this mindset:
The mundane becomes mesmerizing
Scratches on a street sign become art
Light glancing off a bench is enough
“Through childlike curiosity, you can infinitely photograph and find meaning in life.”
Forget the Checklist. Empty the Mind.
We know so much about photography in 2025. Photo books, gear, techniques, scenes, locations — it’s endless.
But the real canvas is internal.
“Detach from the output. Turn inward. Empty the mind. Return to Day One.”
This is where authentic photos come from. Not from striving to be some capital-P Photographer. Just from being.
Love Thy Neighbor
I passed this sign: “Love Thy Neighbor” Simple. Profound.
Philadelphia — phílos (love) + adelphós (brother).
That’s the Quaker philosophy this city was built on. That’s the teaching of Jesus. And honestly?
“Love thy neighbor as thyself is the law that replaces all laws.”
If people actually lived by that… We wouldn’t need systems, bureaucracies, rulers. We’d bring the kingdom to Earth.
Stop Taking Yourself So Seriously
Photography doesn’t need to be this calculated, strategic act.
I don’t make checklists. I don’t have “projects.” I don’t decide to go to 15th & JFK to shoot a theme. I’m not covering a “topic.”
I’m not trying to say something. I’m just walking, being present, and snapping what moves me.
Kill the Notion of Style
Style? Forget it.
Look — Caravaggio had chiaroscuro. Gilden had harsh flash. Alex Webb has lush layers and wild color.
But the future photographer isn’t chasing style.
“The future photographer empties themselves and becomes a vessel for the medium.”
No seeking. No striving. No becoming. Just being. Just seeing.
Be a Vessel for the Medium
I’m not trying to make a photo that screams, “Dante took this.”
“I don’t care if it looks like my photo. That’s not why I’m making it.”
So stop striving. Stop branding yourself. Stop chasing identity.
Just empty yourself like a Zen monk. Let go. Be curious. Walk slowly. And become a vessel for the medium.
Manayunk (“MNYK” or “The Yunk”) is a hilly, vibrant neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River — just a ~15‑minute SEPTA train ride from Center City .
🏘️ History & Character
Industrial roots: Founded in the early 1800s around the Schuylkill Canal, it was originally called “Flat Rock” before being renamed Manayunk, a Lenape word meaning “place to drink” .
Borough to neighborhood: Incorporated as its own borough in 1840, it became part of Philadelphia in 1854 .
Architectural charm: Characterized by Victorian-era rowhomes, cobblestone streets, preserved mills, and the historic Main Street district listed on the National Register .
Community & Demographics
Population: Approx. 6,000–10,000 residents — mostly young professionals, families, and a longstanding working-class community .
Culture: Originally settled by German, Irish, Polish immigrants; now a blend of old and new, anchored by churches like St. David’s (1831) and Pretzel Park with its iconic pretzel sculpture .
Lifestyle & Amenities
Main Street scene: A pedestrian-friendly hub with ~60+ restaurants, bars, boutiques, galleries, breweries, plus the upcoming Source Brewing—a 3‑story rooftop venue set to open in Fall 2025 .
Events: Annual StrEAT Festival and Arts Festival attract crowds with food trucks, live music, crafts, and gallery shows .
Outdoor options: From the Canal Towpath and “Wall” at Levering Street to kayaking on the Schuylkill and the Manayunk Bridge Trail offering 24/7 pedestrian access .
Transport & Accessibility
Regional Rail: Manayunk Station (Cresson & Roxborough) on SEPTA’s Manayunk/Norristown Line offers easy commutes (~7.6 mi from Center City) .
Buses/Highways: Served by multiple SEPTA bus routes and close to I‑76 for driving.
Walkability: Highly walkable along Main Street and green trails; parking is hill‑challenge but manageable .
Living Here
Real estate: Mix of historic rowhomes, renovated mill lofts, new townhomes, condos on Venice Island .
Safety & vibe: Considered one of Philadelphia’s safer neighborhoods — quiet, community‑oriented, and liberal‑leaning .
Ideal for: Outdoor enthusiasts, dog owners, arts and dining lovers, commuters (train/bus), young families, and professionals seeking urban‑suburban balance.
Notable Spots
Pretzel Park: Dog-friendly with unique walkways and sculptures .
St. David’s Episcopal Church: Historic 19th‑century landmark .
Venice Island: Recreational park with a theater, courts, and splash area (opening phase).
In short, Manayunk is a blend of small‑town charm, historic character, and urban amenities. Ideal for those seeking a lively Main Street, outdoor activity, and convenient commuter access—all while preserving a tight‑knit community feel. Let
What’s poppin, people? It’s Dante. Currently on my morning walk here in the Centennial Arboretum. Check out all the beautiful trees — perfect way to start the day.
The Ricoh GR Workflow That Changed Everything
Today I was thinking about my workflow and photographing with the Ricoh. Here we got the Ricoh GR III — and I saw that the Ricoh GR IV was just announced. Yeah, I’ll probably grab that. Not because I need it, but because it’s just cool they’re making a new one.
But that’s not really the point of this. Today I just want to drop a very simple idea:
Why you should try photographing with the Ricoh GR and high contrast black and white JPEGs.
Not for Everyone — But It Might Be for You
Let me be clear: This isn’t for everyone. You can do whatever you want with your photography. I’m just here to share why this way of shooting brings me more joy.
Stripping down to high contrast black and white… it’s like everything becomes infinitely fascinating again. Even the mundane.
Rediscovering Photography Through Simplicity
It’s easy to feel like:
You’ve seen it all
You’ve shot it all
You’ve done everything you can with your camera
I’ve been there.
But coming back to black and white felt like returning to day one as a photographer. Now I’m finding infinite ways to articulate the world in a photograph.
“Everything becomes infinitely novel and infinitely photographable.”
The Joy of the Amateur Mindset
I think the joy comes from staying amateur. Compact camera. LCD screen. Fits in my pocket. I don’t have to wear the photographer hat anymore.
No big mission. No need to go out and tell some dramatic visual story. I’m just following my inner child and snapshotting my way through life.
I follow my intuition. I let the chips fall where they may. I move through life with my camera in hand — not looking or hunting, just being open to what comes.
Visual Diary of Daily Life
This whole workflow is like keeping a visual diary.
It’s not really about documenting life as it is, but rather:
How I interpret reality
What it could be
Abstracting the world through the lens
“Life can be so real that it feels unreal.”
By shooting this way, I’m emphasizing my way of seeing — through light.
“Light is what gives life meaning in my life. It’s my subject. My medium. My way of making photographs.”
Seeing Through the Veil
When you crank the contrast and grain to the max and shoot in B&W…
It’s like:
Holding up an x-ray to the world
Peering beyond the veil
Finding beauty in what seems boring
You give yourself the freedom to explore like a kid again. And yeah — you give yourself permission to break the rules.
Going Against the Grain in an AI World
As AI and camera tech get better at making hyperrealistic images, this approach feels even more important.
“By photographing this way, you go against the grain quite naturally.”
I want to transcend reality through a camera. To make something extraordinary out of the ordinary.
And yeah — it’s hard. But when you let yourself break the rules a bit, it becomes fun again. It becomes yours.
Infinite Output, Infinite Possibilities
This workflow lets me shoot so much more. Hundreds of thousands of photographs these past few years.
It’s the most prolific I’ve ever been as a photographer.
“The more photographs you make, the more keepers you’ll find.”
So yeah — if it works, keep rolling with it. This way suits me. I walk slow, I observe, I snapshot, and I don’t take it too seriously.
Embracing Imperfection = Finding Your Voice
All the grain. All the contrast. All the weird little digital details…
That’s the juice.
It’s funny, people ask:
“Isn’t that just a style?”
But to me, it’s the anti-style.
“You’re just a vessel for the medium. You work with light and shadow. You make instant sketches.”
Not worried about finding some perfect “signature look.” Just staying present and letting the photos come.
Transcending the Medium
This is my wild vision:
“Photographers of the future won’t just make photos — they’ll transcend photography.”
So if you’re curious about trying this out, I got you.
The reason why I am so abundantly grateful and joyous about photography—still after a decade of shooting—is that it provides endless meaning in my everyday life. One of the most interesting ways in which I’ve been framing my practice is just treating it like a visual diary of my day. What this means is, I simply photograph for myself and myself only. I think through making pictures this way, you can reflect your most authentic voice as a photographer.
Delete Your Instagram
Checking your Instagram in bed when you wake up in the morning is the equivalent of taking a shit in your hands and smearing it all over your face, your eyes, putting it in your mouth, and just having this disgusting sludge that you consume every morning. Would you wanna wake up with poopy in your eyes every day? No. So just delete your Instagram account.
Why? It’s so distracting. There’s infinite ads and degenerate content, mediocre photography, and pretty much just an endless place for you to scroll and let your brain rot away. If you want clarity and purpose and give your photography a place to live and breathe, just start a wordpress.org website and host your first name and last name on bluehost.com. It’s very simple—just use the Astra theme and create your own little space to put your work each day.
Even if you don’t wanna publish work, that’s cool too. Just buy a little sketchbook and the Canon Selphy CP1500, print out small thumbnails, cut them out, and paste them with double-sided tape in the sketchbook. You don’t need a book deal. You don’t need a gallery show. You don’t need anyone looking at your photographs, frankly. Just put them in a sketchbook and call it a day. You can get back to the photos at a later date. The goal is to stay in the flow state.
How to Enter the Street Photography Flow State
The more I think about flow, the more I realize how much it derives from your physical body. For instance, the vagus nerve connects from your gut to your heart and your brain and is responsible for like 80% of the information that is sent up to your brain. All of your emotional winds and feelings and thoughts are all starting within your physical body, not your mind.
And so when you recognize this very fundamental fact, you recognize the importance of gut health, and the connection between your gut health and intuition is most critical.
And so what is the most fundamental trait that a photographer must possess—especially a street photographer who is making candid photographs of strangers, indecisive moments?
Intuition.
Intuition is King
I think we should stop thinking so much, living in our brains too much. Yes, I have a brain that’s connected to my eyes that allow me to see and perceive the world with sharp visual acuity, but that’s not the thing that’s telling me to press the shutter.
What’s telling me to press the shutter is that gut instinct that I have that is very primal within my physical body. There’s a dopamine rush. There’s a hormone that fires. There’s testosterone in the air, and that’s what’s channeling my inner energy to then click the shutter.
It’s not like some visual game of me looking at the world like I need to make something so beautiful and perfect—it’s a gut feeling. It’s a very primal thing that derives from my body that makes me press the shutter.
Wanna replace the dopamine hit you get from using Instagram? Very simple:
Click your fucking shutter.
Join the Cult of Flux Photography
So I’ve been thinking about my process and came to the conclusion that I’m embracing flux, change—and this to me is at the forefront of my philosophy and practice.
You cannot make the same photograph twice.
The way the light casts upon surfaces, people, places, and things will always be different and will never be the same.
You cannot make the same photograph twice.
Is this not the most abundantly liberating and inspiring thought to have as a photographer? For ultimately, the name of the game is in the mundane.
And the ultimate question that you should ask yourself as a photographer is:
Can you walk the same mundane lane every single day, but still find something worth uplifting in a photograph?
If you find embracing the mundane to be challenging and you can’t find anything interesting to photograph—well, then maybe you’re just a boring human being.
But the audacious, courageous, and curious photographer is ultimately going to be able to go out into the world and articulate the unknown, put order to chaos, no matter what comes their way.
We enter a flow state, a stream of becoming, through making images.
What’s the Mindset?
Life affirmation.
Our next photographs are our best photographs. I simply know that the next click of the shutter will be my next best shot. I’m not throwing on the photos I made yesterday or tomorrow or even 10 years ago. Whatever. I’m just in the moment, making pictures in a stream of becoming, and moving onto the next one—letting the chips fall as they may.
I’m not thinking like I’m some serious documentary photographer with my vest on, wiping down my lens, putting my camera on my neck and my photography hat on, going out into the world to tell visual stories and change the world and make a gallery show that depicts what it’s like to live in the city as a youth or some mediocre topic that contemporary art loves.
I’m simply following my joy. I’m following my courage, my spiritedness, my Thumos, and letting that guide my photography.
Put on the Armor of God
When David slayed Goliath, he was a simple and small farmer boy. But by armoring himself with courage, with God, he overcame the beast and became king of Israel.
We should be more like David—having an ultimate and undeniable conviction, and knowing of God’s protection over your physical body, over your spirit—so that when you go out into the chaos and the open world, you come out unscathed on a feather bed.
When you recognize the fear that’s within you—that is natural and normal to have—but overcome it through courage and the conviction you have in God, nothing can break your spirit or your love for life. When you have no more fear of death itself, anything is possible.
But this only comes through tapping into the source: God. Something greater than yourself.
Personally, I just consider myself a disciple of Christ. I don’t even like the term “Christian.” I don’t know why—I just like the idea that I’m a disciple of Christ. I think that ultimately the human being must strive for the divine.
I think Christ is the truth. And I think that by following this inner light within you, you feel so much more abundantly powerful.
Every single day, I start with gratitude and prayer and just thank God for the day. When I go into the chaos, I have Saint Michael the Archangel on my shoulder. I’m a warrior, and I feel like he’s always guiding me and watching me and protecting me.
Ever read The Iliad? I found the most fascinating thing about that book is the way in which they summoned the gods to protect them in battle or called for Athena to guide them in war.
I think this is what’s missing in modern life—a connection to something greater than yourself. And so, my way of connecting to something greater than myself is through Christ—through not only his teachings and moral guidance, but the symbol of sacrifice—of him dying on the cross for the forgiveness of all of humanity.
The ultimate victim. The perfect sacrifice. God manifested in the flesh, shedding his blood for all people.
The most radical person who’s ever lived on earth. More radical than the myth of Achilles. More radical than the myth of Hercules. More radical than the myth of any ancient Greek or Roman god or goddess.
Why?
Because he was a real-life human being who walked this earth—God, manifested in flesh.
Created in the Image of God
And so if you tap into the source, you recognize the divine signature of love within you.
When you’re connected to Christ, not only do you have an insatiable love for life itself, but you have love for all people—whether they’re good or bad, enemies or friends. You have love for nature and animals, plants and trees, and all of the things of this world.
You have no hatred in your heart, because you’re so full of love and gratitude.
So when you recognize that all humans are divine manifestations of God, you can’t help but see God within all of humanity. You can’t help but see the light within another person.
My thought is that maybe some people have a little flicker in their candle, and they just need to be ignited.
Some people are in limbo—still atheist or in denial. And maybe these people are the ones that are always going to be stuck in the material world, in the rat race, in the pursuit of status and money and all the boring things that provide no sustenance in life.
But when you look at the birds, and the way that they fly from canopy to canopy, or the way the worms crawl through the dirt that then nourish the birds, or the way the spiders weave their webs—they’re all simply being.
They’re not striving to become anything.
They are provided for, because God provides for all of His creations.
But we make up this illusion in our head that we have to become something or try to do something to be worthwhile or valuable in society.
But when you no longer give two shits about what society thinks about you, and you’re connected to God, you know that that’s the only person watching that genuinely matters.
Once you no longer need validation from anybody of this world—because let’s be real, if you’re following Christ at the forefront, you’re really not of this world, you’re just kind of in it—well, then you can go out there and play, dance, sing, live your life like a living work of art.
Because ultimately, Providence is guiding you, and God is always watching, and Saint Michael the Archangel is slaying all the beasts over your shoulder as you go through the chaos.
Be Like a Child
I think that nature and children are the most pure forms of inspiration that you should find as an artist.
When you look at nature, and the different complexities of patterns in the trees and the leaves and all the natural things, and you surround yourself on a nice hike in the woods, you’re allowing life to breathe into you.
When you look at the word inspiration, it basically just means to breathe into. And there’s this spiritedness that breathes into you when you were created through God’s manifestation and will.
And so when you have that inner spirit within you guiding you—that fire within—you’re fueled with courage and curiosity.
And when you look at a kid—or even just remember my time as a kid—exploring in the woods, climbing trees that were insanely tall and I could probably die if I fell, building teepees, trying to hunt deer with spears, building bridges with stones, just exploring the unknown, all on my own—I was fearless and courageous and basically in the Garden of Eden.
But then once we ate the apple and we got all in our heads and started thinking so much, we lost our innocence. We were no longer in the childlike state.
But through letting go of the mind, and listening to your gut and your heart, I find that you can actually find the Kingdom of God here on earth.
The kingdom is a metaphor. It’s a philosophy. A way of life. It’s the way of the child—unbothered by societal norms, embracing their most authentic self, not thinking, but just doing.
Think of a child and the way they play—they’re simply eager to wake up and go play tag with their friends or go ride bikes.
I remember growing up, I used to love just hopping on my bike, biking over to my friend’s house that was my neighbor, knocking on his door, and we’d just go from there—door to door, getting all our friends together, going for a bike ride, going to the woods, etc.
We were voluntarily playing.
But as you get older, you start to involuntarily play.
Nothing feels like playing anymore. Why?
Because the school system has indoctrinated the entire mass of our population to succumb to mental and physical slavery. We listen to the bell ring. We move from class to class. We’re playing in a way that is not necessarily in our control or what we’re designed to be doing as young men.
Men aren’t supposed to be sitting on their balls for eight hours a day.
And I think that ultimately, a lot of modern society is trying to suck all the energy from your balls.
Harness the Power of the Sun
Our body is the vehicle, and we are driven by courage.
Charge your soul through the power of the sun.
There’s a reason why Jesus said that we are the light of the world, and that we are like lanterns, that the eye is the light of the body.
The more time you spend out in direct sunlight—with the light literally emanating into your eyes by waking up in the morning and catching the sunrise, and getting the sun in your eyes at sunset—you’re fueling your physical body with vitality.
You’re setting your circadian rhythm, which will then allow you to get deep sleep, and the more deep sleep you get, the more energy you’re gonna wake up with.
And so the body is like a battery, and we must plug ourselves into the source that will charge our souls—which is the sun itself.
I’m not saying we should worship the sun like some sun gods, but if you think about it, there’s a reason why the ancient Greeks and Romans worshiped Helios or Apollo.
It’s a very practical and physical feeling that you get through having the vitamin D and the UV rays emitting through your eyes, and charging your body through touching your skin and producing melanin.
People always ask me how I get so tan, and it’s very simple: I just go for walks with my shirt off in direct sunlight, with no sunscreen.
The more tan my skin becomes, the more power I feel I have—the more energy, vitality, Thumos, and spiritedness that I possess.
So just go out, every single day, for at least a half an hour, and get direct sun exposure.
I actually think that sunlight boosts my testosterone and energy more than anything.
It’s a very primal feeling that you get from just basking in the glory of the sun.
Follow the light. Chase the light. Charge your body in the sun.
Shoes and Sunglasses Are for Domesticated Zoo Animals
So my theory is that we are domesticated like zoo animals.
I’m walking on the trail and I’m writing this essay out loud, watching as people are rattling their bones around going for runs in the morning—with sunglasses on. They’re all very pale.
And I think it’s because of the sunglasses.
When you’re wearing sunglasses and spending all your time locked away inside of an office, you’re not giving your body the natural ability to integrate sunlight into your life.
It’s really a strange behavior that we’ve adopted—spending eight hours inside, sitting down in cars and offices, wearing sunglasses when we’re outside—it’s all just very unnatural.
Domestication.
Almost like self-imposed slavery.
So the primal way is simple: Just remove your shoes. Buy the Vibram FiveFingers EL-X Knit version. Walk with your shirt off. Embrace direct sunlight.
Don’t run. Don’t rattle your bones. Just simply be.
You don’t have to do anything. Go play. Go run up a hill if you wanna rattle around, or go for a hike in the woods. You don’t have to do anything forcefully like a hamster on a wheel, living this routine existence of mental and physical slavery.
Philadelphia is Street Photography Paradise
Philadelphia is the perfect city because you can be surrounded by the woods, in nature, in parks, chilling by the river, finding your Zen, your peace, your calm…
But you can also go straight into Center City, surround yourself in a bustling environment with chaos and people rushing around.
It’s the perfect city for a street photographer because it’s just big enough and just small enough and just populated enough for you to go out there and get the shots you need—and cover the entire city every single day.
I can literally walk the entire city every day and find candid moments every single time. There’s always something going on, always enough chaos and energy, and always a way for me to escape and find clarity in nature.
This, to me, is what makes Philly so perfect—how walkable it is, and how natural it is for you to walk from river to river, from neighborhood to neighborhood.
You don’t need to own a car. You can get around as a pedestrian easily.
I have zero desire to travel anymore because I’ve realized that paradise is where you are now. Paradise is right here in my hometown.
I feel like I’m in Athens and I never wanna leave. Or it almost feels like ancient Rome at the peak of its civilization—where there’s pretty much nowhere you wanna be but Rome, right?
Philly is the new Rome. And I am very grateful to call it my home.
Photography is the Ultimate Excuse
And so I find that ultimately, photography is the ultimate excuse for me to go out into the world and do whatever the fuck I want.
I can wake up, grab my camera, and move forward with purpose and meaning every single day.
I can walk endlessly—even aimlessly—and find meaning in it. I can find infinite ways for me to engage with humanity, chatting with people, traveling to new cities or places—even just within my hometown I can go from river to river, find myself on the outskirts of the city, in places that are more gritty, and experience all of life’s complexities because of photography.
Without photography, sure—life is still beautiful.
But photography is what makes life worth living.
When you’re full of vitality and curiosity, and you have the spirit within you that needs to unleash itself—what better vehicle to drive you out there into the world than a camera?
The camera is like a sword, and I wield it to strike through the chaos.
The camera is like a passport that unlocks all the experiences and places that I can have and go to.
With the camera, anything feels possible. There are no more limits. There’s just an endless horizon, an endless canvas
Real Street photographers have no political intentions. We are vessels for the medium that photograph life as it is.
🐒 Why the Garry Winogrand “Monkey Photo” Is So Controversial
The Garry Winogrand “monkey photo” has sparked debate for decades due to its complex mix of race, ethics, and photographic intent. Here’s a breakdown of why it’s so charged:
📸 The Photo in Question
Winogrand captured a photograph at a zoo where a chimpanzee dressed in human clothes is holding hands with a Black woman. The chimp is wearing a dress and hat. The woman is smiling. This photo was included in his Women Are Beautiful series.
⚡️ Why It’s Controversial
1. Racial Implications
The image evokes a long and painful history of racism in America, where Black people were dehumanized and compared to apes.
Even if unintended, pairing a Black woman with a chimpanzee in a single frame recalls these deeply offensive associations.
Critics argue that this image reinforces harmful stereotypes, regardless of artistic intent.
2. Ambiguity of Intent
Winogrand often stated that he didn’t photograph with a clear agenda; he was interested in how things looked, not what they meant.
This ambiguity leaves the photo open to problematic interpretations.
Many ask: Did he consider how this image would be received, or how it might impact the subject?
3. Street Photography Ethics
Winogrand was known for candid, unposed photography — often without permission.
But photographing someone in a way that can be read as demeaning or exploitative introduces ethical concerns.
The photo raises tough questions about power, representation, and responsibility.
💬 Why Winogrand Defenders Push Back
Some claim the photo is about absurdity or surrealism, not race — the strange pairing is meant to make you look twice.
Others see it as a commentary on the spectacle of modern life, not a statement about the subject.
Winogrand’s defenders often say he was simply capturing the world as he saw it, without narrative or judgment.
🧠 Final Thought
Whether or not Winogrand intended it, the meaning of a photo lives in the eye of the public. It’s not just what the photographer sees — it’s what the world sees in the frame.
“You can take a picture of anything. But you can’t control what it means.”
That’s what makes this photo both powerful and problematic — and why it continues to provoke discussion today.
So this morning, I’m thinking about desire—and what it is that I truly want from life itself. The thing is, when you think about desire, it’s typically about longing for something that you don’t currently have, which can maybe become a problem. However, recognizing exactly what you truly desire—what you truly want out of your life—is perhaps a good idea. That way, you can make a roadmap to get there.
And so when I look at the word desire, it derives from:
desiderare — “to be without your star” or “to miss the stars.”
I find this interesting because the more I contemplate my desire—what I truly want, seek, and hope for in life—it’s actually all about following a guiding star… the sun.
My Ultimate Goal: Never Miss Another Sunrise Again
The other day, I sat on a bench talking to a stranger about my ultimate desire: to stand upright, never miss another sunrise again, and walk toward the light perpetually throughout my lifetime. When I said it, it sounded like it would be a cliché response, but the more I think about it, the more it is genuinely an authentic expression of my desire and what I see in life.
Like for instance, as I’m writing this essay right now, I’m walking and voice dictating, heading toward Logan Square’s fountain because I know that this is the exact time of day, at the exact place, that I can actually catch the sunrise peering above the horizon and allow it to emanate in my eyes.
My philosophy behind never missing another sunrise is simple: it’s all about my will to power.
Photography Is My Will to Power
And so as a photographer, of course I’m drawn to the sunrise—it’s naturally beautiful and a great time of day to photograph. However, I think it goes beyond the aesthetic beauty of the sunrise and more so toward the philosophy of being simply eager and curious about life itself.
I find that the more I’m in tune with my intuition and curiosity, the more joy I find in life. And the more joy and love I have for life itself, the more I’m gonna be waking up early just to catch the sunrise.
This is my will to power. Waking up for the sunrise, bringing my camera along for the ride, and Snapchattin’ my way through life.
Stop Waking Up to the Alarm Clock
One of the weird modern-day phenomenons is waking up to an alarm clock. Just become in tune with the sun. Rise with the sun and sleep with the sun. It’s very simple…
Just eat one hour before the sun sets. And then, when the sun is setting—going beyond the horizon—you should be naturally falling asleep at that time. Whatever that time is, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you’re allowing the sun to illuminate through your eyes right before it dips, and this will set your circadian rhythm.
You will then naturally wake up and probably even have really vivid dreams, at the perfect time that your body needs to rise.
And then, when you rise without an alarm clock, you have this abundance of energy. And then when you’re finished taking your shower and shaving and shit, by the time you go outside, it’s gone—and there’s the sunrise.
You really do set your body up in the perfect sort of way when you just align with the light and align with the sun.
And so once again, my ultimate aim and desire—golden life—is simply to never miss another sunrise again. Because I find that when you align with the sunlight, literally everything else falls into place.
Without vitality, there is no curiosity. Without curiosity, there is no enthusiasm.
Become Possessed by God
The word enthusiasm derives from:
enthousiasmos — “having a god within” or “being filled with the divine.”
And honestly, doesn’t this make sense? When you’re enthusiastic and eager and smiling and joyous and full of power, there’s this feeling that is very divine that flows from within. And then ultimately, through photography, I make an outward projection of that enthusiasm through my images.
If you’re not waking up enthusiastic—eager for the day, eager for the sunrise—why would life even be worth living?
Prioritize Your Physical Vitality
The reason why I’m so big on weightlifting, vitality, eating clean, fasting, etc.—it’s because as a photographer, I recognize how physical the medium is. Our goal should be to simply be able to stand upright and walk throughout the entirety of our day.
And so I highly suggest you pick up the Vibram Five Finger EL-X Knit version shoes—because ever since I started wearing these about 2 ½ years ago, I’ve become so much stronger, and can walk way longer distances.
Not to mention, they slow you down. You have this tactile feel about the surfaces you walk on, and it feels like you become much more connected to the ground, the earth, everything.
It may sound woo woo, but seriously, it puts you in this meditative state when you’re walking and you feel everything.
Eat Like a King
One of my life hacks that I’m starting to think more critically about is meat—and why you should only purchase the highest quality meat. And so, by reaching out to a local Amish farmer, going directly to their farm, actually meeting them in person—specifically in Lancaster, Pennsylvania—you’re gonna be getting the highest quality meat you can possibly find in the country.
The Amish have been using the same farming practices for centuries. This is why I trust the Amish more than any other farmers. Not to mention, they’re just such great people.
I’ve got my Rogue squat rack with pull-up bar and dip bar at home, my Nuobell adjustable dumbbell setup—and a big deep freezer behind my couch where my home gym is. It’s like 14 ft or something, and it fits a full half cow, butchered by the farmer, with cuts of steak, ground beef, burger patties, thinly sliced steaks, liver, iron round roast, chuck roast—just a variety of cuts.
I eat about half a cow every three months. Two cows a year. That’s the move.
People say I’m crazy for fasting all day, not eating breakfast or lunch, or for not enjoying my life because I’m not snacking or buying dumb shit.
But when you think about it—I’m actually living and eating like an absolute fucking king.
Embrace the Physical and Tactile Nature of Life
When I walk around the streets, I enjoy the feeling of the concrete, the grass, the dirt, the gravel, and all the surfaces around me. I love to pick the flowers, sometimes put them around my ears or in my bag. Pick up leaves, look at them, photograph them, smell things, touch things.
This is a way to unlock new neural pathways. To cultivate novelty in the mundane.
In this brave new digital world, where everything’s becoming digitized, just experiencing real life in the open world—with your physical touch, your sounds, your smells, all your senses—you become more connected to the present moment and exist outside the passage of time.
Why I’m Becoming More Interested in Metaphysics
Despite my love for the physical, I’ve been more interested in metaphysics lately.
Like time—it’s not necessarily a tangible thing, but it’s something we experience in a way. We have clocks. Alarm clocks. I’m looking at the clock at City Hall Tower. The sun rises and sets at certain times… but ultimately, when I’m moving my physical body, observing the fleeting moments, photographing—
I feel like I exist outside the passage of time.
We have a past and a future, but these things aren’t of your concern when you’re simply embracing the now.
Pick the Flowers and the Leaves
So back to the physical again—and my interest in horticulture, where I tend gardens throughout my day—I have this keen fascination with the flowers and leaves and all the natural things around me.
There’s something about the patterns you find in nature—and even in human beings and our biology—that’s just so profound and surreal.
So real, it’s not real.
For instance, when you hold a leaf and look at a leaf, I feel like you can see the entire universe in the palm of your hand.
We All Have the Light?
Something changes when you recognize the divine manifestation of God within a human being.
Have you ever looked into someone’s eyes and experienced a deep sense of remembrance—almost like anamnesis—where you remember God? Where you remember what love is?
Not falling in love or obsession—but genuinely remembering what eternal, pure, divine love is?
I’ve experienced something like this recently. And ever since, I can’t unsee the divine nature of human beings.
It’s like I can genuinely see a light within somebody when I see their eyes.
Sometimes it’s dim. Sometimes it’s bright. It’s not about eye color. It’s something metaphysical. Something intangible.
And maybe God is our conscience. Our intuition. The gut feeling. Look at the physical pattern of your gut and brain—how similar they look.
What if God is in our gut?
Becoming vs. Being
In the modern world, we’re all trying to become something. But what if you just be?
Like a bird. A spider. The ocean.
Human beings are the only ones that don’t seem to just be.
We’re always in a state of becoming. Striving. Improving. Hustling. Posting. Gaining. Chasing.
But when you let go of all that striving—and instead volunteer your full authenticity—you stop trying.
Not because you’ve lost ambition.
But because you’ve remembered who you are.
Only Do What You Want To
The path to being?
Only do things that you want to do.
Whatever it is that your intuition tells you—follow that.
Despite what society says. Despite what your mom or your neighbor or your pastor says.
Just follow your heart.
Your Inner Child Leads You to the Kingdom
By following my inner child, I found paradise on earth.
I remember being a little boy, exploring in the woods, building teepees with sticks, throwing rocks, climbing trees, swinging from vines.
Now, at 29, I’m putting down stones in a stream by my workplace, walking through the forest, surrounded by nature.
This isn’t childish. This is childlike joy.
Childishness is immaturity. But childlike curiosity?
That’s the path to the Kingdom of God.
What Is Love?
Love is selfless and unattached. Love is like the fountain at Logan Square—always flowing.
Children play in the water, under the sun, enjoying the fruits of the fountain.
Love doesn’t ask for permission. It expects nothing in return.
Love is divine.
When you realize that God loves you, then you have the permission to love all people.
And when you love all people, love pours out of you, effortlessly.
Maybe you give a stranger a hug. Maybe one of your photographs. Maybe a conversation on a bench. A compliment. A wave.
Love is what occurs when you recognize the inner light within you—and you simply let it shine.
Treat Your Life Like a Living Work of Art
What is your mythos?
As an artist, I seek to live my life like a living work of art.
I am the main character. I’m here to create, to dance, to sing, to explore, to grow stronger, to conquer, to exert my will to power.
Some days I’m Jesus. Some days I’m Achilles. Sometimes I’m Apollo. Other times Dionysus.
So…
What do you desire? What is your guiding star?
In order to find your true desire, maybe we should start thinking about how to carry out our life like a myth. A legend. A living work of art.
Because once you start living that way, you give birth to a shining star…
And maybe that shining star that you give birth to from within, is what you desired after all.
Paideia (pronounced pie-DAY-uh) is an ancient Greek concept that refers to the process of educating a person into a well-rounded, virtuous, and cultured citizen. It’s more than just schooling—it’s about shaping the soul and character.
Etymology
From Greek παιδεία (paideía) meaning “education, upbringing, culture”
Rooted in παῖς (pais) meaning “child”
What Paideia Encompasses
Moral development – forming virtue and ethics
Intellectual training – philosophy, logic, rhetoric
Physical discipline – gymnastics, military training
Cultural formation – appreciation of music, poetry, art, myth
Philosophical Context
Plato saw paideia as education of the soul—leading someone out of ignorance (as in The Republic’s Allegory of the Cave).
Isocrates emphasized rhetoric and civic participation.
Aristotle focused on forming virtuous habits through repeated action.
Modern Use
“Paideia” can be used today to talk about:
Holistic education
The formation of character, not just intellect
Liberal arts ideals
🧠 It’s education not just for making a living, but for living well.
The Peripatetics were followers of Aristotle, forming a school of philosophy founded in the Lyceum in Athens around 335 BCE. The term Peripatetic comes from the Greek word peripatein, meaning “to walk about,” because Aristotle was said to teach while walking in the colonnades of the Lyceum.
🔍 Key Features of the Peripatetic School:
Founded by: Aristotle
Name origin: From peripatos (covered walkway), emphasizing walking lectures
Main location: The Lyceum, Athens
Famous successors: Theophrastus (botany, ethics), Strato (natural science)
🧠 Core Ideas:
Empiricism: Knowledge begins with observation and experience. The senses are a valid source of truth.
Teleology: Everything in nature has a purpose (telos). For example, an acorn’s purpose is to become an oak.
Four Causes: All things can be explained by material, formal, efficient, and final causes.
Virtue Ethics: Virtue lies in moderation — the golden mean between extremes.
Logic: Aristotle systematized logic into syllogisms and deductive reasoning.
What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante. Just getting my morning started here in Philadelphia—snapshotting some quick shots of this beautiful foggy morning. We got the Comcast Tower looming above and the subway moving below me.
These are the arteries of the city—
the underground,
the transportation,
the buildings,
the skyscrapers.
This is the information. All the people inside working at their computers, making things move through the bureaucratic systems.
“We’re in a big computer grid. Thank you, William Penn. You laid out the city perfectly for me to walk upon endlessly.”
But it seems the city is bleeding from the heart… apparently SEPTA’s transportation is being cut 40%. Which is phenomenal, right? I mean—not the good kind of phenomenal. Because the bus drivers are the pulse that keeps the bloodstream flowing upon the streets.
“The people on the bus are like cells, like nutrients carried through the living organism that is the city.”
And it’s kind of bad this is happening. I just found that out on the street yesterday.
What Triggers You in Street Photography?
So today’s thought— What triggers you in street photography?
This is a fun topic, right? Because there’s something to be said about that moment—the gesture, the glance, the look. But for me, I gotta reframe this whole idea. I’m not really out here being triggered by life itself anymore.
“Light itself is my trigger.”
The Power of Light
When I go out on a foggy day like today and look up—tall skyscrapers, mist, eerie light—I’m not just waiting for something to happen. I’m reacting to the quality of the light.
High contrast
Black and white
Moody atmosphere
That’s what draws me to make photographs.
I’m less interested in that traditional “decisive moment” stuff— Like a bird in flight, a hand gesture, a person mid-stride. Those are great, but…
“Even just looking at artificial light and photographing it to see what it will become is more intriguing to me.”
Because light always hits differently. On people, on walls, on places. And we can’t control it.
We can control where we put ourselves, when we press the shutter, what we include in the frame. But not the light. That’s out of our hands.
“It’s that spontaneous element of light that triggers me to go out and photograph.”
The Flow State of Modern Tools
Think about it: Today I’m shooting with the Ricoh GR—a small camera, shooting high contrast JPEGs, straight from the camera, no post. One click, move on.
This tool allows me to enter the flow state. Just like Atget in 19th-century Paris with his big rectilinear lens and bellows camera. But now I can do it more effortlessly.
And because of that…
“I’m triggered by subtlety in the streets.”
No Lightroom. No film developing. Just shoot and move. And that flow reveals something deeper.
Your Subconscious Becomes the Photographer
When you shoot like this—every day, over and over again—your subconscious starts to show itself.
The rational mind fades.
The authentic voice emerges.
You start to recognize what you care about.
“Detaching from the outcome liberates you. You find your voice not by thinking—but by doing.”
Photography becomes less about the perfect shot and more about the process of transformation, evolution, and change.
Maybe I’m Triggered by Joy Itself
Yeah. Maybe that’s the truth. Maybe I’m just triggered by joy.
That childlike joy. The feeling you get when you spot something beautiful, something subtle—a flower with morning dew, a leaf’s intricate pattern, a shadow on a wall.
“Childlike joy is the superpower. The cheat code.”
Remember playing Tony Hawk and entering that combo to unlock the secret room or find the tape? That’s what joy feels like. It advances you.
Photography as Voluntary Play
We used to play games voluntarily as kids. We wanted to be out on the playground.
That’s what photography is for me now— Voluntary play in the real world.
And it doesn’t have to be photography for you—
Writing
Music
Cycling
Climbing
The gym
Whatever gives you that spark—that’s the power source.
“Find joy in the mundane. Find joy in the moment.”
Create Your Own World
With a camera, you can create your own world. You don’t need to be chained to the grid.
You’re not disconnected in a negative way—you’re just unattached. You’re not drowning in the noise. You’re expressing your own reality through the lens.
“To press the shutter is to declare your version of reality, to create a world from your own joy and curiosity.”
That’s what it means to be triggered on the street— Not to wait for something to happen, but to walk with joy, follow the light, and remain endlessly curious.
Final Word: Get to Philly 📸
Beautiful morning. Logan Square. Philadelphia.
“If you’re a New York street photographer, get to Philly fast. This is the future. This is mini Paris.”
Welcome to the final episode of the Street Photography Breakdown series, Part 20. In this finale, we break down five photographs, diving deep into the behind-the-scenes of how each image was made. I’ll be discussing not only my technique, but also the philosophy that drives me to press the shutter—so you can apply these thoughts to your own personal photography.
1. Girls Playing in Baltimore
This scene was all about playfulness—both in subject and spirit.
“Photography has everything to do with how you engage with humanity out there in the open world, on the front lines of life.”
On the right: a girl’s legs hanging from a tree, filling half the frame
On the left: her sister smiling, holding onto the tree trunk
In the background: grass and a simple Baltimore building
Using the Ricoh GR, I held the camera high to isolate and separate the subjects. I split the frame in half with intention, making a relationship between the joy on the left and the gesture on the right.
“Go out with curiosity, but also understand the visual relationships between foreground and background.”
2. Carnival at Penn’s Landing (Philadelphia)
A woman inside a ticket booth. A Ferris wheel in the background. It’s a simple juxtaposition that drew me in immediately.
“The world is a visual puzzle—and photography is how I solve it.”
Left: tired woman in a blue shirt, hand on her head
Right: Ferris wheel, vibrant and full of color
Center: ticket booth splitting the frame
Color harmony: blue shirt of the woman + blue light from Ferris wheel
By instinctively applying the rule of thirds, I positioned the woman and Ferris wheel in opposition. Photographing at night is rare for me, but this one worked because of the composition and timing.
3. Boy Through the Window (Philadelphia)
I saw the boy’s head press against the window—looking up at his mom—and I knew I had something.
Dropped to a low angle to separate his face from the triangle of light
Middle: the gesture of the boy in center
Left & Right: reflections of the Masonic Temple and the outside world
“Photography is physical. Drop lower, shift position, align the pieces—then shoot.”
I even went inside to show his mom. A genuine, playful interaction. One I remember vividly.
4. Palestinian Youth Hangout (Jericho)
This was made during my time in Jericho, hanging out with a boy named Yahya—his name even shows up above his head in the graffiti.
“Sometimes, just spending time earns you access—and lets you become a fly on the wall.”
Foreground: tense gesture of a boy holding a bottle
Background: Yahya on a bed frame with another bottle
Setting: an in-between space—half barn, half open-air hangout
Backdrop: Palestinian flag, graffiti, chair, bed
This one came together with instinct. Left and right split, foreground and background aligned, subtle gestures enhanced by a gritty environment.
5. Cigarette Smoker on JFK Blvd (Philadelphia)
This one is raw. One of my first Ricoh GR2 photographs, made around late 2015.
Left: a man calmly smoking a cigarette, glasses sliding down his nose
“By introducing a strong foreground gesture, the background chaos takes on a whole new energy.”
I stepped out of my house. Saw this scene on my block. Got close. Stayed patient. And then—click. A gritty, powerful example of street photography born from proximity and courage.
Closing Thoughts – The End of the Series
That wraps up the 20-part Street Photography Breakdown series. We’ve gone through 100 photographs, each with a story, a technique, a mindset.
You can find all these posts at dantesisafo.com on the Start Here page, where you’ll also see my full lecture playlist and other resources for your photography journey.
“Even if one photo or one idea inspired you, then I feel I’ve done my part.”
I made this series because I wish I had something like this when I was starting out. A guide—not of gear—but of how someone thinks and works the street. That’s what I wanted to give to you.
“Photography has fueled my love for life itself—and if it can do that for you too, then this all means something.”
What Street Photography Means to Me
It’s about adventure
It’s about walking into the unknown
It’s about putting order to chaos
It’s about living outside the four corners of your room
It’s about recognizing the beauty in the mundane
“Set your body in motion—without preconceived notions of what you will find. Go out there and explore.”
Thanks for being part of this. See you in the next video.
If life was a video game, wouldn’t she want to get to level 100 as quickly as possible?
If you ever played Skyrim, you knew the ultimate goal was to get the best armor in the game as quickly as possible: the Dragon Armor. How did you achieve this?
You needed to have level 100 smithing. And in order to get there as quickly as humanly possible, you had to use some exploits—sometimes even glitch out of the map. You know how in video games you can see the matrix pattern that separates the out-of-bounds area from the playable area? This was only for the bold—the player who explored the outskirts and tried to push the limits of the game.
So you’d climb the walls of Whiterun, jump in a very particular way, and land in between a very specific rock that would slide you under the map—under the matrix. From there, you could go directly to the source of the shop owners’ chests and steal from them without being noticed. You gather all their materials, all their valuables, and then return to your save point. Then you go directly back to the shop owners and sell them their own goods. You do this on repeat and stack your gold as quickly as possible.
With your gold, you then spam iron daggers at the blacksmith, crafting them over and over and selling them back to him, leveling up your smithing to 100. Now that it’s maxed, you’re ready to unlock that sweet Dragon Armor.
Bitcoin Is the New Out-of-Bounds Glitch
I like this metaphor in relationship to Bitcoin, because it feels like you’re glitching out of the matrix—stealing from the chests in Whiterun when you receive fiat currency from your 9-5 job, and then going right back to them and selling them their goods for a 10x profit by buying Bitcoin.
To have the balls to buy Bitcoin, you have to explore the outskirts, take the dangerous paths, and slip out of the matrix. But you’re ultimately gonna wind up at the god-tier with Dragon Armor on before the rest of the players.
Mario Bros. Was Trying to Teach You
Another simple metaphor is Super Mario Bros.—everybody knows Super Mario Bros., but maybe not Skyrim. I’m talking about the very first one.
Remember level two? That underground zone where the spooky song turns on and there’s those spiky crabs, green pipes with piranha plants, and those elevators? I’m surprised how many people who played that game didn’t know about the elevator glitch…
To advance from level two to world seven or nine or something ridiculous, and basically beat the game in two minutes—it was actually super simple. But it required a risk.
I even remember when I found it. I was just a little seven-year-old boy, tinkering, trying to break the game. You’d jump on the elevator and ride it all the way to the top, out of the bounds area on the ceiling of your Game Boy screen, and then run endlessly to the right. Eventually, you’d fall into a warp zone where you could skip all the way to the end of the game.
Eighth Grade Was a Digital Hustle
Even in eighth grade, when the iPod Touch came out, nobody knew how to jailbreak their iPods. I had like 20 iPods in my backpack at one point. Everybody paid me five bucks so I could jailbreak their iPods and get them games like Tony Hawk Pro Skater.
And everybody who played Tony Hawk knew the most important attributes to max out were Speed and Air. Why? Because when those two were maxed out, you could find the secret tape faster, jump further, and advance at a way faster rate than if you were wasting points on Rail Balance or Hang Time.
The Moral of the Story
The moral of the story is this: the intrepid, the bold, the daring—the ones willing to experiment—are always the ones who innovate and advance faster in this video game we call life.
