How to Stay Inspired in Street Photography
What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante.
Today, we’re going to be discussing street photography inspiration. I’ll be sharing what inspires me, and hopefully, you’ll walk away with a better understanding of what fuels your creativity and how you can cultivate inspiration to get out there and shoot.
Inspiration is Everywhere
Inspiration is everywhere—you just need to know where to look.
Nature as Inspiration
I find immense inspiration in nature.
When I’m walking alone on a nature path, I feel infinitely inspired by the novelty of God’s creations. If you really look—at the veins of a leaf, the texture of tree bark—you start to see the details on a macro level.
Nature reminds me of how vast the world is, how expansive the cosmos are, and how deeply we’re connected to everything.
After a decade of street photography, I still wake up excited to shoot. Why? Because every day, I set myself up with an abundance mindset. I’m simply grateful to be able to make new photos each day.
Finding Inspiration in the Streets
The street is like a theater. If you look at it as a stage, everything becomes beautiful.
Think about it:
- A person holding an umbrella, watching a parade in the rain.
- A lone figure walking through a foggy alley.
- The interplay of reflections in a shop window.
These moments become cinematic. The street is alive with patterns, movement, and fleeting moments, all waiting to be captured.
Sit on a park bench and watch life unfold—this alone is enough to keep you inspired.
Photo Books: Learning from the Masters
A simple way to stay inspired? Study photo books.
I personally find infinite inspiration in my collection. They allow me to:
- Study the masters of photography.
- Understand composition, light, and timing.
- Develop my own style.
My favorite photo book? The Mennonites by Larry Towell. Traditional black-and-white documentary work, beautifully composed and deeply immersive.
The power of a photo book is that it transports you to another world and inspires you to tell your own stories.
Lately, I’ve been looking at:
- Monument by Trent Parke
- Record 2 by Daido Moriyama
I love black-and-white photography, and these books push me further in that direction. I keep them around as aesthetic objects, as reminders to keep shooting.
Beyond Photography: Inspiration in Art
Photography isn’t the only source of inspiration. I look beyond it.
Caravaggio & High Contrast
One of my biggest inspirations? Caravaggio.
His use of chiaroscuro, that dramatic high-contrast lighting, directly influences my photography. Seeing his paintings in Rome was breathtaking.
The way Caravaggio used light and shadow is something I seek in my own work.
Ray K. Metzger’s High-Contrast Street Photography
Take a look at Ray K. Metzger’s photograph of a sailor in City Hall. It’s a masterclass in:
- High contrast
- Light and shadow play
- Evoking the sublime
This is the kind of photography that transcends reality—that shows not just what life is, but what it could be.
Alex Webb’s Color & Complexity
Then there’s Alex Webb. His image from León, Mexico, 1987—the one with the child peeking from a box—is a perfect example of:
- Striking colors
- Beautiful light and shadow
- Heat, mystery, and movement
I love how he captures complexity within a single frame.
Walking: The Simplest Source of Inspiration
Walking stimulates observation. Movement fuels creativity.
When I’m in Rome, standing on the Spanish Steps, I feel the energy of the city flowing around me. When I’m in Philadelphia, walking along the Schuylkill River, I feel at peace.
The Philosophy of Walking
One of my favorite things? Walking along a single path—one that stretches for miles.
On some trails, you only have two choices: forward or backward. No distractions, no left or right turns—just the road ahead.
This simplifies my mind. It puts me in motion, and movement leads to inspiration.
The Chaos of the City
Nature inspires me, but so does the raw energy of the streets.
- The tunnels under City Hall—the way light and shadow interact.
- The traffic, the honking, the chatter.
- People moving, their rhythms, their interactions.
There’s something visceral about it. The city is alive, and I find inspiration in both its chaos and its order.
Inspiration = “Breath of Life”
Let’s go deep for a second.
The word inspiration comes from the Latin inspirare, meaning “to breathe into.”
Originally, it meant divine influence—the breath of God.
To be inspired is to have life breathed into you.
And nothing embodies this for me more than the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia.
For two years straight, I listened to this massive pipe organ every day at 5:30 PM. Standing in the Wanamaker Building, surrounded by:
- Towering architecture
- A giant bronze eagle sculpture
- The world’s largest playing pipe organ
It was a spiritual experience.
Architecture, sculpture, and music—when they come together, they elevate the soul.
Sadly, the Wanamaker Building is closing, but its impact on me remains.
Simplicity & Discipline
To stay inspired, set creative constraints:
- Stick to one camera.
- Stick to one lens.
- Choose color or black & white—and commit to it.
Eliminating unnecessary decisions forces you to focus and cultivate curiosity.
Photography should be a meditative practice—wandering with fresh eyes every day, ready to see something new.
Photography is Endless
You cannot make the same photograph twice.
This thought endlessly inspires me.
Seriously, I could rant for an hour about how photography is infinite. There’s always something new to capture, something new to see.
So my advice?
Embrace the unknown. Let inspiration find you.
- Go outside.
- Move your feet.
- Observe.
The street is waiting for you.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up:
- Nature: Walk in solitude, listen to the birds, embrace the quiet.
- The Streets: Sit on a bench, watch life pass, soak in the sounds.
- Photo Books: Study the masters, keep them close.
- Art: Look beyond photography—paintings, music, architecture.
- Walking: Move, explore, discover.
- Simplicity: Limit choices, increase discipline.
Find what fuels you. Go out, explore, and shoot.
Peace.