Life as a Visual Puzzle
Perceiving the World Around You
The beauty of photographing in black and white lies in its versatility. Whether the conditions are harsh, soft, or during golden hour, it doesn’t matter. What matters is your ability to perceive the world as a visual puzzle.
“When you’re photographing, you’re trying to solve that puzzle by positioning yourself and your camera from a particular vantage point to make sense of the chaos, putting order to it.”
For instance, I was photographing a man unloading a truck. In that brief moment, his silhouette was perfectly cut out against the backdrop—a small frame within a frame. It’s these fleeting instances that turn life into an intricate puzzle, waiting to be solved.
Order in the Chaos
Viewing life through forms, shapes, and compositions brings a unique perspective. While intuition should guide your photography, having simple ideas in mind—like a frame within a frame—can be helpful.
“Putting order to the chaos is a good thing.”
Soft light, though challenging, offers an opportunity to find beauty where it may seem absent. Golden hour might give you an aesthetic advantage, but all light is good light if you work with what you’ve got and stay consistent.
The Superiority of the LCD Screen
One game-changer for modern photographers is the LCD screen. Unlike a traditional viewfinder, the LCD screen offers flexibility, allowing you to compose from nuanced angles and perspectives.
“Using the LCD screen unlocks new compositional ideas where the viewfinder limits you to eye-level perspectives.”
With the Ricoh’s LCD screen, I’ve discovered the freedom to adjust my camera in ways that feel more intuitive and responsive. The ability to visualize a composition before raising the camera has enhanced my photography significantly. It’s easier to create and quicker to act.
A Call to Simplify
The LCD screen has changed how I approach street photography. It’s liberating. The ease of composing and reacting to life’s moments through this tool has made me question the necessity of viewfinders altogether.
“Anything that makes it easier to create more photos and gets us there quicker is beneficial.”
For street photographers, simplicity and adaptability are key. Camera companies, like Ricoh, are already making strides in creating tools that align with this mindset. Perhaps it’s time for more to follow suit.
Life, after all, is a visual puzzle. With the right tools and perspective, we can piece together its fleeting beauty—one frame at a time.