Photography Requires Lots of Time
What’s popping, people? It’s Dante, and today I’m thinking about time and photography. Building a strong body of work in photography takes patience, commitment, and a sense of continuity over the years. This is something I’ve seen in the works of legends like Vivian Maier and Jason Eskenazi. Their archives didn’t form overnight; they took years—sometimes even decades—to build up. Time is the foundation for any great collection of photographs.
The Power of Consistency
If you’re consistently taking pictures, you’re already productive. It doesn’t take much to stay in the game—just make at least one photo a day. Over five, ten years, that daily commitment adds up to something special. Just keep shooting.
“When in doubt, just press that shutter more!”
Photography is about showing up and capturing life as it unfolds. By staying consistent, you’ll accumulate an archive that speaks to the passage of time and your unique vision. And remember, it’s perfectly normal to have only a few “keepers” each month or even each year. The best work comes from enduring commitment.
The Long Road to a Body of Work
The notion of a “perfect shot” every time is a myth. Some of the best photographers took years—sometimes entire lifetimes—to produce their iconic collections. Consider Alex Webb’s Mexico project, spanning over 30 years, or Jason Eskenazi’s Wonderland, which took nearly a decade. These bodies of work are not snapshots of moments; they’re commitments to a lifetime of exploration.
- Photography as a lifelong project: A meaningful archive is built slowly.
- Find pride in the journey: Each picture is a small step in a larger story.
- Set realistic expectations: One great photo a year is an accomplishment.
“It’s gonna take a lifetime. It’s not gonna happen in a year or even in two. It takes a long time to come home with anything worthwhile.”
I’ve spent the last ten years finding my voice, learning the craft, and pushing myself by traveling, exploring, and throwing myself into situations most people would never think to. From villages and refugee camps to mountain sides, each trip taught me something new.
The Beauty of Letting Go
Recently, I’ve been simplifying my process—switching from RAW to JPEG, from color to high-contrast black and white. I want to speed things up, to make instant sketches of life. Now, my Ricoh GR III is always in my pocket, ready to capture the grit and reality of Philadelphia, my hometown. This camera has become a natural extension of how I see the world: quickly, honestly, and without the need for perfection.
“This high-contrast aesthetic is an abstraction of reality. Philadelphia deserves to be photographed in black and white… it’s gritty, raw, and real.”
Switching up my workflow has been freeing. There’s no need for endless editing—no cropping, no elaborate processing. What I capture straight out of the camera is the final piece. This aesthetic is my way of giving Philly the justice it deserves.
Time Spent vs. Time Saved
After years of perfecting technique, I’ve reached a point where I can finally break the rules. I no longer spend hours behind a screen tweaking every shot. Now, I can capture life as it comes, letting each image speak for itself, no fuss.
- Instant sketches: No editing or processing, just raw images.
- Letting life flow: With a pocket camera, I can photograph as I go about my day.
- The hunt is still alive: Though I’ve simplified my approach, I’m still exploring new ways to push the boundaries of my work.
Philadelphia isn’t New York; it’s not some “clown show.” It’s a real East Coast city, and I want to portray it honestly. This place is mundane, gritty, and unapologetic, and it’s going to take me a lifetime to document it properly.
“Life is now flowing towards me… I’m on the hunt, always looking, experimenting, letting life come as it may.”
Patience is the Key
Building an archive worth looking back on takes years. It won’t happen overnight, and that’s perfectly okay. Photography is about capturing life in its entirety, from the everyday details to the unique moments that punctuate it. With each photograph, I’m working to leave something behind that matters. It’s all about time, patience, and the willingness to let life unfold through the lens.
Cheers to the journey, the years, and the espresso breaks in between.
As long as you are consistently taking pictures, consider yourself productive. It’s really easy to make daily photographs. Just try to make at least one per day. Over the course of 5-10 years you will have something. Just keep shooting!
When in doubt, just press that shutter more!
Set realistic expectations
With street photography, you will realistically come home with one keeper photo per month or maybe even one per year. This is completely normal. It’s easy to get discouraged while practicing street photography because the results take lots of time out in the real world.