Snapshot Street Photography: Master the Ricoh GR III & GR IIIx for High-Contrast B&W

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Snapshot Street Photography: How and Why I Photograph This Way

Why Snapshot Photography?

What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante. Today, we’re diving into snapshot street photography—why I photograph this way and how I photograph this way. We’ll go through some of the photos I’ve been making with the Ricoh GR III and Ricoh GR IIIx, shooting high contrast black and white, small JPEG files.

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By simplifying my process and using a compact digital camera that fits in my front right pocket, I’m fueling my lust for life.

“I’m embracing imperfection and the spontaneous nature of both life and the way in which I’m photographing.”

Letting Go and Embracing Spontaneity

In the past, I would put on my photography hat, strap my camera around my neck, and head out in hopes of making my next best photo. Now, with the Ricoh in my pocket, I’m no longer attached to the identity of being a ‘photographer.’ I just live my life, and the camera comes along for the ride.

  • No chore, no burden—just photography as something I have to do.
  • Flow state of production: Always prepared, always ready to press the shutter.
  • Not chasing a great photo, but letting the photos come to me.

The Ricoh GR III & GR IIIx: The Perfect Cameras for Snapshot Photography

I recommend the Ricoh GR III and Ricoh GR IIIx because:

  • They are the smallest, simplest digital cameras for the job.
  • No viewfinder = more fluidity in snapshotting.
  • Creative constraint increases creativity.

“By limiting yourself and simplifying the process, you actually increase your creativity and ability to find your own unique style.”

My Camera Settings for Snapshot Street Photography

Camera Settings:

  • AV Mode
  • Aperture F8
  • Snap focus at 2 meters
  • Auto ISO
  • Minimum shutter speed of 1/500 
  • Highlight weighted metering

Image Settings:

  • Small JPEG (3360X2240)
  • Image Control: High Contrast Black and White
  • High/Low Key Adjustments: -2
  • Contrast: +4
  • Contrast (Highlight): -4
  • Contrast (Shadow): 0
  • Sharpness: +4
  • Shading: +4
  • Clarity: +4
  • Grain Effect: 3

For a full breakdown of my settings, check out my Street Photography workflow

The Power of Simplicity: Why I Skip RAW

I don’t waste time on:

  • Processing RAW files
  • External hard drives and backups
  • Editing in Lightroom

Instead, I:

  • Use the built-in Photos app on my iPad.
  • Import with USB-C to SD reader for fast workflow.
  • Work with small 4MB JPEG files.

Slowing Down & Seeing More

“When I’m walking the streets, I’m walking 75% slower than everyone else.”

By going slow, I can:

  • Recognize rhythms of the street.
  • Observe light bouncing off buildings.
  • Notice gestures, movements, fleeting moments.

This is why I love snapshot photography—it’s so liberating. I just put the camera in my pocket and go. No decision fatigue. No excuses.

Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

“Can you walk the same mundane lane and still find something to uplift in a photograph?”

  • Everything becomes photographable.
  • I no longer limit myself to just people—I see beauty in fire hydrants, lamp posts, doors, textures on walls.
  • God is in the details.

By playing with perspective, slowing down, and experimenting, I rediscover the city every day.

Photography as Play: Returning to the Beginner’s Mind

I approach photography like a child would:

  • Endless curiosity
  • Constant experimentation
  • No rigid rules

Every day is Day One.

“Through change, I find more joy.”

Movement and Flow: The Physicality of Photography

  • I shoot while biking, walking, moving.
  • The wrist strap allows instant response.
  • The Ricoh is so small it’s like not having a camera at all.
  • By moving around and through a scene, I capture movement in my photos.

Why This Matters

Snapshot photography is the most democratic form of photography.

“Anybody can crank in these settings, pick up a Ricoh, and go.”

It’s about:

  • Embracing imperfection.
  • Letting go of expectations.
  • Living life fully and photographing along the way.

Letting the Camera Surprise You

“What I see isn’t what I get. What I get is what the camera saw.”

This is the magic of snapshot photography:

  • The camera captures what I didn’t even see.
  • The imperfections become the beauty.
  • Photography becomes a painterly process, like sketching with light.

Embrace the Snapshot Mentality

  1. Set your body in motion.
  2. Forget about results.
  3. Let the photos surprise you.
  4. Keep shooting every day.

“Photography is not about thinking—it’s about feeling.”

Think less. Shoot more.

Joy in the Mundane

I walk the same streets every day. I walk Market Street every damn day. Nothing interesting happens. People are just going to work. But by embracing high contrast black and white, I transform the mundane into something new.

“Discover the unfamiliar in the familiar.”

Final Thoughts: Just Take the Camera for the Ride

This was one of the first snapshots I made with this process—I took a bike ride, snapped a photo while riding, and something clicked.

  • I let go and just photographed life.
  • I started to bring my camera everywhere without overthinking.
  • I found more joy in photography than ever before.

If you want to see more of my work, check out my Google Photos archive (linked on my workflow page).

“Join me on this journey. Give snapshot photography a try. Embrace the joy of surprise.”

Peace.

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