Street Photography as a Personal Diary
For the past year, I’ve been taking a different approach to photography—I’ve been treating it as my personal diary. Every image I make is a way to see where my mind and body wandered on any given day. These photographs are personal notes, documenting what I witness in my short time on this earth.
“Photography is a way to record your own journey through life. It’s not about impressing anyone; it’s about making a memory for yourself.”
All We Have is Now
Your camera can be a personal record-keeping tool. Don’t worry about making a “good” photo or trying to impress anyone. Instead, focus on creating images that remind you of the day, of a fleeting moment, or a simple joy. I believe this approach is the most honest way to create art—detached from outcome and fully rooted in the moment. Embrace what I call an autotelic approach to photography, where the reward is the act of photographing itself.
The term autotelic comes from the Greek words “auto,” meaning “self,” and “telos,” meaning “goal.” It describes an activity that is done for its own sake, where the journey is the goal and the reward.
Photographing Your Journey
In street photography, the magic lies in the mundane. Each day presents small details, fleeting interactions, and quiet scenes that we might otherwise overlook. Even the selfie has a place in this personal diary. We spend so much time photographing strangers on the street—why not turn the camera on ourselves from time to time? Snap a self-portrait and let it be a part of your record.
“When you think about it, the personal diary is something that’s only for you. So remove external goals from your photography and keep your photographs as memories for yourself.”
Searching for the Soul
There’s something intimate about photographing everyday moments. When you take a photo, you’re capturing a piece of your soul. What we choose to photograph, and how we see the world through the lens, reveals so much about who we are. It’s like leaving behind a piece of yourself for others to discover.
“When you’re looking at the photographs, it’s like you’re looking at the soul of the photographer.”
Every photograph is a new child of creation—a part of you that will live on. Let the images flow as a stream of consciousness, an unending stream that reflects your life as it happens, without overthinking or controlling too much.
Why?
Ultimately, it’s only you who looks back on these images, cherishes them, and finds meaning in them. Yes, you might share them online or with friends, but the most valuable viewer of your work is you. When you approach photography this way, it reshapes your intentions with the medium. By treating your photographs as your personal diary, you’re creating for yourself, unburdened by external expectations or pressures.
Key Takeaways
- The Moment is All That Matters: Capture what’s in front of you without concern for external approval.
- Embrace Autotelic Creation: Photograph for the joy of photographing; the act itself is the reward.
- Document Your Journey: Find magic in the everyday and don’t hesitate to turn the camera on yourself.
- Capture Your Soul: Photography is a reflection of who you are and what you value.
- Create Without Pressure: Approach photography as a stream, constantly flowing without the weight of perfection.
“Treat every photograph as a stream of becoming. Flow with it, let it guide you, and let the act of photographing keep you grounded in the now.”
Photography, in its purest form, becomes a way to stay in the Zen Zone, to capture moments without attachment, and to create a diary that will stand as a testament to your life’s journey.