Walk 75% Slower Than Everyone Else
One of the simplest yet most transformative suggestions for street photography? Walk 75% slower than everyone else on the street. When you walk slowly, not only do you begin to see more, but you also start to feel the rhythm of the street in a way that faster paces miss. It’s a mindset shift as much as it is a physical one.
Why Slowing Down Changes Everything
In the hustle of urban life, slowing down can seem counterintuitive. But by walking slower, every detail, pattern, and fleeting moment opens up to you. Suddenly, the flicker of a fly, a trail of spilled ice cream, or even the crumbs of a cookie on the pavement become visible. These small details—the mundane—hold the power to surprise and bring joy.
“When you walk super slow, like Neo in The Matrix, it just helps you appreciate every small, fleeting detail.”
Street photography requires strong pattern recognition, and slowing your pace is like tuning into a new frequency. The slower you move, the more you see.
Walk Slowly, See More
Consider this as a photographer: the more you see, the more you photograph. Moving your body at a leisurely, almost meditative pace helps you connect with the patterns of both nature and human behavior.
“Walk at a pace that is so much slower than everybody else on the street and let the flow of traffic, nature, the birds, the breeze, whatever it is…flow towards you.”
The beauty of slowing down is that it removes you from the rush of the crowd. You’re no longer just another face passing by; you become a part of the scene. This approach allows you to embrace each moment as it comes, focusing less on capturing the perfect shot and more on photographing life in its raw form.
Walk the Same Lane, See It Anew
Some of the greatest satisfaction in street photography comes from revisiting the same locations. As you walk slowly through familiar places, patterns start to emerge. The same faces, the same buildings, and the same sounds form a rhythm you can connect to over time.
“There’s something about the Eternal recurrence of coming out each day and walking the same lane… I find Simple Pleasures in passing through the same places every day, becoming in tune with the Rhythm and the beat of the street.”
In this process, the mundane reveals its hidden beauty. You’ll notice shifts in lighting, subtle changes in people’s expressions, or the way shadows fall differently depending on the time of day. These small differences become your subjects, proving that there’s no need to constantly seek out new places for inspiration.
Let Life Flow Towards You
This approach is less about orchestrating the perfect photograph and more about opening yourself to whatever happens. Listen to the sounds of the street, watch as people’s feet move like dancers upon the concrete, and allow the energy of the environment to guide you. With each step, trust your intuition, your curiosity, and just shoot.
- Listen to the sounds and let them guide your flow.
- Look at every detail—from cookie crumbs to puddles.
- Capture moments without overthinking. Embrace imperfection in each shot.
Bliss in Slowing Down
By slowing down, photography becomes more than an act; it becomes a way to embrace life’s small details and everyday chaos. This is the essence of street photography—finding beauty where others might not look twice. So take it slow, follow the trails of curiosity, and experience the bliss of truly being present.
“Just follow your intuition, follow your curiosity, and follow the trail of cookies…slowing your body down, listening to the sounds, and embracing chaos. It’s bliss.”
Slowing down, connecting with the everyday, and capturing it as it unfolds—that’s where the magic of street photography truly lies.