Journal

Collect spots in your city that just work. When one place gives you a good shot, don’t treat it as a one-off. Go back. Different seasons, light, people. The same spot can surprise you again.

Embrace your flaws: rain, shaky camera, light leaks or the wrong lens can end up making your shots more interesting than you planned.

Strong photo doesn’t have to explain everything, sometimes it’s better to leave a question hanging. Skip the obvious, create questions and spark curiosity instead.

Try to imagine this: you’re a kid again, stepping into a new place, excited that something completely new is waiting. Now look around with those same curious eyes, ready for surprise.

Look for coincidences. Matching colors, mirrored poses, or quirky symmetry. Our eyes love patterns, especially those that break expectations. Catch them before they disappear.

Don’t stop when you think you’re done, keep shooting on the way home, in the metro, anywhere. The last frame often wins.

Look for visual “punctuation”, something small that gives your frame a satisfying completeness. The little things often make the biggest impact.

When shooting, follow your gut, not framing guidelines. When editing, follow your gut, not the histogram. Your gut usually knows better anyway.

Walk until you stop seeing, then walk some more until you start again.

If confrontation makes you nervous, practice smiling (maybe more than shooting). Give a smile and tension melts faster than you think.

There’s always one more photo in a scene. Always.

Worry less about getting permission, worry more about showing respect.

Shot feels messy? Keep it. Don’t delete on the street. Emotion beats brain in the moment. Actually, do not delete photos on the street at all, it’s just waste of time.

Shoot like a jazz musician: you know the rules, but don’t feel trapped by them. Trust the street’s rhythm, pauses, surprises and imperfections. Like syncopation. The magic happens in the off-beats.

Nervous about a shot? That’s a hint, go for it. Most of the time there is something interesting about to happen, and it’s worth capturing. Don’t overthink it, just press the button.