I don’t feel shame in saying that I don’t have everything figured out in photography. In reality I believe that “figuring it out” is nearly impossible, there isn’t one answer or linear path in this art form. The moment you’ve picked up a camera and became intentional with the craft, that’s what truly matters, having fun.
I remember being in Napoli last year excited about all the images I was capturing. I was so new to the “street” photography scene, and there was one photo in particular that I was really excited about. This one below:
I remember my excitement after looking at my camera almost immediately after taking the image. The kids expressions, the body movement and their figures feeling as tall as the buildings, I surely had a winning photo here.
In the following days I met multiple photographers in Napoli, one of them a seasoned American photographer, we spoke for nearly an hour. We spoke about how fun it is shooting in Napoli, and in my excitement I showed him this image I was really proud of. He compliments the photo followed by the statement: “Shame you cut their legs off, it would’ve been a great photo.” I didn’t outwardly react, but internally my heart dropped. I looked at the image longer and it started to fall apart in front of me. Cutting their legs, the messy background, suddenly the magic was gone.
In my mind I was telling myself, “How dare he? Doesn’t he know I’ve owned a camera for years now? I’ve taken so many pictures in my life (portraits), I know what I’m doing.” In a way I felt like he was putting rules on me to follow, in an art form where rules are simply suggestions. That night I was bitter, there was a lesson to be learned here but I didn’t want to pay attention yet.
Napoli was my first international trip, and I visited so I can specifically get out of my comfort zone photographically. I knew that if I forced myself out of my home to the other side of the world, I would have an easier time facing these challenges. But I realized that I went to Napoli with a preconceived idea of what I needed photographically in order to go back home content. I needed the perfect street photo, a perfectly layered composition. After I reviewed the photos, I feel like I achieved what I wanted, but after enough reflection I realized how stressed I was while shooting daily in Napoli.
I realized quickly that I didn’t truly enjoy the process of photographing, I was chasing a perfect image without a real process. How was I expecting to capture “the decisive moment” if I didn’t master the tools in my hand? I was simply walking for hours pointing my camera at whatever I thought was interesting hoping for something good. Even though I’m okay at painting, it was as if I was expecting to paint Mona Lisa without ever having practiced my brush strokes.
When I traveled back home, I thought a lot about my time in Napoli, and even more about the photo where I cut the kids legs. I started to feel like a spoiled kid who wouldn’t listen to my parents advice, knowing they just want what’s best for me. This photographer had a point, and I wasn’t ready to look past my own views on photography at the time.
There are those who may criticize me for ever stepping out into the streets to take photos without having studied the greats that came before me, but that is the one sentiment I will always push back on. Start before you know what you’re doing. Fail without being afraid, walk aimlessly for hours and capture everything you see. The lessons will surely come to you after enough failures and you will start to find yourself creatively.
Over one year has now passed since that trip I took to Napoli and so much has changed. Recently I visited Greece for the first time, and I’m finally enjoying the process, while feeling that I’m capturing images that feel true to me. A year ago I was running and gunning, pointing my camera around hoping for the best. In the year that came after I dove deep into the greats of photography. Some of my favorites being Luigi Ghirri and Alex Webb.
One year later I slow down when documenting life, I am mindful of what I include in each frame, looking at every corner making sure I’m composed before ever pressing the shutter. There is a lot I need to learn and experiment with still, but I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t go out with my camera before I knew what I was doing. Everyone must start somewhere, don’t wait until you feel ready to begin. The lessons are learned in your failures.
Recent photos from Greece, 2026.