The Waiting Game: Stay In The Moment

Woman walking on the sidewalk of a large city, during a sunny day, shadows casting left and right of her.

Keep your eyes peeled like a banana at a fruit stand—patterns, shadows, shapes, and angles are out there just begging to be captured. When you’re roaming the concrete jungle for some street photography, channel your inner spy: always be aware of your surroundings. The trick? Become a regular on the block. Hit up the same streets like you’re trying to win Mayor of Sidewalkville. Mornings, afternoons, evenings—be there so often the pigeons start recognizing you.

Why? Because light has a personality. It hits buildings differently depending on the time of day—sometimes it’s dramatic like a soap opera, other times it’s soft like a lullaby. Shadows start dancing, crowds shift, and that once-quiet street turns into a runway of potential shots. Some places are made for minimalist masterpieces, others for chaotic people-layer-collages that would make Where’s Waldo proud. Know your environment like it’s your quirky best friend—and shoot accordingly.

Let’s talk gear—because after years of shooting, bingeing too many YouTube videos, and convincing myself I needed that one last lens (spoiler: I didn’t), I’ve learned that small primes are where it’s at. Yes, we’ve all been seduced by the sweet-talking zoom lenses and their “I can do everything!” attitude. And yes, we’ve all felt like undercover agents nervously gripping our cameras like they might explode if someone makes eye contact.

But after more than a decade wandering streets with everything from pancake lenses to chunky glass monsters, I now sing the gospel of the compact prime. People love to toss out focal lengths like it’s a camera buffet—28mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm. And sure, they’re all classics, like rock stars of the prime world. But honestly? It’s less about what’s “correct” and more about what fits your vibe.

Some YouTubers even roll with an 85mm because they love that dreamy compression (and also maybe don’t like people getting too close—relatable). As for me, I live somewhere between 28 and 35mm. It’s wide enough to capture context, tight enough to focus the story, and just feels like slipping into a well-worn hoodie.

Here’s the magic trick though: once you stick with one or two focal lengths, you start seeing in them. I’m not kidding—you’ll be out walking and frame a shot in your mind before your hand even twitches toward your camera. You make faster decisions, skip the “meh” scenes, and know exactly when it’s game time.

So do yourself a favor: pick a focal length, commit to it like it’s your photo soulmate, and shoot till you can compose with your eyes closed. (But, you know… keep them open for actual photos.)