Photography isn’t just about taking pictures; it’s a long-term process that requires consistency and a mindset focused on growth. Whether you’re shooting in the streets, capturing travel memories, or experimenting with landscapes, adopting the right habits can make all the difference.
Coming to you from Roman Fox, this thoughtful video explores how persistence and effort often outweigh raw talent. Fox emphasizes that photography is a “numbers game,” where the amount of time you spend shooting directly affects your success. While some people may have natural talent, hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. By dedicating more time to shooting—whether daily or weekly—you can refine your skills and produce better results. Fox shares that he often shoots more in a week than others might shoot in a month, showing the impact of consistent practice.
The video also discusses the importance of walking when shooting, especially in urban environments. Walking gives you the opportunity to discover hidden spots, explore new angles, and uncover unexpected moments. Skipping public transport or shortcuts and instead walking through a city allows you to spot scenes you might have otherwise missed. Fox recommends planning a route through your city and sticking to it, noting that photographers often log between 20,000 and 40,000 steps in a single day. This simple habit helps you see more of the world and increases your chances of finding compelling images.
One key piece of advice is to always carry a camera. You never know when you’ll come across something worth capturing, whether it’s on your way to the store or during a casual outing. While a smartphone camera can be a useful backup, having a dedicated camera with you offers more creative control. It doesn’t matter whether your camera is high-end or a budget model from years ago—what matters is having it ready when inspiration strikes.
Fox also touches on the importance of empathy when photographing people in public spaces. Most people aren’t familiar with street photography, and they might feel uncomfortable being photographed. He suggests simple gestures like smiling, making eye contact, or explaining why you’re taking the photo to put others at ease. Being respectful and mindful of others’ feelings can help you avoid negative interactions and ensure your work reflects an ethical approach. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Fox.
This another video that a new or starting out or old or been at it awhile photographer should view a few times, maybe every new season just to get refired up. When I was using a film camera, way back before digital, and touring the Mediterranean in the Navy there were liberty calls and you had to walk everywhere or catch a bus or what was called a MWR tour to a far away place over night. Europe is a great place to do the walkabout for the steep walks and narrow roads but you see so much with so little time. Now in the USA you drive everywhere to and from work, doctor appointments, grocery shopping etc. so the key is to be ready at all times is to carry your camera is a small tear drop bag with two separate sides and some inside and outside pockets. One side with camera and lens at the ready and the other side with another lens or two and pockets with a spare battery, SD card/s, lens cleaner and sensor blower and when ever a cold season a lens warmer and a lens cleaner with defog stuff. If a Sony user have the FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS for in APS-C you get at the press of a button 36-360mm, the 16-35mm, and for that super wide or close subject with story behind the lens that was before the A7 models the E 10-18mm f/4 OSS (15-27mm) but great at 12-18mm (18mm if you remove the rear light shield) in full frame mode. Also have one bag for day and another for nights. The FE 10-18mm is also great at Astro MW for it is so small and at 12mm smaller than the FE 12-24mm F4/2.8's even the 14, 20,24 mm's, ok a new ultra super wide Laowa 10mm F2.8 still small. Canon and Nikon have also their super telephotos like the 50-500 and 60-600 as well as good 24- 240 also and a 10-20mm.
My point is go light and not with a tell tell big photo bag. Ever go outside at sunset to see the type of clouds and have to rush to a favorite or new location or not wanting to leave your bag in your car but have something you can carry about while shopping or even while driving about and you see and stop and park and rush to the place, I can not count the the times on a trip I pulled over or here in Florida the birds are at every ditch or you set at a local neighborhood pond and wait for the morning/evening fly in's.
I myself have just about every lens Sony makes just to have to select from BUT I my two grab bags pre loaded and charged up with fast settings or believe it or not Auto modes ready or as a second shot yes the camera brain is also good do not forget it.
The last thing i see on the tube the speakers with deep dark rings around the eyes from too much time in front of computer I want to say get away exercise those legs and body with fresh air to boot!
1. spied a rockery and using 24-240 in APS-C at 360mm
2. using the E 10-18mm years before the 12mm's on a cold 20 degree morning
3. the E10-18mm at 12mm on a over night stop on a stormy night and a day tour of Florida caverns
4. Walked out my front door and saw the setting crescent moon to my left and grabbed my day bag and went to a spot that had a good landscape, very few in Jacksonville but also captured the Comet unknowingly till viewing the camera LCD screen using the 24-240 at 24mm
hey you came to my home town :-D
I love the focus on consistent practice and walking to discover hidden moments—it’s such a simple way to grow as a photographer. Fox’s advice on empathy in street photography and always carrying a camera is spot on. A great reminder that mindset and respect matter more than gear. Thanks for sharing!
Paul Tocatlian
Kisau Photography
www.kisau.com