The flaneur — to walk aimlessly, elegantly, slowly, poised — and to photograph anything you find interesting.
![Washington DC, 2019](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/4C4F28CC-3182-4E0C-926F-415E4F2FC464-2000x1325.jpeg?resize=2000%2C1325)
Not to worry so much about whether your photos are “ good” or “bad”. To simply enjoy the walk for the sake of it.
![Washington DC, 2019](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/6C00A1F9-5890-4611-AB25-CB205CB6E6EC-e1553289877484-1325x2000.jpeg?resize=1325%2C2000)
To not “force” yourself to shoot— to only shoot when you feel like it!
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Beyond street photography
![Washington DC, 2019](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/4CCEB4EC-A616-4F6B-A67D-4CD154E3FA78-2000x1325.jpeg?resize=2000%2C1325)
Don’t worry about shooting “good” street photos. Instead, shoot for autotelic (self-motivated) reasons. For example,
- I shoot to analyze people, places, cities, and urban environments.
- I photograph people to get a closer look of them later (why does the person look so interesting or fashionable?)
- To better connect me with a place or city.
![Washington DC, 2019](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/5984D0ED-F75E-4D79-BBE4-7A2C8E706D34-2000x1325.jpeg?resize=2000%2C1325)
Enjoying getting “in the zone” during street photography
![Washington DC, 2019](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/4B6EC377-2EA2-4F00-8749-49D5E39DD265-2000x1325.jpeg?resize=2000%2C1325)
For me, I love getting in the “zone” when shooting street. During these moments, I feel beyond myself. My perception of time is altered, I slow down, and find more beauty and visual joy around myself.
![Washington DC, 2019](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/76C2473C-F17E-4AFE-83BF-4DC1E071A132-e1553290427538-1325x2000.jpeg?resize=1325%2C2000)
Enjoy the walk
Don’t expect to make good photos — enjoy the walk, and just shoot photos whenever you see something interesting.
Travel and shoot ultralight— #ricohmafia status.
![Washington DC, 2019](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AA6067C2-6A38-49B2-BF7E-FE6AF25F3AE8-2000x1325.jpeg?resize=2000%2C1325)
Don’t force it
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Don’t force yourself to shoot. Only shoot when you have an inner impulse to shoot.
![Cindy](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/6AACE06C-3658-43B2-A54B-1EA1613527AB-2000x1325.jpeg?resize=2000%2C1325)
Don’t restrain yourself to public pavement and concrete. Enjoy flaneur-like walks in nature, parks, etc:
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Enjoy flaneuring around at exhibitions or museums.
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Flaneur lifestyle
![Selfie flash](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/6C8CFEB4-7631-46F5-A8B9-FB0B07B0F178.jpeg?resize=1668%2C608)
To flaneur is a mode of living — a lifestyle and approach:
- Walk for pure enjoyment
- Walking as an existential thing — walking isn’t “exercise”.
- ”Only thoughts conceived while walking have any value.”- Nietzsche
- Walking might be as essential as sleeping or eating (Nassim Taleb)
Never stop walking!
ERIC