22.04.2025 | The Moving Staircase of Life

There’s always something happening—whether you’re ready or not

What you’re seeing here is a series of nearly 100 photos I took at a shopping mall—nope, not stop motion. Every single one was shot handheld over a span of just 30 minutes. Consider it a little behind-the-scenes peek into how I work when I’m out shooting.

There was something about this escalator setup—criss-crossing like a maze—that caught my eye. It reminded me of how life constantly shifts, moment by moment. People riding up and down, passing each other in opposite directions—briefly locking eyes, crossing paths, then continuing on their separate journeys. There’s this steady, almost hypnotic rhythm to it. At first glance, it might seem repetitive, but once I pieced the photos together, I realized just how much had actually happened in that short window—how many moments of connection I’d witnessed, how many glances met mine as I stood there with my camera.

It made me think: if we could visually rewind our lives, maybe things wouldn’t seem so mundane after all.

That’s the magic of street photography for me. There’s always something happening—whether you’re ready or not. And one lesson I’ve learned over time: don’t just take the shot and walk away. Linger. Revisit. Wait. Even if the setting stays the same, the life flowing through it never does. Each moment brings something new.

Style is something you grow into, photo by photo, edit by edit

This is something I think about constantly. Finding a unique, personal visual style is a huge milestone for any photographer. It's not just a technical journey — it's an emotional one too. Here’s what I’ve been doing on my path to shaping my own voice in the photographic world:

Shoot a lot.
I experiment with all kinds of subjects — portraits, landscapes, urban scenes, nature, abstracts — and play with different lighting, from natural and soft to harsh and artificial. I give myself permission to try everything without worrying too much about "finding my style" just yet.
Notice what I’m drawn to.
After each shoot, I review my photos and pick the ones that feel the most me. Then I ask myself:
- Are they colorful or muted?
- Are they sharp or dreamy?
- Do they feel clean and minimalist, or chaotic and detailed?
- What emotions do they give off?
Gather inspiration intentionally.
I’ve been collecting the work of photographers, artists, and filmmakers who inspire me — but not just admiring them. I try to break down what it is that pulls me in. Is it the colors? The lighting? The mood? The way they compose their shots?
Edit consistently.
Editing plays a huge role in defining style, and this part has been particularly challenging for me. The idea is to find a color palette or tonal mood that resonates, and apply it across your work. I’ve had moments where I thought I'd "found my colors," but then a new photo would feel like it needed something completely different. I’m realising that it’s not about forcing one look onto every image — it’s about having enough consistency that your voice still comes through, even as each photo breathes a little differently.
Trust my instincts.
Style often isn’t something you invent; it’s something you uncover by following your gut. Whether it’s naturally underexposing or instinctively framing a certain way, those tendencies are clues to your true style.
Stay patient and flexible.
Style is something that evolves. Looking back at my photos from six months ago compared to now, I can see how much has shifted. It’s not something you wake up one day and "decide" — it’s something you grow into, photo by photo, edit by edit.