The month I almost forgot to shoot
Lessons from a busy month
August turned out to be an unexpectedly busy month. Since becoming “officially” a full-time freelancer last February (after years of balancing freelance projects alongside my 9–5 job), I’ve already experienced the rollercoaster that comes with freelance life: the uncertainty, the meltdowns, the occasional regret, even panic. But alongside those challenges, there’s also a sense of freedom, fulfilment, and the excitement of new opportunities.
This past month was a good example of that balance. Work kept me busy with a mix of campaigns, e-commerce shoots, and some new video projects. It was intense at times, but also rewarding, and my wallet was definitely relieved after I splurged on the pre-order of the Ricoh GR IV. Most of my days were split between editing at the computer and shooting behind the camera, which left little space for personal projects like street photography.
That doesn’t mean it wasn’t on my mind. I thought about street photography a lot. I received a card game designed to inspire creativity (which I’ll probably use for a YouTube video idea I have). I’ve also been working on my very first printed photo zine. It’s taking more time than I imagined, but I’m enjoying the process, even with all the self-doubt, design challenges, and experiments in visual storytelling. But I didn’t actually shoot just for myself.
This made me realise how much I missed it. A few times, I went out for what I called “rest days,” planning just to have a meal out, but then ended up spending the entire day exploring new areas of the city. Unfortunately, I was unprepared, without any camera except my phone. Oddly enough, this experience helped me notice more of the little things around me. I kept thinking, “This would make a great shot,” but those moments remained only as memories. In the end, it felt like a good training exercise.
Fast forward to the end of August: I finally had more time to go out, overloaded myself with gear, and, of course, ended up using only my Fujifilm. My mind was calm, and I wasn’t chasing “the perfect shot.” Instead, I observed longer than usual before pressing the shutter. It wasn’t laziness or lack of initiative, I just felt more reflective, more focused on composition, and on finding good light. These images are definitely not my best work, but considering I hadn’t shot anything personal in over a month, I consider them a success. Sometimes the act of shooting itself, and being present in the moment, is the reward.
Wonderful photos, especially. "diverted traffic."