October has been a whirlwind. In terms of photography, it’s probably been my most productive month to date. Out of the 31 days, I only took 10 off from going out with my camera. The remaining days were spent capturing moments, editing images, and handling various administrative tasks.
I’m so exhausted from the non-stop pace that I actually needed a 20-minute power nap just to muster up enough energy to write this blog post. But here I am, finally sitting down to reflect on what’s been an incredibly busy and fulfilling month.
Speaking of writing, my camera work has kept me so occupied that I ended up neglecting my blog. Apologies for the delay, but sometimes life (and photography) takes over.
The month began with an inspiring two-day street photography workshop by Selaru Ovidiu, a London-based photographer. He hosted the workshop in Brussels, and I was eager to attend.
Following the workshop, I spent a good amount of time editing the photos and working on my own upcoming photography workshops. I updated the slides for my smartphone photography course aimed at corporate clients, adding new photos taken with my Samsung S24+.
Later in the month, I had the pleasure of hosting Thilo Jaehnig, who was the guest on my first podcast episode. He visited from Hamburg, and I took the opportunity to show him around Antwerp, taking in some of the city’s best photo spots. In return, he shared valuable photography insights and encouraged me to experiment more with the 28mm lens.
Of course, October wasn’t all about work. I spent quality time with friends, and an evening spent enjoying Belgian Trappist beers was the perfect mood booster after long days of shooting.
Instead of detailing every single photo walk (which would be an entire book in itself), here are the standout ones:
- The two-day workshop with Selaru Ovidiu
- A photo walk with Thilo Jaehnig
- A day trip to Liège
- Capturing the Antwerp Marathon
- An interesting encounter with a security guard (more on that later)
On the podcast front, I continued to work on my Slices of Time podcast, preparing interviews with Iris.straatfoto and Mania de Praeter. Both episodes will be released soon, and I also edited the episode with Charis Ioannou, which is already available.
In between all this, I worked on several corporate photography assignments, including shooting portraits and capturing corporate events. A few highlights were a Star Trek-themed farewell party for a Vice Rector and a company event at the Vleeshalle in Mechelen. Additionally, I conducted a few sessions of my updated smartphone photography workshop.
First-Time Experiences of October 2024
As always, the first-time experiences are some of the most exciting parts of the month. Here’s a quick roundup of the highlights:
- Attending my first street photography workshop
- Meeting Thilo Jaehnig in person
- Drinking coffee at Barchel
- Dining at Yalla Yalla
- Books read:
- The Power of Habit
- The Street Photographer’s Manual
- Eregallerij van de Nederlandse Fotografie
- Museums visited:
- Fomu in Antwerp (Photography Museum)
- The Elliot Erwitt exhibition in Brussels
Reflections on a Productive October
October has been a whirlwind of creativity, growth, and learning. From attending workshops and hosting my own, to exploring new places and meeting inspiring individuals, it’s been a month that’s pushed my photography journey forward. As I look back on these experiences, I’m excited to continue evolving and diving deeper into the world of street photography in the months ahead.
