My ideal street setup — and what I had to let go..

28mmStreet
Dec 16, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Dec 19, 2025

December 2025 - Blog# 22

In one of the first YouTube videos of 2025 , I spoke about a promise I wanted to keep: fewer tools (gear), fewer decisions, and less friction between me and the street.

At the time, I thought I knew what that meant. Looking back now, I realise that simplifying wasn’t about choosing the right gear — it was about letting go of the things that no longer supported the way I wanted to do street photography.

I had to let a few things go

It’s nice — and pretty easy — to say “less is more” when it comes to street photography. Living by it is a very different thing.

I've long been shredding my street kit to only carry the bare essentials. Looking at the huge amount of gear I have accumulated over the years for my street kit - the kit I call "the gold standard" of street kits - versatile, complete, and frankly overbuilt.

(Yes, really I could win a prize for best and most versatile street kit if ever there ever was a contest.)

Anyway, both my camera and accessories have become smaller and more compact as I've put much emphasis on carry as little as possible. It's not that I don't like a camera bag filled to the brim with goodies but these days I only want to pick-up what I need for the day and just head out.

Not a big deal right?!

A few things became major things..

But that innocent “just pick up” phrase became an issue — big enough for me to notice that choosing a camera or lens was getting harder, not easier.

What I was experiencing wasn’t creative freedom — it was decision fatigue. And it kept happening.

I often say in my videos that I was in two-minds about it.. one “35mm film goodness” or the other "deliriously fast" digital experience.

I would debate with myself "film today vs digital today". Yes, I know it might sound silly to even say it's an issue.

But when you think about street photography like I do (a lot!) and really want your work to be meaningful it does matter which medium you're using to make your creative work (as photography is) meaningful.

This is of course profoundly personal and not everybody will resonate with this kind of sentiment or thought process.

This led to a major decision that I've thought about for a long time. I wanted to commit to shooting 35mm film.

In practical terms, it meant selling my beloved Fuji X100V and purging the entire digital ecosystem along with it.

My everyday carry was cut down in a instant

Selling the X100V didn’t just remove a camera — it removed an entire ecosystem. Extra batteries, chargers, filters, thumb grips, soft release buttons — all of it went with it.

With the Leica M6, none of that was needed. One body. One lens. The 28mm.

For the first time in a long while, my street setup felt complete rather than extensive.

What disappeared wasn’t just gear — it was friction.

What I gained by letting go

Letting go of digital photography wasn’t about nostalgia, purity, or being “more serious” about film. It was about creative alignment.

By committing to one camera, one lens, and one way of working, I removed a layer of friction that I didn’t even realise was holding me back.

I no longer debate what to bring. I don’t negotiate with myself before leaving the house. I just pick up the camera and go.

My street setup didn’t become “ideal” because it’s minimal. It became my ideal setup because it supports the way I want to see, move, and think on the street.

Less gear didn’t give me more photographs. It gave me more clarity.

And for me, that’s worth far more than any camera I let go.

My ideal street setup — and what I had to let go..

In one of the first YouTube videos of 2025 , I spoke about a promise I wanted to keep: fewer tools (gear), fewer decisions, and less friction between me and the street.

At the time, I thought I knew what that meant. Looking back now, I realise that simplifying wasn’t about choosing the right gear — it was about letting go of the things that no longer supported the way I wanted to do street photography.

I had to let a few things go

It’s nice — and pretty easy — to say “less is more” when it comes to street photography. Living by it is a very different thing.

I've long been shredding my street kit to only carry the bare essentials. Looking at the huge amount of gear I have accumulated over the years for my street kit - the kit I call "the gold standard" of street kits - versatile, complete, and frankly overbuilt.

(Yes, really I could win a prize for best and most versatile street kit if ever there ever was a contest.)

Anyway, both my camera and accessories have become smaller and more compact as I've put much emphasis on carry as little as possible. It's not that I don't like a camera bag filled to the brim with goodies but these days I only want to pick-up what I need for the day and just head out.

Not a big deal right?!

A few things became major things..

But that innocent “just pick up” phrase became an issue — big enough for me to notice that choosing a camera or lens was getting harder, not easier.

What I was experiencing wasn’t creative freedom — it was decision fatigue. And it kept happening.

I often say in my videos that I was in two-minds about it.. one “35mm film goodness” or the other "deliriously fast" digital experience.

I would debate with myself "film today vs digital today". Yes, I know it might sound silly to even say it's an issue.

But when you think about street photography like I do (a lot!) and really want your work to be meaningful it does matter which medium you're using to make your creative work (as photography is) meaningful.

This is of course profoundly personal and not everybody will resonate with this kind of sentiment or thought process.

This led to a major decision that I've thought about for a long time. I wanted to commit to shooting 35mm film.

My everyday carry was cut down in a instant

Selling the X100V didn’t just remove a camera — it removed an entire ecosystem. Extra batteries, chargers, filters, thumb grips, soft release buttons — all of it went with it.

With the Leica M6, none of that was needed. One body. One lens. The 28mm.

For the first time in a long while, my street setup felt complete rather than extensive.

What disappeared wasn’t just gear — it was friction.

What I gained by letting go

Letting go of digital photography wasn’t about nostalgia, purity, or being “more serious” about film. It was about creative alignment.

By committing to one camera, one lens, and one way of working, I removed a layer of friction that I didn’t even realise was holding me back.

I no longer debate what to bring. I don’t negotiate with myself before leaving the house. I just pick up the camera and go.

My street setup didn’t become “ideal” because it’s minimal. It became my ideal setup because it supports the way I want to see, move, and think on the street.

Less gear didn’t give me more photographs. It gave me more clarity.

And for me, that’s worth far more than any camera I let go.

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