I woke up this morning with a sentence in my head: "We want to be it, but we don't want to become it," and decided to write a piece about it. You'll find it further on in this newsletter.
Without my noticing, the year had crept into November. I heard myself thinking: on 14 November the Christmas lights go on in Covent Garden, in London. A week before I arrive at King's Cross for my Street Photography masterclass. I'm really looking forward to it.
Of course this newsletter also has the usual tips and recommendations. Enjoy reading!
Warm regards,
Michiel
London calling out loud
20 - 21 November - € 695
There are many reasons I'm looking forward to the masterclass in London myself, and the main one is that I'm not going alone! London with Christmas lights has something melancholic about it.
Last year too many things came together for me, and loneliness caught up with me a bit on my arrival day. A month later I visited the doctor, because I recognised early signs of my burnout. Things are largely calm now, but that makes it no less nice that Esther, my wife, is also coming to London for a few days! Not to take photos, no, although the obligatory selfies for the kids will undoubtedly happen. They themselves just got back from a long weekend of musicals and Waterstones in London.
I'm also looking forward to London because it's the photographic finale of my workshop season. The last one of 2026, and I notice that the last one always fills me up again with energy and inspiration for the coming year. London gives all year round, and without exception we're going to make fantastic photos. If your photo year was a bit disappointing after all, join me in London. That way you'll definitely end it with good photos.
Finally, and this one's personal, there are two places I definitely want to visit myself: Queen's Walk, and the Christmas stalls along the Thames, for slightly too unhealthy but delicious street food, and Oxford Street, which is closed to cars for a stretch of a kilometre. Permanently. The busy shopping street with pavements that are too narrow is becoming a pedestrian area. Still under construction, but I'm going anyway.
LONDON: I still have two spots left, and it's going to be great fun. See you in London?
✔️ Two days of roaming through London
✔️ Straatfotobijbel (in Dutch) book and video instructions
✔️ Small group, maximum of five participants
We want to be it, but we don't want to become it
I believe that line comes from Ray, from Kamp van Koningsbrugge, though he probably didn't come up with it himself either. There's so much truth in it. I think I told four different people this week that I started photography 20 years too late and am now in a hurry. I do want to be it, but I'd rather become it today.
My goal, in the foreseeable future, is to be a sought-after portrait photographer. Beautiful portraits for magazines, Volkskrant Magazine, Mezza and more. Documentary, a bit more so. But first I need to become that for myself. Funny detail: my last round of therapy was about the things I feel I have to do for myself.
All that has to happen alongside my street photography, because for a few months now I've been fully switched on again. I talk a lot about street photography and look for projects to move forward, to become a better street photographer. Focus can help, travelling too. I'm thinking of Copenhagen. Roaming with a purpose. I want to become it, so that I can be it.
I embrace the growth. Think of what I often say on the podcast: "Progress equals happiness". Growth lies in repetition, and repetition doesn't sound like happiness. But if you focus on details, every route is different each time.
I do want to be it, but maybe I want to become it even more. Growing is enjoying. What do you most want to become right now? And is that the same as what you want to be?
Feel free to send me a DM on Instagram if you'd like to spar for a bit.
Faizal Westcott - A "REAL" Look at How I Edit Photos in 2026
We need to talk about this video for a moment. I'm a big fan of Faizal's videos and was looking forward to this one based on the title. But while watching, I didn't understand his crops, or some of the decisions he made during his chore, er, editing process.
After watching it, everything made sense. Photography is personal, and Faizal takes you through his process. I don't have to think anything of that at all. I'm allowed to pick out one or two useful things I can use in my own process, and then it suddenly becomes an incredibly useful video. Highly recommended.
Thanks for reading my newsletter, photographer. I hope I've given you something to think about again. Something that helps with becoming.
If you enjoyed reading this newsletter, please forward it to your photography friends; you'd be doing me a great favour. They can sign up here, or on one of my other websites.
If you'd like to spar with me on the street sometime, consider one of my workshops, you'll find them below.
Warm regards,
Michiel Here’s what’s coming up You can start my email courses Streetsessions and Streetwise whenever you like. There’s no fixed start date. New on my other sites  | Latest preset pack · fotografie-presets.nl
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