Milan 2025 | Shot with the 28 mm equivalent focal length | Ricoh GR IV
For the past few months, I’ve been shooting exclusively with the Ricoh GR IV and its 28mm equivalent focal length. Coming from years of 35mm work, I expected a subtle adjustment. What I got was a fundamental shift in how I approach every frame.
The math seems insignificant—just 7mm difference. But in practice, 28mm forces you at least two full steps closer to your subject compared to 35mm. And those two steps change everything.
I’ve been walking around lately with just two things: my Sony headphones and my Ricoh GR IV. That’s it. And I’m struck by this recurring thought, this persistent itch—what if I just sold everything else?
“Because I want the picture more than I fear the consequences.”
Melissa O’Shaughnessy
After months of pandemic lockdowns, street photography began feeling more challenging. At first, I thought it was just me – it seemed natural to lose confidence and rhythm after spending years mostly isolated at home. But I suspect something deeper has shifted.
People seem more camera-aware now. I’ll come home from a shoot thinking I captured candid moments – that no one noticed me. Then I review the photos: Damn! Nearly everyone is looking straight at the camera. They knew I was there the whole time.
Milan, 13 September 2025, 17:16
Perhaps social media has made everyone hyper-conscious of how they might appear online – worried I’ll post an unflattering photo or make them look foolish.
I’m not alone in this observation. Photographer Cody Cutter mentioned the exact same phenomenon in a recent podcast episode of walkie talkie, which validated what I’d been feeling. Something fundamental really has changed in how people relate to being photographed since the pandemic.
It is clear that the lock down dramatically increased our dependency on social media. We stayed home, constantly checking our phones – following death statistics, news updates, posts, selfies, reels. If the pandemic had one foundational effect on society, it’s probably this shift. And I am not loving what it has done to the streets.
