Black Friday, Ikigai and Photography

By the time you read this, Black Friday will be history. For 2025 that is.

Maybe, because of the algorithm, that ubiquitous, intangible, digital spider-web that we are firmly entrapped into these days, it won’t be ‘till Black Friday 2026 (or even beyond!) that you get to find me and read this.

In any event, writing this on Black Friday, 28th November 2025, I’ve spent a considerable amount of minutes clicking Delete on the tidal wave of emails that have been arriving into my InBox over the past week. Sales, promotions and discounts.

Because I’m subscribed to a number of photography related websites, be they individual photographers, companies, or magazines, I’m getting discounts on everything ranging from mist filters to gear bags to drone courses.

And workshops.

Boy am I getting workshop offers by the busload. Which made me think of this image of mine!

(what isn’t mentioned on workshops - that things can go wrong! Yes this happened to me on one of my guiding trips many years ago!)

Iceland is, by far, the top destination. Japan is high up there as well. And of course the Italian Dolomites is an annual top-lister.

All with Black Friday offers of course.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m sure these - and all other - photography workshops are hugely enjoyable and beneficial. If they scratch your itch, fantastic. Judging by the amount of emails I’m getting however, foreign travel landscape (and street) photography workshops are far from unique. Indeed, it’s often difficult to discern the USP for each one - other than the photographer who is hosting each particular trip.

Ok - small rant over. Let’s move onto Ikigai. (Yes, there will be a connection between all 3 topics, Black Friday, Ikigai and Photography soon - you’re doing well - don’t disappear yet)

For those that haven’t heard the term before, or have but let it pass by, Ikigai (pronounced “ee-key-guy”), literally translates to “reason for being” in Japanese. Your ikigai is what makes you jump out of bed in the morning. And no, that doesn’t mean coffee!

It’s what gives your days direction and what makes you feel like your life has weight and significance.

I’m not going to delve into the psychology and science behind this as there’s already shed loads of stuff out there on Ikigai. Suffice to say that I’ve been asking myself what is my Ikigai when it comes to photography, particularly in the light of all the Black Friday workshop offers.

There - I knew I’d get to link all these into one sentence.

In a world of disconnect, hurry and increasing isolationism due to AI, there is a need out there for people to feel listened to. Not necessarily agreed with but at least time to tell their story, their history and how they are where they are right now.

In terms of Ikigai and photography -

What do I love: Landscape and Street Portraits

What am I good at: Probably the same!

What does the World need: Probably not any more landscape photographers…. - but maybe (more) photographers taking time to meet people on the street, engage in conversation, active listening and - ultimately - permission to photograph them. There are some out there already doing this but it’s a space that definitely doesn’t feel as crowded as landscape (workshops). I’m not talking about street photography but photographers such as Frederik Trovatten and Anthony Kurtz who really engage with the subject.

Getting paid for this - well, that’s a trick…

Watch this space as I develop more on this subgenre of street photography and particularly where on the planet it can be best used in conjunction with listening.

Black Fridays - here we come!