Interview with Eric Kim about the YOU ARE HERE Street Photography Exhibition in Los Angeles with The ThinkTank Gallery and Leica

Popsicle

Interview conducted by Jacob Patterson, co-founder of the ThinkTank Gallery in Los Angeles.

YOU ARE HERE is a street photography show at the ThinkTank Gallery at 939 Maple Ave in Downtown LA on October 13th which is sponsored by Leica Camera. Over 30 photographers were given 10 days to shoot the same one square block, and their three images which best capture the spirit of the area shot will be displayed together alongside a few installation pieces. Come out at 7pm or after you visit the Downtown Artwalk and see this unique show! You can RSVP via Facebook, and keep reading to hear about Eric’s involvement in the exhibition and see some of his best images.

How did you get involved with YOU ARE HERE, and to what are you looking forward going into the show?

The Jazz Man

I am close friends with the founders of the ThinkTank Gallery and was approached to help co-produce and curate the show. The idea of getting 32 street photographers to shoot a single block in Los Angeles was absolutely fascinating to me and very unique.

The thing I most look forward to is seeing how all the street photographers are going to be able to show their own artistic vision through the neighborhood being shot. I believe that the restriction of shooting in one location will allow the photographers to achieve stunning shots.

Having met a few of the other photographers in this show, who are you most excited to show your work alongside at the ThinkTank Gallery on October 13th?

Jazz Hands

I am particularly fond of the work of Ludmilla Morrais, who captures a great deal of depth and soul in her imagery. Not only that, but she takes the craft of street photography quite seriously, and has done much for the community as one of the moderations on the vastly popular Flickr group “Hardcore Street Photography”.

When you go out to shoot photographs in a busy city like Los Angeles, to what kinds of things do you find yourself attracted, and do you go out looking for anything in particular?
Like a Boss

When I am shooting on the streets of Los Angeles, I am constantly looking for characters who I feel encapsulate how I feel about Los Angeles. I look for a wide gamut of characters who range from glamorous and glitzy to humble and low-key. I love people who have faces that tell stories, and have the attitude to back it up.

What have you been shooting lately, and what types of topics have you seen rising out of your work as of late?

Smoke
 The more engrossed I become in street photography the more I have been getting closer to people. A recent addition to my work is shooting with a flash, something that I was inspired by Bruce Gilden, Charlie Kirk, and Dirty Harrry. I feel it adds a depth in my images that showcase someone’s soul in a much more intimate way. Although it is quite controversial, I try to always shoot with a smile on my face and always respect and become intimate with my subjects.

Anything audiences should be excited about with an exhibition premise like that of YOU ARE HERE? What is different about this show than the other ones you have seen or been involved in?

The Ice Cream Man

The great thing about Los Angeles street photographers is that they are incredibly diverse and come from different walks of life. Viewers of the YOU ARE HERE exhibition will see a wide array of different images that are similar in content yet unique. Not only that, but the exhibition also encourages interaction between the photographers and the community, which will help the art in the area.

You can check out Eric’s portfolio at http://erickimphotography.com

Information about YOU ARE HERE

YOU ARE HERE is a street photography show at the ThinkTank Gallery at 939 Maple Ave in Downtown LA on October 13th which is sponsored by Leica Camera. Over 30 photographers were given 10 days to shoot the same one square block, and their three images which best capture the spirit of the area shot will be displayed together alongside a few installation pieces. Come out at 7pm or after you visit the Downtown Artwalk and see this unique show!
Make sure to RSVP via the Facebook Invite here