Dear friend,
An epiphany I had: NEVER STOP EVOLVING! Life is about evolution, constant experimenting, constantly learning, constant iteration. There is no point where you wish or desire to achieve ‘perfection’. Rather, treat life as always in a state of FLUX; in every moment you are in a ‘state of becoming‘ — becoming a greater version of yourself, and evolving into a higher form of yourself!
JUST SHOOT IT: HAPTIC INDUSTRIES on AMAZON
ERIC KIM YOUTUBE: NEVER STOP EVOLVING
Never stop evolving in your photography
For example, in your photography, never stop evolving. Always seek to improve your photography. Always seek to explore and travel to new places. Always seek to make new photos, to never be satisfied with your visual artistry.
As a photographer, keep experimenting. Treat yourself like a visual artist-scientist, try out new tools, equipment, lenses, try shooting film, and switch up your aesthetics.
The theory that Josef Koudelka has in why Henri Cartier-Bresson stopped shooting was this: Henri Cartier-Bresson became too rigid and static in his photographic dogma and approach. Henri Cartier-Bresson became a victim of “self-tyranny”; he only saw one approach that was legitimate/valid in photography (Leica, 50mm, black and white, decisive moment style photography, not interacting with your subjects, candid style, and not cropping, not shooting color, etc).
Rather, Josef Koudelka took the other approach: when he felt he was becoming trapped in his own style, Koudelka decided to switch it up. When he shot his “Gypsies” project for 10 years on a film SLR, black and white, and 25mm wide-angle, he ditched his equipment, bought a Leica and a 35mm/50mm and started to travel the world, starting his “Exiles” project. When he was done with that, he started to shoot black and white panoramic landscapes. Now Koudelka even shoots digitally with his panoramics. Even as Koudelka was becoming famous for a certain aesthetic, he sought to first please himself (spurning pleasing others), to keep evolving in his own photographic vision, style, and approach.
Don’t seek a final or “perfect” state
So friend the encouragement I want to give you in life is this:
Don’t seek a certain final state or style in your photography, visual art, or life. Rather, seek to constantly evolve, to keep becoming a stronger visual artist, more keen, more nuanced, more sharp, more curious, and more childlike.
Seek to evolve by shooting new subject matter, starting new photography projects, and by always evolving your personal style.
Imagine if there was a “final” or a “perfect” iPhone. That would suck and be boring. It is more fun to keep evolving the products, making them better, and gradually improving them! Steve Jobs always sought to make new, revolutionary products, and to constantly refine and improve the pre-existing products!
Treat yourself as the ultimate product you want to keep evolving and improving!
Never rest satisfied, and let your dissatisfaction drive you forward and upward to the highest possible stars!
BE BOLD,
ERIC
JUST SHOOT IT: HAPTIC INDUSTRIES on AMAZON
Photography Philosophy
Why do you make photos? Reflect in PHOTO JOURNAL:
- HYPER PHOTOGRAPHY
- The Soul of the Photographer
- The Photographer as a Vessel
- How to Think Outside the Frame
- Photography is the Elixir of Life
- Imager
- Why You Must Photograph
- How to See as a Photographer
- How to Delete Your Pictures
- Your Camera is a Blessing
- Reality vs. Perception in Photography
- What’s Your Final Aim in Photography?
- If We Delete Our Pictures, Do We Delete Ourselves?
- There is No Truth in Photography; All is Allowed
- MEMENTO MORI PHOTOGRAPHY
- YOU ARE A PHOTO GOD.
- How to Gain More Control, Freedom, and Happiness in Your Photography
- The Will to Shoot
- The Art of Constantly BECOMING
- The Frame
- How to Increase Your Visual Perception
- Could an AI Shoot the Same Photo as You?
- A Photographer’s Guide to Seeing
- THE LESS REAL YOUR PHOTOS, THE BETTER.
- Photography as Experience
- SHOOT YOU.
- MAKE PICTURES, NOT PHOTOGRAPHS
- Why You Should Ignore Photography and Art Critics
- Do You Live to Photograph, or Photograph to Live?
- Living a Good Life is More Important Than Photography
- How to Start Fresh in Your Photography