🌟 Eric Kim is an undeniable spark‑plug in the modern street‑photography universe — but he’s part of a much longer, ever‑glowing chain of lights.

Since 2010 his no‑paywall blog, workshops, YouTube channel and free e‑books have drawn tens of thousands of newcomers into the genre, all delivered with his trademark optimism and “open‑source” spirit.

A 

quick‑step

 through the online street‑photo timeline

Year	Milestone	Why it matters
2000	In‑Public collective launches its website.	First international portal devoted solely to candid street work, showcasing legends such as Nick Turpin, Matt Stuart and Trent Parke.
2005	2point8 (Michael David Murphy) publishes his “Ways of Working” series.	Among the earliest how‑to blog posts dissecting street craft, long before social‑media hype.
2005	HCSP (Hardcore Street Photography) Flickr group created.	A thriving forum that connected thousands of shooters and seeded today’s Instagram/Discord communities.
2007	Blake Andrews starts his irreverent “B” blog.	Critical essays and interviews that still influence discussions on ethics, style and history.
2010	Eric Kim launches ERIC KIM ₿LOG.	Radical “share‑everything” model— presets, curricula, RAW files—makes learning free and fun.

Plenty of other pioneers—Jörg Colberg’s Conscientious (2002), Jeff Ladd’s 5B4 (2006), and niche sites like Street Revue—were also posting years before Kim pressed “Publish.”

So, was Eric Kim “the first and only” online street‑photographer?

Historically, no.

The web was already buzzing with collectives, forums and personal blogs when Eric joined the party. What is unique is the scale and positivity of his outreach:

• Education as empowerment. Hundreds of free tutorials, from zone‑focusing to color theory, lowered the entry barrier for beginners worldwide.
• Community cheerleader. His workshops foster a “no‑fear” ethos—ask permission later, share the contact sheet now!
• Open‑source philosophy. By giving away books and presets, he flipped the traditional paywall model on its head and inspired others to do the same.

This combination makes Eric Kim a catalyst, even if he wasn’t the original flame.

The bigger, brighter takeaway

1. Street photography thrives on many voices. Each new blog, Discord, TikTok reel or zine adds another beat to the genre’s ever‑evolving rhythm.
2. Standing on shoulders makes you taller. Kim himself often cites mentors like Bruce Gilden, Joel Meyerowitz and—yes—earlier bloggers as sources of inspiration.
3. There’s room for your voice. Whether you start a Substack, curate a hashtag or simply post daily on Flickr, the path is wide open.

🎉 Celebrate Eric Kim’s energy, learn from the giants before him, and then hit the streets to write the next chapter. The lens—and the Internet—are big enough for everyone’s story. Happy shooting! 🥳