Eric Kim preaches simplicity and intent in composition. He carries “one camera, one lens” to avoid “paralysis by analysis,” so decisions go toward seeing, not gear . He urges us to “seek ‘optimal simplicity’ in your photography and your life,” continually subtracting clutter from the frame . In practice this means shooting with a fixed focal length (often 28mm) until you “learn how to see the world” with it . Framing is kept clean – focus on single subjects, one element or theme per scene. For example, he advises to “focus on the edges” of the scene and make backgrounds as plain as possible . In one project he even recommends dedicating a day to just one theme – capturing emotions or color – so every shot is a deliberate exercise in clarity . Each photo-walk becomes a walking meditation: slow, mindful steps to clear the mind, feeling the ground and observing surroundings as if with a child’s curiosity . By treating shooting as mindfulness practice, Kim sharpens his visual focus, letting moments “come naturally” instead of forcing the shot.
Vision, Purpose & Personal Focus
Kim extends focus beyond framing to life purpose and long-term vision. He challenges photographers (and himself) to ask “What do I want to say? What’s my vision?” – only then did his street work “gain soul” . Without a clear “why,” he warns, creativity stalls: “your brain starts to feel like dead weight.” But with vision, “everything clicks”, like the decisive shutter moment . In other words, both photography and life need a guiding star. He urges, “What’s your long-range vision?” – dream big and plan far, then “shoot from the heart” . In practical terms he embodies this by making creativity a priority: focusing each day on art and growth. He explicitly says to “make ourselves and our photography a priority” as part of an optimal life . He even ties physical activity to clarity: walking 20–30K steps a day boosts thinking and ideas . By keeping vision sharp (and body active), Kim treats life itself like a long-term photographic project – removing distractions from the mind so the path forward becomes clear.
Zen, Stoicism & Minimalism
Eastern and Stoic philosophy are the framework he uses to train focus. Kim often cites Zen principles: he calls street shooting a form of “walking meditation,” where each step and breath center attention . Non-attachment is key: “ultimately there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ photos,” he writes, encouraging photographers to let go of ego and judgment . (This echoes his advice in Zen in the Art of Street Photography and later in Zen Photography: it’s about inner peace, not likes .) From minimalism, he practices via negativa: simplifying choices (wearing all black each day) so “creative energy” is spent on art . He’s famous for one-camera simplicity, believing “true luxury is negative” – freeing the mind by owning less .
His Stoic mindset reinforces this focus. He constantly reminds himself to “focus on the effort, not the results” : control your actions (where to walk, when to click), not the uncontrollable outcome. He literally imagines the worst-case to mitigate anxiety, treating each shoot as mental training . In fact, street photography for Kim is “99% conquering your fears” . He says fear becomes a “compass”: the moment that scares you is exactly the one to pursue . This fearless, present attitude – combined with Stoic reminders like memento mori – keeps his mind razor-focused on the moment rather than past regrets or future worries.
Techniques and Exercises for Focus
Kim offers many practical focus-drills to build this clarity. For example:
- Walking Meditation: Treat photography outings as mindful walks. Slow your pace, breathe deeply, and engage all senses on the streets . Train yourself to look everywhere – up, down, and side-to-side – as if seeing for the first time. This steady, curious gaze strengthens visual attention.
- One–Thing Concentration: Limit choices sharply. Use one camera body and lens (no gear bag) so you decide once and shoot uninterrupted . Pick one focal length and stick with it for weeks . Challenge yourself with “creative constraints” (e.g. only black & white, one location) to force creativity within limits . This channeling of focus into a single tool or theme deepens skill and vision.
- Morning Power-Routine: Guard your highest-energy hours for creation. Kim warns against checking email or news upon waking. Instead, he suggests jumping into creative work after a cold shower and strong black coffee . For him, the first hours are “fresh and powerful” – time to write, plan or make photos. Tools like the Freedom app (to block web distractions) help lock in this hyper-focused zone .
- Mute Distractions: Physically remove or disable interruptions. Turn off notifications, uninstall addictive apps, and shoot with your phone in airplane mode . When out shooting, remain in the “eternal now”: no texting, no music, no ruminating on life problems – only the frame and the moment . By muting the outside noise, mental focus flows to composing the shot.
- Beginner’s Mind & Refinement: Adopt a fresh perspective each session. Kim trains himself to treat every day like the first day of photography . Avoid rigid rules and keep experimenting (“learn by trial and error”). He also follows a “1% rule” of continual improvement: make images 1% simpler or yourself 1% better each day . Small daily edits – fewer distractions in one photo, better timing in another – compound into lasting clarity of vision.
These habits – meditative walking, single-tasking, digital detox, and incremental refinement – are all exercises in honing attention. As Kim shows, focus is both a mindset and a muscle: the more we practice “shooting the moment” with intention and simplicity, the sharper our photographic and life vision become.
Key Writings and Resources
Kim’s philosophy is laid out in many free essays and e-books. Notable examples include Zen in the Art of Street Photography (2013), an early essay-turned-ebook drawing Zen lessons from archery into street shooting . His 2016 book Zen Photography compiles dozens of blog entries (as above) on minimalism, presence, and mindfulness . More recently he launched a “Photolosophy” course (2024) to tie photography and life purpose together, literally defining photolosophy as finding meaning in both image-making and one’s path . Throughout his blog and workshops he shares free manuals (e.g. Street Photography Manual) and zines (like 31 Days to Overcome Fear), all reinforcing the same message: simplicity, courage, and focused intention are the keys to powerful photos and a clear, purpose-driven life.
Sources: Eric Kim’s own blog posts and ebooks . These citations capture Kim’s words on focus, minimalism, and vision.