Don’t Define Yourself
I recently re-read the “Tao Te Ching” and came across a quote that said something like, “If you define yourself, you will never know who you truly are.”
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2016
Student Photos: Kyoto Workshop 2016
I just finished a great Kyoto Composition Street Photography workshop with Sean Lotman and Junku Nishimura:
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Sean Lotman on Composition
I consider Sean Lotman the best color street photographer in Japan (if not, my personal favorite contemporary street photographer). He just published “Sunlanders” — like looking at Japan through acid or LSD.
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What If You Deleted All Your Photos and Started Again From Scratch?
I recently deleted all the photos on my Instagram, unfollowed everyone, and started from scratch.
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What If You Deleted All Your Photos and Started Again From Scratch?Read More »
Why Unlearning is Better than Learning
Dear friend,
I love learning, but the problem is that when I learn too much, I can become overwhelmed.
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Tokyo Diary 2016
Dear friend,
I am currently on the shinkansen (rapid bullet train) from Tokyo and Kyoto, and on this 2-hour trip, want to reflect on my experiences shooting, eating, and experiencing Tokyo:
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20 Life Lessons Epictetus Can Teach You
Out of all the Stoic philosophers in history, Epictetus was certainly one of the brightest ones — as well as the ones that walked the walk (in addition to talking the talk).
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How to Be Your Own Rainmaker
Imagine a man on a farm. He prays for rain, but it never comes.
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A.B.C. (Always Be Creating)
Dear friend,
I don’t know what the secret to “happiness” is— but I know that I am the least miserable, least anxious, and least stressed when I am creating.
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“The City of Angels” x Street Notes
Cindy and I would love to announce that for a limited time, we are bundling our two Haptic Press products:
- “The City of Angels” by Eric Kim, Haptic Press limited edition art portfolio
- Street Notes: A Workbook & Assignments Journal
With your purchase of The City of Angels, you receive a free copy of Street Notes.
Watch our making of video above (all shot with the Ricoh GR in Cindy’s family’s house in California) and read more about The City of Angels.
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Simplicity and Persistence
I was doing some research on the photographer Irving Penn, and I was drawn to two words that characterized his photography and life: simplicity and persistence.
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Tokyo Student Workshop Photos 2016
Just finished a phenomenal workshop in Tokyo — focused on projects, themes, and finding your own voice:
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Don’t Compromise in Your Photography
A lot of modern wisdom tells us that it is important to compromise— to make everyone happy.
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Photograph Smarter, Not Harder
It is common wisdom that we should work “smarter, not harder.”
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Hanoi Diary #8: Going to Japan for 2 Weeks
Dear friend,
I’m currently at the Hanoi International airport, ready to go to Japan for two weeks, and wanted to give you a life update:
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Review: Leica M-D for Street Photography
The new Leica M-D (the digital rangefinder with no LCD screen) — all hype, or the real deal?
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Student Photos: Singapore Conquer Your Fear Workshop
Check out the best student photos from my recent Conquer Your Fears of Shooting Street Photography Workshop in Singapore:
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Student Photos: Singapore Conquer Your Fear WorkshopRead More »
How to Get into the Zone in Street Photography
One of the best feelings when I’m shooting street photography is getting into the “zone” — the feeling when I am being the most creative, the most concentrated, and hours fly by.
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20 Lessons From Publilius Syrus
Publilius Syrus was a former slave— turned playwright and philosopher, who was best known for his “aphorisms” — a collection of self-contained quotes which is full of insight, wisdom, and advice.
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40 Practical Photography Assignments
Dear friend,
One of the most difficult things in photography is to stay motivated and inspired.
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Have Simple Goals
“A happy man is he who obtains his wishes easily.” – Publilius Syrus
We all need goals or a sense of direction in our photography in life.
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Don’t Expect Anything
Dear friend,
For me, expectation is what leads me to feeling disappointed and miserable.
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7 Aesthetics of Zen Art
I recently came across this list of 7 aesthetics when it comes to Zen art:
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Hanoi to Sapa Travel Street Photography Experience 2017
Are you a street photographer who is looking for a travel experience of a lifetime?
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Hanoi to Sapa Travel Street Photography Experience 2017Read More »
What If We Didn’t Want Comfort?
What if we were okay being uncomfortable?
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10 Lessons Marcus Aurelius Can Teach You
One of the philosophers who has influenced my thinking the most is Marcus Aurelius.
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Hanoi Street Photography Presentation
I gave a free street photography workshop in Hanoi, and you can download the presentation for free, or read more to see all the slides:
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8 Lessons Alfred Stieglitz Can Teach You
If you went to art or photography school, you definitely know about Alfred Stieglitz— the photographer, editor, curator, and promoter of photography.
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How to Shoot Candid Street Photography
For this article, I will give some practical tips I have in shooting candid street photography:
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What is the Best Lens for Street Photography?
Many aspiring street photographers often wonder— what is the best lens for street photography?
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What is the Best Camera for Street Photography?
There are no more bad cameras for street photography.
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How to Shoot Color Street Photography
I feel that shooting color street photography is more difficult than shooting in black-and-white.
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How to Shoot Black and White Street Photography
There is nothing more classic than black and white street photography.
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30 Tips to Conquer G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)
Why is it that we think that buying a new camera will help us become more creative with our photography?
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30 Tips to Conquer G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)Read More »
The Henri Wrist Strap
Back by popular demand, the Henri Wrist Strap in back in stock, in a limited edition of 100:
- Purchase the Henri Wrist Strap (Amazon USA) >
- Purchase the Henri Wrist Strap in our Shop (Ships anywhere in the world, USA & International >
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What Do Your Photos Say About You?
Dear friend,
One question I think is always good to meditate upon is this: “What do my photos say about me?”
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In Praise of Shadows by Michael Dees
Guest post today is by California based photographer and lover of Philosophy, Micahel Dees.
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How to Overcome Hesitation in Street Photography
Dear friend,
I think one of the biggest obstacles we have in street photography is hesitation.
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Hanoi Diary #7: Moving into a Serviced Apartment
Dear friend,
After 2 weeks abroad in Australia (Melbourne and Sydney) I am now happily back in Hanoi.
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13 Lessons Steve Jobs Can Teach You
The individual who has influenced most of my creative thinking is Steve Jobs.
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Why I Love Cameras with Non-Interchangeable Lenses
I’ve shot with tons of different cameras over the years— Leica’s, Fujis, Micro 4/3rd cameras, Ricohs, Smartphones, Canons, DSLR’s, etc. I’ve found that for me, I most prefer cameras with non-interchangeable lenses (lenses that you can’t change).
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Why I Love Cameras with Non-Interchangeable LensesRead More »
5 Lessons Jiro Ono (From Jiro Dreams of Sushi) Can Teach You
One of the best documentaries I have ever watched is “Jiro Dreams of Sushi.” If you haven’t watched it yet— you are missing out on a visual masterpiece which will change how you think of life, work, and dedication to a craft:
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5 Lessons Jiro Ono (From Jiro Dreams of Sushi) Can Teach YouRead More »
Why Do You Take Travel Photos?
Dear friend,
I just had a lively conversation with Cindy about the meaning of traveling and photography. Why do we have to make photos while we’re traveling? Do we do it to document our personal experiences? Do we do it to have a sense of “conquest” of a foreign place? Do we do it to “prove” that we went somewhere?
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35 Money Tips To Become Wealthy
I grew up pretty poor. I had a father who was a chronic gambler, a mom (who was pretty much a single mom) who worked menial jobs. I grew up not knowing whether my mom would be able to pay the rent at the end of the month, and if we’d be homeless.
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