I’m a photography slave.
Why I’m a photography slave
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I’m a slave to my passion. I cannot not photograph something that excites me. If I see something that I want to photograph and I don’t photograph it, I feel like I get “visual blue balls”.
I’m a slave to wanting new gear. I’m a slave to thinking that if I just bought that new camera, lens, or equipment– I would unleash my creativity. Very rarely do I consider the thought that perhaps my constraints are the source of my creativity.
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I am a slave to the city where I live, and where I would like to live. I always think, if I only lived in NYC or SF, I could finally flourish creatively as an artist, and surround myself with other creative folks, who will uplift me. Very rarely do I consider, perhaps I should be the one uplifting and motivating others– rather than seeking others to uplift or motivate me.
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I am a slave to social media. I want more likes, followers, and external affirmation. I think these little red hearts are a form of valuable currency. Very rarely do I consider: “likes” aren’t as valuable as money. I’d rather have $10,000 USD than 10,000 likes or followers.
The positives and negatives of photography slavery
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Is it bad to be a photography slave?
It depends.
For myself, I believe it is bad to be a slave to camera brands. To call yourself a “Leica photographer”, a “Fujifilm ambassador”, a “Sony representative”, or Canon/Nikon/Pentaxian/Olympus/Hasselblad, whatever photographer– is like you branding yourself like a slave (remember that slave owners used to dip their metal “branding tools” into the fire, and then apply it to the skin of their slaves, to “brand” their property?)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Halabujee-9-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530)
So in some ways, if you “brand” yourself as a photographer to a certain camera brand, you are a slave.
Now, being a camera brand slave has benefits. You have the protection of the camera brand, like a master. For myself, when I got support from Leica, I got help with promotion, travel, sponsorship of workshop spaces, and discounted equipment. For Fujifilm, I got free cameras, lenses, free workshop spaces, etc. from Ricoh, I got a free Pentax DSLR and Ricoh GR. From Samsung, I got a bunch of free smartphones.
Getting free shit is awesome– at first. Then you start to feel like a slave. Like you have less freedom. Because you are afraid of upsetting your master who is feeding you. If I stop using my free cameras, I am fearful that I won’t get free cameras in the future.
One day I had an awakening:
I am giving more value to camera brands, than they are giving me value.
I am rich enough to buy my own cameras and equipment. But as a dumb human being, I have a bias to liking “free” stuff. Also, as an insecure person I like the idea of having a big “brand” uplift my ego.
I therefore cast off my golden chains. I gave away all my (free) cameras to friends who I thought could use them better than myself. I made a personal pledge to myself:
To only promote cameras that I have purchased with my own money.
For example, I currently own a film Leica MP and Leica 35mm f2 Summicron ASPH lens that I bought used from Bellamy Hunt (Japan camera hunter). I bought my own Ricoh GR II from Amazon. Now ethically and morally, I feel like I have a right to my own opinion. And I also feel more free.
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Also now, I’m less of a slave to social media. I no longer use Instagram (deleted it), and just auto post stuff to Facebook and Instagram. Rather, I’m trying to build up my own social media platform- the ERIC KIM FORUM (thanks to Cindy for making it).
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Even with camera and equipment reviews I only want to review stuff that I am genuinely interested in. Because life is short, why waste it promoting products that will get outdated in 6 months? I endeavor to make “evergreen” information– that will be as relevant 2000 years from now, as they are today, like the philosophy of Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Jesus, Epictetus, Diogenes, and a few others.
How to break free
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Now friend, if you are reading this, I am not calling you a slave. I am only accusing my past and present self.
But my practical advice is this:
- Realize if you get “free” stuff from a company, you lose some of your personal freedom.
- Realize that having a lot of social media followers is a blessing but a curse– you become a slave to please your followers.
- Realize that if you use a “free” social media platform (and don’t pay for it), you are a slave. Instead, register your own website or photography blog via WordPress.org (bluehost.com and 1and1.com are good hosts).
And with camera equipment and gear, just ask yourself:
Is my camera my slave, or am I the slave of my camera?
BE STRONG,
ERIC
G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)
GAS: (Gear Acquisition Syndrome): wanting to buy new cameras, because you feel like your photos aren’t good enough, because your camera isn’t good enough:
- How to Conquer GAS
- How to Stop Pixel-Peeping
- Why I Shoot With One Camera and One Lens
- 30 Tips to Conquer G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)
- Gear Allergy Syndrome
- Disregard Differences, Notice Similarities
- More Megapixels, More Problems
- Sensor Envy
- If Your Camera Isn’t Good Enough, Your Camera isn’t Expensive Enough
- How to Be Grateful For What You Have
- Having No Choices is the Ultimate Freedom
- Technology Won’t Fix Your Problems
- Why is Image Quality Important?
- Why Sharpness is Overrated in Street Photography