How to Avoid Boredom in Photography

Saigon, 2017 #cindyproject

To never get bored in photography, increase challenge.

From PHOTOGRAPHY 101

1. Make more dynamic compositions

Cindy’s hands. Berkeley, 2016

Avoid symmetry. Avoid static photos. Make your subjects move. Integrate hand gestures. Shoot a lot of the same scene. Study contact sheets.

Cindy’s hands. Berkeley, 2016 — Contact sheet. Cindy’s hands. Berkeley, 2016

Take risks. Make blurry photos. Out of focus photos.

Let serendipity enter your photos, by clicking randomly. Then when you sit down, look at your best shots, and choose the photos that stir your heart-strings.

Unorthodox Photography Compositions >

2. Trace your photos

Trace of Cindy. Saigon, 2017

Henri Cartier-Bresson traced his photos to analyze his compositions after he shot them. I’ve taken the same liberty. But now, I use an iPad, and Procreate app.

Also, trace the photos and images of others, to better understand what makes a good composition and frame.

Howard Hughes

Irving Penn

Irving Penn.

Albert Watson portrait of STEVE JOBS

3. Tell convincing lies.

Istanbul Eric Kim glare stare street photogrpahy — Istanbul, 2013

The best photographers are the best liars.

Contact sheet Istanbul — Contact sheet. Istanbul, 2015

Telling the “truth” in photography is boring, and overrated.

I only think photo journalists perhaps more of an ethical duty to try to tell the “truth” of war, poverty, and inequality in the world. But for us Street Photographers and casual photographers, TELL LIES.

4. Provoke a response

He noticed me and said, “You need to for permission before taking my photo!” I then asked him for permission, and he said no. I got the shot anyways. Shot in Program Mode on Ricoh GR II.

Don’t be a stealth ninja photographer. Interact with your subjects and the world. Avoid boring photos.

Contact sheet Downtown LA. Fingers. — Contact sheet.

Be like WILLIAM KLEIN, a director on the streets.

5. BREAK ALL THE RULES

George Condo x Kanye

Fuck rules in photography. Be like a big kid, just have fun. Experiment, try out new techniques, and avoid boredom.

Kill the king.

Learn from the masters for a fundamental course. Then, KILL THEM and their “rules”.

That means, UNLEARN the “rules” of Photography once you’ve mastered them.

HAVE FUN,
ERIC

PHOTOGRAPHY 101 by ERIC KIM

Seoul, 2009

Dear friend,

If you’re new to photography, start here:

Photography Inspiration

The Fundamentals of Photography

Photography Equipment »

How to Take Better Photos »

Composition Lessons »

Photography Assignments »

Contact Sheets »

laughing lady contact sheet NYC eric kim

Editing (Image Selection) »

eric kim laughing lady nyc

Creativity »

eric kim Cindy project reflection flash

Motivation »

eric kim portrait by Cindy nguyen

Post-Processing

dark skies over Tokyo eric kim

How to Create a Body of Work

AMERICA - ERIC KIM16 eric kim woman popsicle

Don’t Work on Too Many Projects

Technical Photography Settings

eric kim mom glasses

DSLR Photography 101

Learn From the Masters of Photography

MASTERS PROTOTYPE by HAPTIC

“He without a past has no future.”

Start here:

The Masters of Photography

Prague, 1968. Josef Koudelka / Magnum Photos

Classics never die: