Month: July 2019
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Like Yourself
A pre-requisite in life: Like yourself. If you don’t like yourself, how do you expect others to like you?
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Why Do You Do Photography?
Why do you do photography? Why do you make images? Why do you engage with the visual world? What do you want your viewers to get from your images? This is the start of visual philosophy/photography philosophy (I call it ‘photolosophy‘).
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Visual Poetry
What makes great artistic photos? Visual poetry.
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Why I Love Composition
Composition is endlessly fascinating, has a trillion permutations, and has no right or wrong.
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Photography Composition Lessons from WONDERLAND by Jason Eskenazi
One of my favorite photo books — part of our ongoing HAPTIC PHOTO BOOK CLUB (Summer):
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Announcing HAPTIC SUMMER BOOK CLUB!
Hey streettogs, super pumped to share that me and Cindy will start a summer book club around photography books. Check the HAPTIC shop for special summer discounts, as well as the blog for more articles and insights about photo books and publishing! To celebrate our love of books and printing, all print and mobile books…
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Visual Philosophy
The primary question of visual philosophy: What is the worth of an image. And why are visual art works important?
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BITTER IS BETTER.
The bitter in life is better than the sweet. Bitter coffee as superior to sweet coffee. Bitter experiences toughen you. Of course, we should still strive towards the “bitter-sweet”— we need BOTH the bitter and the sweet in life in order to thrive, discover more gratitude in life, and have more power.
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Photography tips for beginners
If I started photography all over again, this is advice I’d give myself:
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Photography Types
There are many types of photography out there. And honestly, there isn’t a “superior” genre out there. Better yet — perhaps we shouldn’t separate photography into different types? However at the same time, studying different photography genres is a good way to discover NEW forms or types of photography you might not yet know you’re…
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Discover Your Own Truths in Photography
Do Photos tell the Truth? Of course not! This is what makes photography so fun.
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My Favorite Photography Quotes
These are the photography quotes I believe to be the most true, based on my personal life experiences:
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How to read a photograph
To read a photo means to interpret the photo, analyze it, dissect it, strive to understand it, and to derive meaning from it.
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Ambition
Ambition — your life purpose risen. Break out of your mental cell and prison. Are your thoughts stuck or risen? Follow your strength and charisma Laud yourself and like you through and through. Being true is understated, confused, and underrated. Being true is to just follow your own gut— to disregard fame, wealth, and avoid…
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Photography for Beginners
If you’re new to photography (or you want a refresh), this article is for you:
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How to be Creative Everyday
You are a creator, innovator, and artist. Now we got that out of the way, what are some practical tactics and tips to empower you to be creative everyday?
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Why be Creative Everyday?
If you’re creative everyday (meaning, you create things everyday), you’re happier, more empowered, optimistic, and enthusiastic about life!
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How to Blog
I’ve written much on why blog, how to start and setup your own blog, but not much on how to blog. This will be a distillation of everything I’ve learned thus far from blogging (from age 15 to age 31)— 16+ years!
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Why Become an Entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurship: the art of taking “calculated risks” in order to create what you desire to see manifested in the world. Why become an entrepreneur? Because you hate the way that the world currently looks, and you desire to change it!
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Always Carry
Only own what you’d always carry or use. A thought: What if you always carried all of your possessions with you? Would this make us more selective on what to buy? Would this be more effective for us in terms of maximizing the possessions we already own?
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Follow Your Artistic Vision
In art, there is no right or wrong. There is simply ‘authentic’ and ‘inauthentic’. What you are striving towards as an artist is this: For you to pursue your own artistic vision, and being steadfast/strong enough to prevent others from watering down your artistic vision.
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In Praise of Unconventional Wisdom
Is All Conventional Wisdom Bad? Have I ever learned anything from anyone else (in real life) or from books which had practical utility in my life, without me following my gut and self-experimenting? Conventional wisdom has never helped me. However on the other hand, listening to and acting upon/experimenting on unconventional wisdom has seemed to…
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Become the Change Which You Wish to See in the World
There is obviously much to critique in the world. But rather than complaining what we hate in the world (the ‘commentator’ mentality, which actually doesn’t take much personal courage), perhaps we should strive to actually BECOME the change which we wish to see in the world!
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DIGITAL MARXISM
To become the most powerful digital entrepreneur, you must own the means of production!
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For What End?
When contemplating anything in life, always ask to yourself: For what end do I desire to do [x, y, z]?
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Function becomes Fashion
I was reading an interesting interview with JAY Z, and discovered something super fascinating to me. The basic idea is that the reason why a lot of people in the hood wore baggy pants and puffy jackets were to conceal drugs and weapons. And Timberland work boots because they would be hustling on the streets…
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What Happens When You’re No Longer Interested in any New Cameras?
I’ve pretty much shot all the cameras out there, and currently– there is really no new cameras out there which interest me. Now what?
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Minimalist Photography
Minimalist photography: Embracing simple and minimal equipment, minimal compositions, in order to maximize your enjoyment and fun in photography!
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Know your photo opportunities!
It is difficult to predict when you’re going to make a good photo. But it is easy to determine photo opportunities (when you see them in front of your face!)
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7 Tips How to Make More Interesting Street Photography
Simple tips on making more dynamic street photographs:
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How to Never Run Out of Inspiration and Motivation for Photography
The secret: child’s mind (beginner’s mind) in photography.
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Zen Entrepreneurship
A new way of seeing and approaching entrepreneurship: Strive to simplify and improve the lives of others, instead of complicating and creating “false desires” the lives of others.
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Closer is Better
When in doubt, get closer.
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How to Publish Yourself
Publish yourself via your own blog, website, PDF ebooks, prints, zines (magazine), or your own self-published print book.
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How to Simplify Your Photography Compositions
To improve your photography compositions, SIMPLIFY them!
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The future of photography publishing is photography blogging.
A thought while using the new Gutenberg “blocks”interface for WordPress.org: The future of photography publishing is photography blogging.
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PHOTO MANUAL v1
A straightforward quick start guide to get started in photography:
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Don’t buy anything you wouldn’t want to use or own forever.
An idea when buying anything: Only buy something if you can imagine using it forever.
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Why Photography is Integral to Being Human
A thought while lying in bed: Perhaps there is something integral about photography and being human. Some thoughts:
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Create Your Own Culture
Better to be a leader than a follower.
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BOLDER IS BETTER.
Life is more fun, enjoyable, and interesting when you GO BOLD!
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The Photographer Work Ethic
What are one of the only variables we can control in order to succeed more in life? It seems the answer is hard work.
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How to Become More Ambitious
Ambition as the greatest virtue.
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Why iPhone is the Best Camera
iPhone is the best camera. Why? It’s the ultimate “full stack”solution for photographers — shooting, image-selection, processing, and publishing.
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Photography Philosophy: How to Make Authentic Photos
The first step in photography philosophy: make authentic photos (for yourself), not in order to please/impress others.
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Photography Activities and Assignments
Simple ideas to get you going:
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Why I Love to Make Photos
Instant art works — isn’t this what makes photography so great?
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Street Photography as Fun Visual Gymnastics
Perhaps we should approach street photography from a fun visual gymnastics perspective. This means, we shoot street photography for fun — and we have the most fun in street photography when we compose scenes that are visually challenging, interesting, and complex.
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Composition Studies
1. Three subjects Edward Hopper: 2. Proportions of elements 3. Depth 4. Curve 5. Elegant curve and gesture of woman’s body 6. Side profile 7. Extreme right subject 8. Two opposed subjects, with foliage in-between
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Distractions Aid Focus
A thought — What if distractions were actually a necessary component of focusing? In terms of an “opponent”theory — distractions and focusing are enemies. But if you desire to increase your focus, you must also increase your dose of distractions.
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Extreme Selfishness x Extreme Altruism
What if in order to maximize your altruism and impact on humankind, being extremely selfish were a pre-requisite?
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Is it Good to Have Dreams in Life?
What’s your life dream? Is it good to have life dreams?
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WAVES
Waves never die —
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Snapshots are the Best Shots
I desire to make a change to the culture of photography. I propose the following: The best shots are snapshots. The word “snapshot” not to be used as a pejorative (insult). Instead, it being used as a term to communicate a notion of shooting something instinctively, intuitively, directly, and authentically.
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Full Stack Artist
To become a full stack artist means to control all means of production, creation, distribution, and publishing. To control all the platform, to not get censored, and to also have the technical prowess to do and create anything you desire!
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How to Improve Your Photography Composition
Pragmatic tips:
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Art should be an adventure!
Before you create an artwork, you shouldn’t know what it will ultimately look like, or be. Isn’t this much more fun, interesting, and enjoyable?
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5 Tips How to Embed Your Soul into Your Artwork
Recognize the fact that the artworks you create are a reflection of your soul.
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What is Artwork?
Artworks as a manifestation of the energy, soul, “chi” of the artist. The soul and life-energy of the artist is revealed through their art works. Thus what is our goal as photographers and visual artists? Impute and embed your soul into your artworks!
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VHS Rarevision Camcorder iPhone App Video Review
Really a huge fan of the VHS Camcorder (Rarevision) for iPhone.
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You’re a Photographer AND Visual Artist
Think beyond photography — embrace all forms of visual artwork and creation!
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Live Every Moment Maximally Alive!
A thought in life: Perhaps the best mode of being and being alive is to feel maximally alive, with the maximum feeling of power.
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Creative Attitude
What does it mean to have a creative attitude? To have a creative attitude means desiring to direct all your energies to CREATE! The ultimate apotheosis as becoming the ultimate hybrid of artist, philosopher, and creator.
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Highest Quality, Lowest Price.
A thought when perusing some luxury stores at the mall — Wow, the dynamic range between high-end luxury goods and “fast fashion” is so much in terms of build quality, materials, and innovation in fashion. Which got me thinking — Why are luxury goods so much better (and so much more expensive) than basic goods?
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Becky Project v2 by Takashi Nakagawa
Takashi Nakagawa — one of the most talented visual artists I know.
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Your Vices are Your Virtues
What if all your vices were indeed, your supreme virtues?
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Do You Find Things or People as More Beautiful?
A strange thing I’ve noticed: Many people are more interested in things, objects, fashion-totems, cars, clothes, etc than being interested in other people. For example– if you’re a (heterosexual) man, what do you find more attractive– a Porsche car or a beautiful woman? Are you more impressed by Rolex watches or human muscles? Are you…
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Low Brightness
An experiment — Try using your phone and devices at the lowest brightness setting for the entire day — and use this as an opportunity to experiment with UI-UX usability, to better judge images and compositions, to improve battery life, and also to spend less mindless time on the phone.
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The Artist-Philosopher-Powerlifter
It is evident that to be stronger is better to be weaker, that having more muscles is better than having less muscles. Strength is desirable, and the stronger you are, the better. A question on my mind: From a physiological perspective, how does one in-fact become stronger? How does one grow stronger muscles? Let me…
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Zen Tools
Creating a body-mind-hand connection between ourselves and our technological tools.