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Why You’re Not a Photographer, You’re a Visual Artist

Free photography inspiration on Eric Kim NEWSLETTER >

Hey streettogs,

Happy Friday! I wanted to start sending you some more email newsletters to hopefully keep your mind full of ‘turbo thoughts’, and also to keep you more inspired in your photography. I’m currently loving the new RICOH GR III [I highly encourage you to order one], and want to share some of this new-spring of photographic inspiration with you.

Why you’re a visual artist, not photographer.

This is the thought for today:

The photograph is not sacred. A photograph is visual art. Your job as a photographer isn’t to depict picture-perfect reality. Your duty is to create your OWN interpretation of reality, and strive to make it as beautiful as you can.

For example, take photos you’ve already shot in the past and re-mix them, re-edit them, or even draw on top of them [using Photoshop or Procreate for iPad/iPhone].

How to be creative everyday

  • Producerism
  • inverse walking lady Seoul

I just gave a talk on creativity at Google titled: ‘CREATIVE EVERYDAY’ [link to PDF slides]. The basic notion is this:

How can you be creative everyday, even while holding down your 9-5 job?

The basic ideas include:

  1. Consider yourself a visual artist. You don’t always got to be out photographing all day. You can re-mix your old photos, or even sketch, draw, do calligraphy [on any device]. To create visual artworks in Photoshop, on your phone, Zen Brush 2 Calligraphy App, Procreate– it is all legitimate.
  2. We are happiest when we are creating. Thus, we should focus on ‘producerism‘ [opposite of consumerism]. The idea is we derive our happiness more from the act of creating, than the passive act of consumption.
  3. Don’t judge your artwork as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Only judge your artwork as authentic or inauthentic to you [you are the ultimate judge].
  4. If you want real feedback on your photos, upload it to arsbeta.com

Download the slides here >

Feel free to forward this or the PDF of the slides to your friends. Also, I will share a link to the YouTube video [in about 3-4 weeks] when the Google team processes the recording.

Also if you want to re-spark your creative imagination, pickup a copy of CREATIVE EVERY DAY in HAPTIC SHOP >

Our new motto: ‘All Photography Everything‘

New Eric Kim Experiences

  • September 7, 2019: BERLIN / Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography
  • September 14-15, 2019: BERLIN / Discover Your Unique Voice in Street Photography
  • October 5-6, 2019: NYC / Discover Your Unique Voice in Street Photography
  • October 19, 2019: PORTLAND / Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography
  • March 21-22, 2020: Boston / Discover Your Unique Voice in Photography Workshop

ERIC KIM Mark II Straps

RICOH x Eric Kim NECK STRAP MARK II

Sublime Function and Form:

  • Eric Kim Neck Strap Mark II >
  • Eric Kim Wrist Strap Mark II >

Go forth and shoot!

A parting thought for you:

Perhaps dissatisfaction is the stimulus to help us create new art-works!

You got this weekend to shoot new photos. Just have fun; no pressure. A bit trite to say but ‘the striving is the reward’.

To strive to make new photos and new artworks– perhaps this is true happiness?

ERIC

New Articles

  1. Why the RICOH GR III is the Best Street Photography Camera
  2. Why Street Photography is the Best Photography
  3. Why Photography and Art are Essential to Life
  4. What if Mental Health Issues are rooted in Physiological Issues?
  5. How to Make More Interesting Photos

Get free photography inspiration on Eric Kim NEWSLETTER >

ERIC KIM WORKSHOPS

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Unleash your creative potential:

2021:

  • May 22-23, 2021: CHICAGO / CONQUER COMPOSITION STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP – (NOW LIVE!)
  • June (exact date TBA) 2021: NEW YORK CITY / STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS by ERIC KIM [Register Intent Here]

Be notified of when new workshops are live here.


ERIC KIM NEWSLETTER

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Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Photography Entrepreneurship

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PHOTO JOURNAL

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HAPTIC MAG

Read our HAPTIC MAGAZINE: Issue 1 “Our Story” >

HAPTIC makes creative tools to empower visual artists. From educational tools, art platforms, to camera equipment, HAPTIC is driven by a spirit of experimentation and creative collaboration. We are a majority women led, family operated industry, and have great pride in everything we make.

See the HAPTIC SHOP > (We ship worldwide from California)

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HAPTIC MISSION: We believe in disrupting the production market for photography, art, and creative tools. We are transparent about the labor practices behind HAPTIC because we are proud and love everything we make. We support honest and beautiful work with respectful wages to our artists, artisans, and collaborators.

We are not anonymous. Our products are a story. HAPTIC products are printed, prepared, shipped from California with creative collaborators from Saigon.

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