On RICOH GR III, I’ve been shooting a lot of videos (1080p, 60fps) in high contrast black and white. This has been great, as it is another way to experience reality, create art, and to EXPAND my self-expression/outpression!
The biggest problem in photography, art, and modern life: We don’t think the future will be greater, brighter, and more wonderful. Fuck the nihilist thinking. The future is greater than we think!
I’m not so interested in the photos I’ve already shot, I’m more interested in the photos I have yet to photograph. Which means live and shoot/explore on– you still have SO MANY new photos you have yet shot! You have so many new experiences you have yet experienced! There are still SO MANY new adventures…
Why do you photograph? What do you photograph for?
A life without pain and suffering is undesirable. This means, having pain and suffering in life is BENEFICIAL to life. But the question is– what type of pain is ‘good’ and beneficial to us, which helps us to grow?
My worst hell: if I lived my entire life on planet earth (until death) living a basic life. A life without wonder, danger, adventure, radical self-experimentation, and searching for beauty, knowledge, and wisdom. Thus it seems a good strategy in life to AVOID [by all means] living what you consider a ‘basic‘ life. This means…
The ocean is vast Spread your mast, and spread your wings Let the liquid air take you where you need to be The ocean is free Overwhelming with billows and wind from within Sail furiously, sail free Harness the power of the ocean and follow your own internal motions and flow Like the ocean stay…
One of my goals in life: Strive to have maximal energy everyday, and to never weary of my creative pursuits and activities. How is this possible? Some ideas:
To make your photos more artistic, make them more unclear:
I’ve been shooting a lot of videos on my RICOH GR III, but the problem with videos: What should I do with the videos? Videos are a bit difficult to share and publish. But a fun new idea: Turn your videos into animated GIF images! For example, I like the GIPHY CAPTURE tool on Mac…
Something fun I did while being disconnected on a cruise (without wifi): Experiment with all the post-processing options in Adobe Photoshop to better understand and de-construct your photos.
To photograph your everyday life with zest, gusto, and love: Recognize your life is precious, and strive to extract the maximum from your own life in your own photos. This means, don’t desire any other life but your own life!
How Long Can You Enjoy Things? Something I’ve learned in life: Many things we buy, possess, or experience is pure novelty. We might enjoy it once, or have fun with it for a day (or a few days), but after a week or two — we get bored with it, and we want to go…
Besides the obvious, it seems an ideal strategy is whenever possible, never buy new.
If your motive is to make more intimate photos, shoot with a wider-angle lens (21mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm lens). The perspective of a wide-angle lens will create more intimacy in your photos, which means that the viewers of your photos feel like they’re in your shoes. This means you will better make photos which can…
Currently on a 5-day Carnival cruise from New Orleans to Mexico (day 4), and this is my thought: A cruise ship is the ultimate psuedo-utopia. Let me explain:
You’re brave, what is your duty? If you really knew me, you would know I don’t care much for myself. I don’t think of myself at all. My ego is just a tool. I yield it to guide my soul. I feel my role is to help empower others. To encourage, and uplift their spirits.…
A thought on success: Be insanely different from everyone (in other words, just be you).
Currently on a cruise ship (what I consider a pseudo-utopia). Currently thinking about money: What would be the purpose/function of money in a “post-monetary society”?
The less friction, the better. The more direct approach we take in life, the better.
Travel further with TRAVEL NOTES > A question: Will traveling actually help improve your photography? I think so. Not directly, but this is generally what happens: When you travel, you focus on making photos, you shoot more, and thus you learn more, and improve your photography!
Low-key: Shooting photos with a lower-exposure (darker).
A fun activity: Take screenshots of photos you’ve already shot! I call this ‘meta-photography’ — using the screenshot tool to photograph your own photos.
If you want to re-spark your passion for photography and travel, pick up a copy of TRAVEL NOTES on Amazon, or here in our HAPTIC SHOP.
Let us assume you are financially independent, location independent, nomadic, rich, and whatever form of success. Now the question is: How should I live my life? How should I direct my life-force-energy? My simple thought: Perhaps the end-game is for us to focus on creating our artwork [photography and beyond]!
A thought: The end goal isn’t happiness, it is artistic ex/outpression, and the witnessing of yourself becoming stronger. Also, helping empower others along the way while you’re still alive! Happiness is a reflection of power and thriving? When are we happy? We are happy when we are witnessing progression in our life, when we have…
TRAVEL NOTES now live on AMAZON > RICOH GR III is the best travel photography camera. Small, compact, phenomenal sharpness and dynamic price, lightest [even smaller and lighter than RICOH GR II], recharges with USB-C. There are no ‘real’ flaws with the RICOH GR III in my eyes [only thing I wish is it had…
Extract the Maximum from Reality and Life:
Dare to stare into the depths of your soul and exclaim whatever you want to the real world. DAREDare to care about what you are curious about, to follow your gut, to never second-guess yourself. DAREDare to bear your heart and soul to others; to never water yourself down in falls. Your goal is to…
Was on the plane and cruise ship without wifi, and instead of blogging in real time, and I used iBooks Author to put together some photos and some thoughts while in transit. Free PDF DOWNLOAD >
Better to be poorer, with more freedom, and more control over your artwork and life. For example as a musician, better to have a very small and dedicated fanbase [than to have millions of fans, but being forced to make music you don’t care for]. Better to be poor and own your own website/blog to…
You don’t have a duty to help all of mankind. My idea: The goal is for you to create genuine thoughts, ideas, and art-works, and to share them as widely as possible. Even if you can positively impact and empower 1 other human on planet earth — you’re fulfilling your duty!
This is the strange thing I notice: We admire things [cars, homes, electronics, stuff] more than we do humans. For example, we find Porsche cars more impressive than great individuals. We find Rolex watches more impressive than brave and courageous individuals. We find big homes more impressive than great thinkers. We find stacks of money…
One of my life goals: Strive to [everyday] have the maximal feeling of physiological power and self-confidence. To get drunk off Dionysian self-intoxication; to channel my inner powers to creative output.
In praise of thinking for yourself:
I don’t think the purpose of a vacation or any activity (sleep, nap, massage) is to “relax”. Better to think of it as recovery and to reinvigorate yourself!
Special thanks to my buddy Kevin and to Cindy for making this happen! Pick up CREATIVE EVERY DAY IN HAPTIC SHOP >
TRAVEL FURTHER WITH TRAVEL NOTES > I think on your road to deepening your personal wisdom about the world, travel is a necessity.
My current thought: The objective of life is for you to advance your artistic innovation, insight, creativity. And how to do this? Optimize your life which prioritizes your artistic evolution and thriving.
EvolveStrive to enthrall yourself with your progress and strengthTo what length can you evolve forth? Is there any chord holding you back? How can you evolve? How can you fly higher, swim further, and go more? My idea: strive to impress you. Channel your dissatisfaction in a positive way. Allow yourself to go hard all…
When you see an interesting scene — keep shooting the scene, change up your composition/framing/orientation — and later when you review your photos on your computer, THEN choose your favorite! Download ZIP of Composition Files >
Make shotsPhotograph your thoughtsShoot your soul, emotions, and motionsBlack or white, chroma; it’s all dolce and sweet Your photos are your art; why hesitate, why not start? Chart your creative seas, stir it up, and venture endlessly. ERIC
In praise of books:
Photography makes life worth living!
What is the root cause of depression? Why do we feel depressed some days, and uplifted other days? Does depression manifest differently in different people? Is the word “depression” even useful? Let me essay some of my thoughts:
BOLD and BRAVE, no Regret or Shame
TRAVEL NOTES by HAPTIC PRESS Why travel? For me, traveling isn’t for the sake of traveling. Instead, traveling as a means or a bridge for self-introspection. When you travel, you finally get the distance away from all the craziness and hecticness in the world. Even the benefit of flying on an airplane without wifi; finally…
To promote our newest book, TRAVEL NOTES, I wanted to make a list of everything I’ve learned so far about travel, photography, and life:
Dear friend, Since dropping STREET NOTES, PHOTO JOURNAL, FILM NOTES, and STREET HUNT — we are very excited to share with you our newest creation: TRAVEL NOTES
More options, more stress, more distractions. In praise of “choice minimalism” of living.