The primary skill of a photographer:

To be visually astute, and to SEE photo opportunities.

The skill of ‘seeing’

Of course we all have eyes, and we can all see.

My thought:

Today’s primary enemy to seeing is the cell phone.

I can say the biggest tip I have:

Keep your cell phone in your backpack, or where it is difficult to reach.

Instead, keep your RICOH GR III in your front pocket (or around your neck). Allow yourself to get bored, and as a consequence, you will see more photo opportunities around yourself, and shoot more!

In praise of neck straps

The biggest benefit of RICOH GR x Eric Kim NECK STRAP (Mark II):

You will see MORE photo opportunities and SHOOT MORE as a consequence.

On being ready BEFORE the decisive moment

Once you witness a decisive moment:

You either get it or you don’t.

To always have your camera around your neck or in your front pocket means that:

1. Feeling the weight of the camera — you think of more potential photo opportunities.
2. Having the camera small and integrated with your life, there is zero friction between seeing and photographing it. The benefit of a simpler setup in photography: LOWERING the friction between witnessing a photo opportunity and actually shooting it.
3. The photographer as having the aggression of a boxer in terms of getting the shot, but also having the perceptivity of a dragonfly in terms of seeing what is happening around you.

Is the point of life to make great photos?

Question:

What is more important: living a great life, or making great photos?

This will be the subject of the next essay.

ERIC

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•