How to Gain Pleasure in Yourself
Focus on physical and mental self-development, and track your physical and mental gains.
…December 2019
The Empowering Feeling of Failure
The most empowering feeling in the world:
…To attempt something truly epic, and then fail– and realizing that the failure wasn’t so bad or scary!
Recovery vs Augmentation
When it comes to physical fitness, we talk much about “recovery”–the days you don’t lift in order to become stronger.
My thought: instead of calling it “recovery”, better to call it “augmentation”.
…If It Ain’t Broken, Don’t Upgrade It.
A thought:
…Perhaps when we are always trying to “over-optimize” and “improve”, we are actually becoming LESS productive, MORE distracted, and less effective.
Beautiful Photography
The goal is to make beautiful photos. But why? And what constitutes a ‘beautiful’ photo?
Let us essay some of these ideas:
…The Joyful Photography
The purpose of photography:
To express our joy of being alive and of society and reality.
Also, for us to spark joy into the lives of others — those who look at our photos and experience our joy in our images.
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Existential Photography
My buddy Jeffrey Lam is currently working on this notion of ‘existential health’, which is basically this:
Wondering the philosophical underpinnings of health.
For example when a doctor sees a patient, the doctor will ask the patient about their existential life goals, not just to “lose fat”.
I often do this at my workshops: I will ask my students:
Why do you make photos?
To piggyback off my friend Jeff, I want to start exploring more of this notion of ‘existential photography’:
…Photography 300 Years from Now
An idea from my buddy Nietzsche:
Put the skin of at least 300 years between yourself and your contemporaries.
Perhaps this is the secret to longevity and impacting future generations of humanity, and to stay relevant.
…Dynamic Portfolio
The biggest benefit of technology, blogs, and websites:
…You can always adjust your portfolio of images. Adding and removing whenever you feel like it!
There is Nothing More Interesting than Human Beings
There is nothing more interesting than human life, human sociology, human politics, human ethics/morals, artwork (related to humans).
Humans are the ultimate ruler of what is beautiful or ugly.
…There is Nothing More Interesting than Human BeingsRead More »
Don’t Force Innovation
Necessity is the mother and the source of all innovation. When we need to innovate, we will discover new innovations. We don’t need to force innovations — seeking to innovate for the sake of making money, etc.
Perhaps this means:
…Don’t seek innovation for the sake of innovation. Perhaps it is better to innovate for the sake of dealing with problems or issues which actually affect our real lives.
Body and Soul are the Same
For too long philosophers, thinkers, and common people have believed the body and soul (spirit) to be separate. But what if the body and soul were one in the same? Two sides of the same coin.
…Don’t Seek to be Good, Seek to be Genuine
What hinders us?
Striving to be “good”at something. But instead, I believe we should strive to be GENUINE— authentic, real, naked, exposed, transparent, and courageous to own your own opinion, thoughts, and beliefs!
…Who is Remembered? Who isn’t Remembered?
Something I’ve been thinking about a lot:
…Which individuals are remembered in history, and who isn’t remembered?
All I wanna do is make photos and philosophize!
My great joys in life:
…Making photos, and philosophizing about photography.
Moving vs Still Photos
Currently really into shooting 60 FPS videos on RICOH GR III, then using Giphy Capture on the Mac to covert the images into GIF’s.
…What is the Purpose of Life?
Deepen understanding, wisdom, knowledge, art, aesthetics and philosophy and share this knowledge and wisdom with others.
…Give Me a Spot to Stand, and I Shall Move the Earth!
The famous quote from Archimedes.
Basic idea:
…Determine which city or location is optimal for your personal creativity, self-development, thriving, and strength — and stay there and leverage your strengths to maximize your impact on the world!
Give Me a Spot to Stand, and I Shall Move the Earth!Read More »
What I’m Thankful For
Thanksgiving passed, but this is what I am grateful for:
- Health
- Cindy
- Friends and family
- RICOH GR III
- Powerlifting and gym
- Philosophy, photography and art
- Zen focus and strength
- Minimal and simple living
- My tiny apartment
- Ability to walk, think, and communicate with others
- Being born in America
- Excitement towards the future— new things to see, discover, witness, document, analyze, and essay about.
And the great idea:
…
Why Procrastination is Great
When in doubt, best to procrastinate, wait, hold back, and decide later.
…
Minimum Viable Technology
Don’t strive to ADD superfluous technology to your life. Instead, strive to REMOVE technology from your life. Keep subtracting until you only have the bare essentials necessary to your personal artistic and creative thriving.
…How to Shoot Abstract Photography
In terms of aesthetic, my favorite are abstract, simple, and open-ended images:
…Minimum Viable Philosophy
Probably one of the best ideas which have come out of Silicon Valley is the notion of the “MVP” (minimum viable product). I am not sure who first coined the phrase, but my guess it is Ryan from BackYard Brew in Palo Alto.
Anyways the extrapolation I have is this:
What if we applied a ‘minimum viable’ design philosophy, or thinking philosophy, or life philosophy to everything?
Some examples:
…Experiences Never Die
This holiday season invest in experiences for yourself, your family, and others.
…Photography Assignment: TRIANGLES
This is the simple assignment:
Focus on photographing triangles, by shooting multiple-subject photos (three subjects), or just by connecting visual elements.
Then upload your best photos to arsbeta.com
…Choice Minimal Lifestyle
Fewer choices .. more happiness, focus, and productivity?
- Minimal clothing choices: Less stress how to dress yourself everyday. Easier to get out of the house.
- Minimal photo choices (one camera, one lens): More focus on shooting. Less “paralysis by analysis”.
- Fewer choices for work, play, or eating/drinking: The joy of getting to know a few places very well, than to know lots of places superficially.
- For travel: Better to travel to a few places you really really like (and going back multiple times), than to see all the cities in the world only once.
- Better to have a library of a few books you truly treasure, and read them all over and over again, than to read many books only once or so.
- The fewer apps on your phone or computer, the better.
- The smaller your apartment or home, the less stress, the better.
Why EGO is Essential
If your desire is to become the apex artist, you must CHANNEL your ego, and press your ego into your service, instead of striving to destroy your ego.
…Good Failure
Good failure:
The type of failure which REMOVES fear from your life and attempts.
For example:
…Why Be Unique?
It seems one of the American dreams is to cultivate uniqueness. This is what fuels a lot of our consumerism:
The desire to purchase something which exhibits our personal vanity of our own personal uniqueness.
But the philosophical question:
Why be unique?
Why ARS Will Improve Your Photography
ARS is the online photography feedback platform on the planet which can actually help you IMPROVE your photography!
…Why Improve Our Lives?
We all want to improve our lives. But in order for what?
Testing these turbo thoughts with ZEN OF ERIC:
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The Beauty of Beginner’s Mind in Photography
No judgements. No hesitation. No self-critique or self-judgement.
Pure unadulterated joy in photography.
What New Adventures Await You?
The great joy of life:
…Knowing that trillions of new fun, exciting, and great adventures and experiences await you!
Is the Goal to Live a Peaceful Life?
It seems the reason why we want wealth and riches is to live a peaceful life.
But what if living a frugal and simple life were a more effective strategy?
…W. Eugene Smith Composition Studies
W. Eugene Smith was probably the greatest humanistic photographer thus far:
…