Month: September 2020

My personal thoughts on the purpose of life:

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Very strange bias for us liberal and left-leaning Americans:

It is considered low class or unintelligent or unethical or “bad” to be patriotic or “proud to be an American”.

Why this bias?

In life we often optimize for the wrong things. We optimize for wealth, money, power and influence.

But why not optimize what *really* matters… life itself?

Simple: focus 90% of your energies on what you truly care for and you are passionate and good at, and invest the other 10% on other ‘side projects’ or ‘side interests’ which might become your strength!

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How I workout at the park (in praise of ghetto workouts):

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It is true that certain things and modes of doing things make us more “productive”. But the better question:

Let us say we become the uber-productive individual. Once we have achieved this state, what do we desire to do with our productivity power?

The iPad: the most under-rated creative and productive tool:

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USB-C rules everything around me. All USB-C is best.

USB-C phone (Android), USB-C laptop (MacBook Pro), and USB-C charging capable camera (RICOH GR III).

USB-C as an ethos, approach, and aesthetic.

To not worry about being “efficient” in life as the ultimate luxury.

For example, to have the luxury to cook and clean yourself (slowly); this is a luxury. It is the poor and enslaved class which needs to have “working lunches” at their desk with their sad microwaveable lunches. True luxury is to do things which aren’t “efficient” (dropping your kids off at school, walking around the block, chatting with a friend unhurriedly, chopping veggies, etc).

Thus my idea:

Opt for an unhurried and “inefficient” life.

And the irony:

Perhaps an inefficient and unhurried life (insouicance in French) is the key to a more “effective” life.

Simple thought when it comes to decision making theory:

The best decisions are no brainers.

You don’t need to rack your brain to make a decision. If the decision isn’t a no brainer, it probably is a bad decision or a sub-optimal decision.

Thus when a certain opportunity comes your way whether it be something you wanna buy (super cheap or great deal), or your job or employment or economic opportunities… go with the no brainer!

ERIC

Fiat currency is faith based currency on the US Dollar which technically has zero intrinsic worth. But considering America has the US Dollar Hegemony on the planet this means:

As long as America has the world’s most “lethal” military presence, the US Dollar will always be the primary global currency.

Even consider when we are evaluating and judging cryptocurrencies we peg it and judge it in the US Dolllar amount when judging the “price” of Bitcoin (in US Dollars).

RGB just died (rip). She will definitely have a great legacy and be remembered as a great individual.

Which makes me wonder– how do we want to be remembered and for what? And why does it even matter?

Legacy.

Street photography is good for the heart, soul, and beyond:

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The best approach is the HACKER ETHOS:

You can control, hack, edit, modify, and transfigure reality to your liking!

Or simply said:

Just hack it.

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“Good” and “bad” don’t exist nor should they exist from a philosophical or pragmatic sense. Better to think of things, companies, people, and technologies as effective or ineffective.

Figure out what you are really really good at (your ‘archimedes lever‘) in life, and then focus all your energies and efforts on maximizing and exploiting it!

For me, this is blogging, photography, and teaching. I focus all my efforts on this, as a means to maximize my ability to impact society, others, and the globe.

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Let us not be fooled and suckered:

Just because you’re wealthy and just because you’ve made a lot of money doing x, y, z doesn’t mean you’re wise.

For example, we look at Bill Gates (the uber-nerd) and Warren Buffett as the heralds and sages of knowledge and wisdom. But … if we really look at them … what is there to admire about them? Bill Gates just kind of got (pseudo) lucky by being able to package MS-DOS with Windows and Microsoft, which made him a quadrillionaire. And we all know that Microsoft Windows is (by far) an inferior product compared to MacOS. I am currently writing this on a boot camp version of Windows 10 and holy moly … Windows 10 really sucks.

Why make art?

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I am convinced — there is no greater physiological joy than sleeping well. If you could give me a quadrillion dollars in the agreement that I would sleep shitty and poorly and only 2 hours a night for the rest of my life or make me a pauper but sleep like a god every night, I’d choose the poverty life.

Some pragmatic thoughts on hacking and perfecting your sleep. It isn’t guaranteed to work for you, but it certainly works for me:

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What am I, ERIC KIM? Technically I am a photography blogger.

What is a photography blogger? Many things:

1. I blog about how to make better photos
2. I blog on the theory and philosophy of photography
3. I blog about random stuff which interests me and I just attach random photos
4. I like blogging and photography and everything in-between.

So how does one become a photography blogger? Some thoughts:

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Blogging was a mainstream thing when I was in middle school and high school. Programming and computer programming/coding yet wasn’t a “thing”. Computer Science (when I was in college) wasn’t really that popular as a major (it was all about pre-med, pre-law, business, engineering, etc).

And the interesting thing: becoming a blogger has afforded me a far more interesting life and mode of living and entrepreneurship than had I just became a good computer programmer or coder. Unfortunately all my friends who studied Computer Science or became computer programmers/coders are kinda stuck in jobs (big tech companies) that they are either dissatisfied about, feel indifferent to, feel “meh” about, or they’re just trapped.

Which makes me wonder:

Perhaps the world needs more bloggers and individuals who share their personal perspective and view than more computer programmers?

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What is the purpose and end of life?

Simple: arseudaimonia (ars =art, eudaimonia = good inner human soul thriving or “happiness”(Happiness 101):

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How to maximize upside while clipping the downside? Hybrid. To hedge your approach:

The upside of the new, and the upside of the old-school and classic.

For example (unfortunately) a hybrid car (still dependent on petroleum) is more convenient in modern life (and also on the east coast). Electric Tesla cars are far cooler, sexier and perhaps “better”, but perhaps only on the West coast or California (where there are already electric charging ports everywhere). East coast is a laggard.

For cameras, perhaps a digital camera-film camera hybrid is best. The Leica digital M cameras without an LCD screen is a brilliant innovation; I love it (like the Leica M-D, etc).

With blogs, a hybrid of self hosted (WordPress.org) and the Jetpack plugin from WordPress.com seems ideal.

What I love most about street photography: how open and democratic it is… for all!

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Simple thought:

If you are on the market for a new laptop, I recommend getting a maxed-out (refurbished) 16” MacBook Pro (from the Apple Refurbished online store) instead of buying the 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar.

Why? Simple:

1. The keyboard on the 16” is far superior to the 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar. When I say superior I mean to say: Causes less carpal tunnel when typing. I love my 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar to death, but I am realizing that the lack of cushioning in the keyboard causes carpal tunnel in my wrists, fingers, and joints.
2. The cost differential (if you buy refurbished) isn’t *THAT* much. And also considering we are living in this mostly non-travel COVID world, you don’t really need a laptop which is *THAT* portable. No more coffee shop adventures with your laptop — it will probably be mostly parked at home. So then the trade-off of weight (the 16” MacBook Pro doesn’t feel that heavy, about the same weight as my old non-touch bar 13” MacBook Pro Retina screen).
3. The screen is substantially bigger and also brighter. Looks waaaay better when viewing your own photos for your own personal pleasure full-screen.

As much as I hate to say, shooting street photography is (kind of) like shooting a gun. For example when I was a Boy Scout during Boy Scout summer camp, I got all three (archery, shotgun, and rifle merit badge) all in one summer! And similar parallels between ‘Zen in the Art of Archery’ vibes we get from Eugen Herrigel (apparently Henri Cartier-Bresson loved this book).

The gist:

When it comes to photography and street photography, we must harness the following:

1. Focus
2. Breathing
3. Not to shoot too quickly, nor too slowly
4. To parse out the cadence of our shooting (the rhythm in which we shoot photos)
5. All the while being mindful of composition, aim, and framing.

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An interesting personal curiosity of mine:

How does one create value out of “nothing”?

My thoughts:

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My life is my life. Your life is your life.

The goal isn’t to imitate the life or lifestyle of any individual, but to pick and choose elements which you like from others, and apply, modify and adapt it to your own life!

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The best portfolio is a digital one. Why digital? More flexibility, customization, and ability to add and remove photos at will!

I will make the heretical statement:

A digital portfolio is *superior* to a traditional print-based analogue portfolio (printed book, in-person gallery exhibition, prints, etc).

Why? My thoughts:

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We are all obsessed with ‘building a brand’ and ‘branding’. But what if the best brand were no brand?

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The notion of being a “master” comes from the Proto Indo European “meghs” which means “big, great” (same word as magnus, and “mega” in Latin).

So how does one become “mgh” (mega, great, magnum?) Simple— here are my thoughts:

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When to be stubborn, when to be flexible? My thought:

Be insanely stubborn for 1% of the insanely important things in your life. Then be uber-flexible with the other 99% petty things in your life that you “kind of” care for.

In other words:

Become more stubborn for what you truly care for, and become more flexible for what you don’t really care for, or what you feel “meh” about.

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Kids are the ultimate creators. In some ways, a child playing is the apex of power and creativity. In this regard, we must play more with children and *become* more child-like.

Some of my thoughts on the philosophy of playing with kids:

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ZEN VIBES:

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What Becomes MORE Valuable Over Time, What Becomes LESS Valuable Over Time?

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The general gist:

Don’t concern or worry too much about your own personal needs. Meet the bare minimum for your basic human needs, and devote the rest of your intellectual and creative metabolic energy towards greater ends!

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I have zero qualms about investing any money that makes me more productive and focused.

Also— monetary investments to gain new and interesting experiences, or towards education of any sort. Or using money to buy more time, free up more of your mental space (trading money to gain more “mind space”). These investments always have zero ounces of regret attached to them!

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No regrets or sad feelings in life. Perhaps everything which happened had happened as it *should* have happened.

This doesn’t mean that everything happens for a reason, but it is a good mental tool to help us cope with (past) reality, recognizing much was out of our control, and we will never truly have 100% control over reality, the future or fate.

Or as Nietzsche coined the phrase: “Amor fati” (love your fate, or what happened to you, or what will happen to you!)

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Then nothing? So why doubt yourself, be fearful, and why not not pursue what you’re truly passionate and enthusiastic for in life?

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My simple approach to life. The general gist:

My life purpose is to plumb the depths of human experience, knowledge, wisdom and art and by having unique human experiences I can learn. Then my end game is to share these lessons with others!

In other words I experiment with everything in order to gain deeper truths about reality, being human and society. Then I can transcend myself and just transform myself into a tool to serve and help empower others!

Convenient comes from “convenio” in Latin (to come together): con (with) + venio (to meet).

Typically when we think about convenience culture, we see it as a vice. To do what is convenient is seen as lazy, immoral, and bad.

But what if convenience was the superior mode of life … convenience as a road and a means to more artistic and creative productivity in life?

My first blog post (Hello World) on June 21st, 2010. I suppose my 10 year anniversary has elapsed a bit, but some thoughts:

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Surprisingly the RICOH GR III is really good for macro photography; shooting uber-close. The macro abilities of RICOH GR III are actually substantively closer than the ability of the RICOH GR II. The improved macro function of the RICOH GR III over the GR II alone is worth the upgrade!

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Lately one of my new fun hobbies and passions in photography and video:

Shooting macro videos on my RICOH GR III of everyday stuff.

For example:

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Also notions on “true” entrepreneurship vs “vain” entrepreneurship.

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Quick thoughts:

1. Not as heavy as I thought it would be. Feels only marginally heavier than my 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar. Perhaps in this new COVID world where we won’t be traveling as much, it seems like it makes more sense to get a (refurbished) 16” MacBook Pro Touch Bar instead of getting the 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar.
2. The keyboard feels much better than the 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar. More key travel equals less carpal tunnel for typing (sad truth I get carpal tunnel and wrist and finger pain when typing on my 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar for too long).
3. The screen seems substantively brighter (at max brightness) when compared to 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar. I can notice the difference and it is good.

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The more eggs, the better:

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Fuck it you only got one life to live. Why waste any of it thinking small, doing small, being afraid, and taking no risks? Let us not be fooled my friends… the best life is the life with the maximum amount of risk, the maximum amount of insanity, and the maximum amount of attempting (to ‘essay’ or ‘assay’ the great!)

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A realization:

It isn’t money, power, fame, or notoriety I desire… but control.

Control over myself, control over my decisions, control to do what I want to do, and control to *NOT* do what I don’t want to do.

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Don’t expect others to treat you the way you treat them.

This then means:

You are a magnanimous monster of great and highly virtue. If others act petty around you; don’t let it faze you.

You just do you (meaning, you pursue your epic virtue for the sake of it and for the sake of yourself!

ERIC

New thought:

Life is too short. Let’s put ourselves in a robust (antifragile) stoic position that nothing any longer fazes us.

A thought and realization:

With COVID and beyond, the car becomes an external skin (like the Iron Man armor). It becomes a second home and a new mobile work space.

So perhaps when it comes for you to buy a car consider:

If I became homeless, could I live and work out of my car?

Perhaps the new millennial way to work and live: just live out of your car!

A new thought and social innovation idea:

We do home share (Airbnb) we do car share (Uber); why not life share?

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Uber-simple approach to sharing your photos:

Just share your own photos on your own blog!

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A brief primer to digital photography:

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In life if you approached it like it were all fun and games … wouldn’t you be happier, more productive, more creative and more passionate about living?

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Photograph like a child!

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Just read a bit of the book, ‘Aristotle’s Way‘ (published by Penguin/Random House) and really liked the section and chapter on leisure, as well as the conclusion. The gist:

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In other words, the process and effort is the reward!

For the most part, I FAAAR prefer interacting and playing with kids than adults. Why? We have soooo much more to learn from children:

1. Their phenomenal sense of creativity, disregard for rules and ‘social tact’. They speak what is *really* on their mind.
2. I wonder if children (if we observe their thought patterns and behaviors, etc) are the more *true* form of human being. The modern adult as simply a castrated, domesticated (herd) animal. Children are like wild beasts; is this our primal nature?

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Why not rather instability?

Consider … if an object is uber-stable and at rest, it is boring. No motivation to move, advance or do anything. Whereas instability means:

Move, change, advancement forwards.

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Do anything for 10 years with passion, enthusiasm and zest and you will master it. For me this includes photography, blogging, lifting weights, talking, traveling, and teaching.

I am convinced. RICOH GR III is the best camera of all time (thus far). Why? Reasons:

1. The smallest size of all time, and the most premium. Smaller than even the great RICOH GR II, with better performance. Also lighter. The smaller and lighter your camera, the more you will carry it with you everywhere you go and the more you will shoot. And for us photographers, to make *new* photos is our lifeblood.
2. The best JPEG files: Cross process filter on JPEG is phenomenal. So is the high contrast black and white monochrome mode. You will never need to shoot RAW ever again!!
3. Shoots great videos and is perfect for vlogging.
4. The best price. You cannot beat the ‘bang for the buck‘ compared to any other camera on the market.
5. The sharpest photos. Sharpest photos… even more sharp than digital Leica photos! Also the resolution of the JPEG files are huge (6000 x 4000 pixels). You can print insanely huge, and also pixel peep a ton as well (if you want).
6. Charges via USB-C: This means you can use your MacBook Pro charger to recharge your Ricoh GR III … insanely useful.

Long story short, get RICOH GR III.

ERIC

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In photography and life, never stop curating your photos.

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Some of my best photos (a dynamic, ongoing list):

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