Month: February 2021

On Feb 6th, 2:04am after an insane 52-hour labor from Cindy, Seneca Thiên Anh Kim was born into this world:

Far more interesting to pioneer your own philosophy than to mindlessly follow the (established) philosophies of others.

This is why I like Nietzsche — he didn’t need to cleave to any philosophical sect or school of thought— he was brave enough to pave his own path. As a consequence his ideas are far more interesting unique and have lasted until now!

COVID and the pandemic ain’t going away anytime soon. Then the thought:

How can I still shoot street photography through this pandemic?

Some thoughts:

1. Shoot socially distant (6-12+ feet away) and keep a face mask on. Socially distant street photography.
2. Shoot around the block, in downtown areas, when you’re going to the grocery store, etc.
3. Broaden your definition of street photography — anytime in public is fair game. Doesn’t require people to be in your photos.
4. Document COVID— remember, you are currently living through history!
5. Photograph the hands of people — you don’t need to photograph their faces.

We are drawn to radical, extreme, and enigmatic individuals. For example, our interest in Steve Jobs (everyone always loves to call him an ‘asshole’ or ‘unnecessarily mean’, but nobody denies he was a genius).

Same goes with Elon Musk — I don’t know 1 entrepreneur who doesn’t look up to him. Yet he gets soooo much negative press for being so ‘unprofessional’ on Twitter or whatever.

Even Donald Trump … almost all ‘educated’ folks hate his guts, and certainly he is almost like the anti-christ when it comes to the left-leaning liberal camp. But we cannot deny, he has definitely been the most talked-about president in the last 100+ years.

Kanye West another great example; everyone hates on him for having his own opinion. And if Kanye has taught me anything … it is that the most genius and brave thing you can do is to speak your own personal truth and not water it down, no matter how ‘bad’ it sounds.

It seems right now the world is ablaze. Elon Musk tweeting in favor of DOGECOIN, the (even more) astronomical raise of Bitcoin (starting at nil, then to $300, to $1000, to $25,000, then crashing, then raising up to ~$50,000 territory).

I then thought:

Perhaps crypto-currencies and crypto-technologies are far under-rated and under-hyped.

Let us think: in the year 2035 (14 years from now), the last Bitcoin/Digibyte(DGB) will be mined. Simple thought experiment:

In 14 years, do you think crypto (whether crypto currency, crypto technology, etc) will be used MORE or less?

And also think of a basic sociological and technological shift:

14 years from now, will we use our phones and technology and the internet *MORE* or less?

If studying China has taught us anything (they are all already on top of the WeChat/WePay game), all currency, human interactions and transactions are digital. Seeing now that we are (finally) starting to care more for privacy (end-to-end encryption on messenger services, Android users flocking to Apple for more privacy, as well as the raise of Brave Browser/DuckDuckGo and other privacy products), it seems that crypto will be 10000x more important in the future than we can ever imagine.

Far more interesting to build your own photography social media service (through your website, blog, app, online app, service, etc) than to simply be a social media slave to Instagram–Facebook:

In Praise of Noise Cancelling Headphones: REVIEW of Bose 700 NC Headphones and “Dark Noise” app on iPhone/iPad:

After extreme poor sleep at my new house (tons of street noise), I tried all these solutions, and discovered this insanely beautiful solution:

Sleep with eye mask on, with earplugs in, with noise-cancelling headphones on top.

I first tried the Bose QC 35 Mark II, and thought it to be great. Then wanting to USB-C everything, I returned it and got some Bose 700 NC headphones, and wow … these are the real deal:

Principle of life:

In order to make room for the new, we must delete the old.

Delete your old files, your old memories, your old regrets. The old typically holds us back.

Renewed faith in the new, novel, foreign, uncharted, and unexplored.

In photography, the most beautiful thing as an empty SD card or empty folder on your laptop (to fill with new photos).

Getting rid of stuff (minimalism) as more effective than adding stuff to your life.

Curating your life, your inner circle. Delete the negativity, and let your new self thrive!

ERIC

Philosophical question:

Why share your photos?

Thoughts:

1. A photo un-shared doesn’t exist. Photos should create some sort of impact in the viewer. Photography as social.
2. It brings great joy for us humans to share. ‘If you care, share’.
3. But can one ‘over-share’? Yes. But my new thought– when in doubt, share more. Why? We are all voracious in appetite for images, videos, and ‘content’. Rather than having others binge Netflix, why not share your personal photos, your family photos instead?

Why do people buy Lamborghini’s, 1000HP+ hot rod gasoline guzzler muscle cars, silly expensive streetwear (Supreme) and overrated forms of luxury goods (Louis Vuitton)? Hype is a part of ‘irrational exuberance‘, first coined by Alan Greenspan.

But this is the thing:

Many ‘intelligent’ people think that it is ‘irrational’ that others act irrationally.

However what I think:

The most rational thing to believe is to understand people are irrational by nature.

Once we can accept the fact that humans are irrational, and that is ‘ok’ … then we can truly take a more truthful and honest approach to human nature.

Then the question is:

How can we accept our irrational exuberance, harness it, channel it, and profit from it?

ERIC

Why is crypto so fun? The speculation:

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Dear friend,

One of the most elusive things in photography is staying motivated to make new photos. The more I think about it, the more this rings true — the goal isn’t to make perfect photos, but to constantly iterate (kaizen approach to photography — daily 1% gains over massive new changes and innovations). This constant iterative gradual self improvement makes more sense.

Life is short. We will die, but you also live.

Photograph for life, new life, and don’t delay.

ERIC

Make an impact. Make a name for yourself. Be strong, insanely stubborn, and risk on with your photography, life, and entrepreneurial matters!

When it comes to photography the simple goal is this:

With all of your artistic powers, knowledge and skill, strive to make the most beautiful photos possible.

Beautiful aesthetics, light, and subject matter you consider beautiful!

What gives us the motivation of giving birth to new photos? The deep joy and gratitude of life, and the chance and opportunity to share and propagate that joy with others.

The photographer as a propagator and promoter of an optimistic life philosophy.

What most benefits life? To create new life. To add to the chain of parenthood across the past, and to create new lineages into the future.

In some ways, to create new life is the most ‘selfish’ thing you can do. Why? When you create new life it is simply an extension of yourself. To propagate yourself is the goal.

Life … the greatest joy known to man.

You never were asked to be born, but now that you’re here… ask yourself:

How can I benefit maximally from life and being alive, while clipping the downside?

When contemplating things in life, one of the primary questions to ask yourself;

Why does this matter and why is it significant for me in a pragmatic, personal or philosophical way?

For example in aesthetic matters; why does the color of your car, clothes, watch or iPhone matter?

Think about the importance of things and never stop asking “why“?

In life, one of the greatest joys is to think. To think, to ponder, to question, and to write about your thoughts.

Thus when in doubt, think more, think on, and challenge everything.

What holds us back in our photography? Paralysis by analysis when we don’t photograph something, with the fear that it might be a ‘bad’ photograph.

My suggestion:

It is better for you to shoot a ‘bad’ photograph than no photograph.

Consider this the great motivator to shoot anything, anyone, anytime … and to maximally creatively thrive!

When it comes to photography philosophy, there still isn’t enough introspection and thought on the matters:

1. When should you *not* shoot photos of something and someone?
2. When should you and should you *not* upload photos of something or someone … especially when it comes to matters of ‘permission’?
3. If you find a photograph great, and could benefit ‘humanity at large’, yet the subject doesn’t want you to upload the photo, and you upload/share it anyways … it is ‘ok’ or ‘justified’?

Some quick thoughts:

Towards a non regret lifestyle and philosophy. Only moving forward, no looking back!

When we are bored of photography, does it mean we are bored of our photos, ourselves, or bored of our lives?

And what can cure this boredom? Buying a new camera, iPhone or lens? Traveling? Stopping photography for a while? Studying things outside of photography?

And is it a bad thing to get bored with photography? If so, how long?

We often think the best thing is to ‘always be doing something’. The phrase:

Don’t just sit there … do something!

Perhaps better to think:

Better than just doing something for the sake of doing something … more wise to intentionally *NOT* do anything (the wisdom of purposeful procrastination).

For example, by intentionally ‘doing nothing’ (in regards to my cryptocurrency investments), I made money. If I were always checking my investments, I would have ingested too much ‘noise’ and might have preemptively sold when I was down. By intentionally *NOT* checking my crypto and Bitcoin investment for around 2+ years, I was able to ride through the crazy crash, and eventually when I sold my Bitcoin (and bought Chainlink instead), I have been able to profit.

Morale of the story:

Don’t force yourself to ‘act’.

More wise to wait, lie back, and let things manifest themselves (wu-wei Taoist philosophy).

ERIC

Typically we are taught that pickiness is a vice, that we should be “grateful for what is given to us” and also to not be choosy. For when we are picky, we certainly make the lives of others more difficult.

But what if pickiness and choosiness was a great virtue? That it makes us less wasteful (we only purchase and own a few great things we value), it makes us more discerning as artists and thinkers, and that it elevates us into something greater?

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Photo ideas; from A to Z:

Why do you photograph and make photos?

Dear friend,

When it comes to equipment, we always think:

My equipment is not good enough.

The reason why my lack of inspiration and motivation is because my equipment is sub-par.

However this is just the insidious voice of capitalism and consumerism lurking in the back of our heads.

Consider– a child … when they are painting something or using crayons, do they ever think:

If I only had better crayons I would make better art.

No! Thus perhaps the best way for us to re-motivate ourselves in photography is this:

Learn to UN-LEARN all of this negative self-talk which DE-MOTIVATES us.

ERIC

When I look at my high contrast black and white photos and I consider what I am doing, I think:

I am not just making photos, I am painting my reality.

High contrast monochrome like a thick black ink brush against a white sheet of paper (calligraphy). Thus when considering your photography, think:

How can I make my photography the ultimate hybrid between painting and reality?

Before uploading your photos to social media or wondering how many likes you will get on a photograph, ask yourself:

Do I like this photo of mine or not?

The most important person to impress in your photography and impact is yourself!

What makes photography so beautiful and worthwhile?

Our ability to capture the beauty of everyday, ordinary moments.

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Dear friend,

A thought:

Perhaps my goal in life is to motivate others in their photography.

I know for myself, finding motivation to shoot has been one of the most challenging things the last decade+. And considering I am only 33 years old (yesterday was my birthday) I know I got a long way to go. Considering I plan on living to be 120 years old — better yet:

How can you position yourself in life so you can stay motivated to shoot until you’re 120 years old?

Simple thoughts:

Paralysis by analysis in photography means:

You see something you want to instinctively shoot, but for some reason or another … you hesitate, and fail to make (any) photograph.

Now why is this bad?

Really been enjoying studying Japanese Woodblock Cut Prints … especially the work of HOKUSAI, HIROSHIGE, and more recently Utamaro (got recommended him via the Google Arts and Culture App under the Ukiyo-e section).

The reason I’ve found so much inspiration:

There is much we can learn as photographers from Ukiyo-e woodblock cut prints for our photography composition and beyond:

No life without photos:

Family photography — photographing your family and loved ones. Probably one of the most underrated and overlooked forms of photography: