Human artist blog / Street photography / Philosophy
For camera, RICOH GR III. After that, Fujifilm XPRO3 with Fujifilm 23mm f2 lens. For strap, ERIC KIM NECK STRAP or ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP for RICOH GR. HENRI NECK STRAP for Fujifilm, Leica, …
Solo photography — photos you shoot for yourself, of yourself and the life around you:
The best way to prevent any regret in life, especially with speculative investing matters: Just buy it. Better to take a risk you’re interested in, and being wrong than to be prudent and be …
I’m more impressed with the Fujifilm XPRO3 over the Leica M10. So if you have the option (even though you can afford both), get the XPRO3. More innovative (no LCD screen), autofocus as better …
As artists, what’s our primary preoccupation? Aesthetics.
First of all, Cliche isn’t that big of a deal. It doesn’t matter whether someone has done it or not in the past. What is important is that you enjoy doing it. For example, …
A street thought: Authenticity is far more important than ‘originality’.
There seems to be this bias everywhere. That is, all clichés are bad. But are clichés really that big of a deal? I think not.
We are often told that life has much grey in between. But I don’t like the idea. I prefer the idea that life is binary — black and white, strong or weak, to keep …
Optimize your life for street life.
Hey streettogs, Just came back from Seattle after teaching my Seattle MASTERWORKSHOP, and some street photography thoughts:
As much as I love color, color seems too obvious. I say far more innovations await monochrome. Avoid the color-trend right now in photography/street photography. Monochrome is timeless and king.
Just got back from Seattle, and when reviewing my photos: The photos I shot on monochrome are far more interesting to me than my color photos. Why is this? My simple thought: Color photos …
Assuming that it is all about you, and you’re the end goal into yourself, then — What should we focus on in our lives? I say solo photography. Solo entrepreneurship. And out of all …
Transform yourself into a unicorn and a pony:
Love Seattle and Capitol Hill for street photography, travel, and the dynamism of the city and friendly folks.
Simple life lesson — with physical things, goods and tools (and even homes), bigger and heavier is worse. Even if it’s bigger and faster or stronger, it’s worse than something smaller, more agile, nimble …
A simple thought about decision making: optimize for what is best, not what is most convenient.
Something I learned from my friend and student Richard Reed: Reduction is an extremely effective compositional concept, both in photography art and life. Reduction in terms of making your photos as dark as possible …
Contrary to what people believe, I actually think Seattle is highly *UNDERRATED*. Great vivacity in the city (I love Capitol Hill), the people are very friendly and also very unique, and the grit (and …
What do we desire and hunger for as entrepreneurs? To move the world. To shake the world. Consider the success of Amazon — moving people, moving packages, things, products. Tesla — moving people in …
My buddy Martin and a great interview with Samuel Street Life (Samuel Lintaro), one of the hottest streettogs on YouTube and beyond:
Simple thought: We can divide almost everything to boring or not boring. Boring or not boring music. Boring or not boring films. Boring or not boring people, thoughts, ideas, design, photos, artwork, etc. Simple …
AFFIRMBE FIRM and rigid in your purpose in lifeKnife sharp, stay straightDisregard the placation or relation with othersDisclaim the popular acclaim of the massesSkip the classes and drop out of popular idealsWhat direction is …
Simple thoughts: Bitcoin as a word is easy to pronounce and say, regardless of the foreign language. Even my mom and Cindy’s mom can pronounce “Bitcoinâ€â€” imagine them trying to pronounce “ethereum†or any …
Always refrain to categorize and classify yourself. No anchoring. There is nothing else or nobody else who you could compare yourself to. Furthermore, it is our ego and our pride that we cannot stand …
That which we hate is stagnation. That which we love is growth. Thus when judging yourself, others and investments ask yourself: Is this stagnant or growing? For example in cryptocurrency, Bitcoin as growing. And …
In someways, I think seeking financial independence is a trap. What is far more important is artistic independence. There are a lot of people who are financially independent, but morally, ethically and artistically enslaved. …
Only do that which your internal self drives you and compels you to do. Avoid weak inner compellations.
Rather than seeing your life and your photography is two separate things, better to see them as one integrated thing.
The new you is better than the old you:
Life and growth is all about the dynamic, not the static.
Just watched the last 300 movie (rise of an empire) and I found it not as satisfying as the first original one (300). Why? This is what I concluded: The main character (Themistocles) is …
Rather than thinking what is better or worse, perhaps better to think about your lifestyle and strive to optimize for what is more efficient and effective for you.
Adrenaline is good for us street photographers. For example, how do you know if a scene might be an interesting street photo or not? Simple — if it gets your adrenaline up!
It seems in today’s world we are so obsessed with “contentâ€. But perhaps rather than thinking about “contentâ€, it is better to think about yourself. Anything and everything you create is simply an external …
How I understand photography: The end goal of photography is infinite, therefore, we must embrace the idea of an ‘eternal return’ to our photography, in our never-ending quest for more experiences, more photo-taking, and …
Dear friend, The turbo thought: Perhaps the goal for us as photographer visual artists is to become more visually innovative.
Simple way to thrive as a photographer: Own all your platforms.
This is where I am bullish about Apple: Apple is a photography company.
What do we desire and strive towards, in terms of our physiology? Creative vigor. That is, to have the vigor, the strength, the strong desire, and the ‘chutzpah’ to create recklessly, dangerously, and freely:
Big fan of the new M1 chip iPad Pro. Great design, aesthetics, comfortable in the hand, and fast and buttery smooth performance. Highly recommended. Might also be great for AR/LIDAR Â artistic and creative production!
I typically see goal setting as a bad thing, and as a trap. But perhaps to have some sort of general loose goal(s) in life can be good, at least with strength goals. For …
Just got the new iPad Pro (M1 with LIDAR, the normal 11 inch size), and my thought — This is great as a creative tool.
No need to hate the virtues or vices of othersStay deep in yourselfFocus on your own vision, your own ideals and your own code of ethicsNo need to pity the pathetic or honor the …
Physiological strengthening. That is if the aesthetic gives you physiological strength or not. Or even worse, ugly design as ROBBING you of strength, high spirits and physiological strength. New thought: rather than thinking of …
As photographers, what do we aspire and strive towards? I say we strive for a photographic eudaemonia, that is, photographic and artistic flourishing.
What is the best way and the best direction to live? This is what I say: establish personal ideals for yourself, and strive with all your might and will power towards those.
A simple entrepreneurial thought: when in doubt, just risk it.
My joy of re-discovering these older KODAK PORTRA 400 photos of Cindy: The Cindy Project Take Photos of Your Loved Ones on Film Film 101 PORTRA 400
To make the future a more creative and prosperous future for yourself and others.
In praise of low-key luxury — luxury goods which aren’t obvious and loud. For example OUTLIER NYC t shirts (expensive, simple yet great), Hyundai Genesis car, Leica M-P (no red dot) camera, RICOH GR …
FREE TURBO THOUGHTS Dear friends, The turbo thought of today: Perhaps the best trait for us is curiosity– to become MORE curious.
What do we really want? Not the Lamborghini but the RAGING BULL concept and aesthetic. When watching the new COUNTACH video, I realized this.
If I started street photography all over again, some thoughts:
Why do we love images and visual artwork? It acts as a tonic for our soul and physiology. A life without beautiful images ain’t a life worth living.
What is paramount for us creatives and creators? Our physiology— that is, our health, muscles, rest, outside sun exposure, sleep, napping, fasting, fatty meat consumption, digestion, exposure to fresh air, and physical exercise and …