flash blur Seoul Korea ERIC KIM street photography

STREETTOGS STARTING GUIDE

If I started street photography all over again, some thoughts:

1. Camera and equipment

The Best Settings for RICOH GR III in Street Photography // STARTING STREETTOGS GUIDE

RICOH GR III. Get ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP MARK II or ERIC KIM NECK STRAP MARK II.

In terms of settings, shoot small JPEG (and high contrast black and white mode, just use autofocus, for the settings for the high contrast JPEG, add maximum contrast, and also maximum grain effect.

Why small JPEG? It allows you to shoot more, experiment more, iterate more, and risk more.

2. What to photograph?

ERIC KIM Cuba street photography

Contrary to popular belief, I think the best way to approach street photography:

During your first year or so, just experiment without studying street photography so much. This will give you a ‘Carte Blanche‘ (clean slate) mentality, which will actually make you a more creative street photographer.

I say:

Just go outdoors, in public places, and photograph any beautiful human things you witness.

layers street photography Hong Kong mclaren PORTRA 400 by ERIC KIM 4
HONG KONG // Kodak Portra 400 // LAYERS

3. What are the best aesthetics for street photography?

street portrait Berlin ERIC KIM black and white

Truth be told at the end of the day, I believe monochrome is superior to color for street photography. Why? Ultimately, monochrome will have greater longevity, and also, when you’re viewing your photos in monochrome, you have to inject more of your own imagination and memory into your photos.

Also, we don’t see the world in monochrome. This automatically makes the photos more abstract and beautiful.

headless man silhouette
Sapa, Vietnam // HEADLESS SILHOUETTE

4. Experimentation and iteration

old man flash Tokyo subway
Tokyo Subway // Kodak Portra 400 35mm film // Contax T3 film camera, flash

No progress without experimentation. Thus my thought:

Don’t ask others regarding your experimentation ideas. Just try them for yourself, and see how you like it.

For example my fun experimenting with film and flash.

flash New York City suits

5. Motivation

street photography San Francisco
San Francisco, Kodak Portra 400. Leica MP and 35mm f/2 Summicron ASPH

Ultimately what will keep you motivated in street photography? I say —

The love of humans.

The love of humans, the love of society. Every street photographer as a visual sociologist.

auto show flash family

Think about your personality, what you are personally interested in, and what you are trying to communicate with your photos.

6. How to best share your photos

street photography Tokyo eyes

The best way to share your photos:

  1. Signup for your own website and blog domain on bluehost.com or 1and1.com
  2. Install wordpress.org
  3. Post your photos, thoughts and ideas on your own (self hosted) blog.

Ideally to just name your website as your firstnamelastname.com or firstnamelastnamephoto.com (or firstnamelastnamephotography.com).

Why? You will become better indexed by Google (Google SEO) and also you will have more control over your ‘digital land’. Don’t become a social media slave.

selfie eyes Mexico City

7. How to become a ‘better’ street photographer

Mexico City street photography ERIC KIM
Mexico City, RICOH GR III

Upon much reflection, to become a ‘better’ street photographer is simply to become a more courageous and more FEARLESS street photographer. Why? You will take more epic risks, and the higher the likelihood you will make a great photograph.

Mexico City street photography ERIC KIM
Mexico City, RICOH GR III

8. On studying other street photographers

Study the masters of street photography. Then once you’ve mastered their thoughts, you must ‘kill‘ them (metaphorically of course).

For a creative shortcut, study STREET PHOTOGRAPHER STARTER KIT.

9. On creative cross pollination

Eternal Return to Creative Everyday – ERIC KIM GOOGLE TALK

Then comes the goal of creative cross pollination which is:

To combine and hybridize all the forms of creativity you love, and inject that creative honey into your visual artwork.

Better to think of yourself as a ‘creative visual artist‘ than just a ‘photographer’.

composition before and after

10. The philosophy of street photography

hand of god abstract

Then if we want to go deeper, we must think of the philosophy of street photography. The philosophy of street photography:

Discover deeper meaning, purpose and direction in your photographic life.

Ultimately every artist is also a philosopher.

What does it mean to become a better photographer?

Then the ultimate luxury we have as street photographers is to delight and enjoy in a more philosophical understanding and undertaking of street photography.

ERIC KIM LIFE IN PHOTOS

11. On becoming a street photography teacher

Once you’ve mastered street photography, then what? Then the goal is to become a great street photography educator.

off balance composition far left Mexico City street photography

Then what is a good practical way to teach street photography? Through composition. Through motivation. Through encouraging people to conquer their fears in street photography.

flash street photography Seoul
Seoul, KOREA // Leica M6, 35mm lens, flash, Kodak Tri-X 400 pushed to 1600

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MOTIVATION

walking woman umbrella crimson red

Only in America

Downtown LA in COLOR

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STARTER KIT

street photography starter kit by ERIC KIM

Master street photography with STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STARTER KIT.


STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Hearts. Hollywood, 2011 #flash

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MOTIVATION

walking woman umbrella crimson red

Only in America

Downtown LA in COLOR

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STARTER KIT

street photography starter kit by ERIC KIM

Master street photography with STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STARTER KIT.


STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Hearts. Hollywood, 2011 #flash

If you’re new to street photography, start here:


Brave New Street Photography

running through the swings kid street photography ERIC KIM

Street Photographs

ERIC KIM layers hong kong

  1. How to Shoot Street Photography with Dads and Kids
  2. HOW I BECAME SUCH A GREAT STREET PHOTOGRAPHER
  3. Use Quarantine as an Opportunity to Pick up Film Photography
  4. Hong Kong Street Photography by ERIC KIM

Street Photography Philosophy

Street Photography Articles


Street Photography Techniques


JUST SHOOT IT. HENRI NECK STRAP by ERIC KIM

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Street Photography Ideas


Street Photography Composition Techniques


STREET NOTES.

Push yourself out of your comfort zone with STREET NOTES: Mobile Edition.

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LEARN FROM THE MASTERS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

Timeless wisdom from the masters of street photography.

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FUNDAMENTALS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

Street Photography Inspiration


Beginner Street Photography Articles

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Definitions in Street Photography

How to Shoot Street Photography

Street Photography Equipment

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How to Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography

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Intermediate Street Photography Articles

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Advanced Street Photography Articles

Find deeper meaning in your street photography:


Street Photography Tips & Technique

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Street Photography Guides

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Street Photography Equipment

The best equipment for street photography:

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Street Photography Editing and Workflow

How to Start a Street Photography Project


Learn From the Masters of Street Photography

“He without a past has no future.”

Start here:

  1. Why Study the Masters of Photography?
  2. Great Female Master Photographers
  3. Cheat Sheet of the Masters of Photography
  4. 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography
  5. Beginner’s Guide to the Masters of Street Photography
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The Masters of Photography

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