ERIC KIM

How to Become a More Passionate Photographer

Something interesting I from the ‘Inspiring Greatness‘ series on the Rolls Royce website:

What drives you? Passion and curiosity (SIMON DE PURY).

I have written on curiosity before, but a little less on passion.

1. Why passion?

If you do photography, you’re probably passionate about it. And this is the great thing:

Nobody can deny your passion for photography.

Perhaps they can deny your skills or expertise, but never your passion.

2. As time goes on, does your passion increase or decrease?

The curse of the expert:

A lot of photo experts become LESS passionate and curious about their photography as time goes on.

The goal is that as you become older and more experienced, to find MORE interest, curiosity and passion in photography. To become more curious and child-like. Like Benjamin Button — aging in reverse.

3. What position are you in?

If you’re already passionate in photography and have no issues with it, you can just carry on and keep shooting. If you’re in the other camp, some thoughts:

4. The best equipment

When it comes to cameras and equipment, it is important. RICOH GR III x ERIC KIM NECK STRAP MARK II or ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP MARK II.

Why RICOH GR III? I have literally shot with every single camera out there (including digital medium format, Leica (LEICA MANUAL PDF), iPhone pro, etc) and this is what I have learned:

The RICOH GR III camera is the greatest camera of all-time.

Why? Simple:

  1. It is the smallest and most compact premium (luxury) camera on the market. There is no other camera as great as RICOH GR III that you can literally fit in your front jeans pocket.
  2. The best high contrast black and white JPEG preset (in some ways … can look superior to black and white film!!!)
  3. Charges USB-C (very useful, to just use your MacBook laptop charger)
  4. Fast, 28mm is ideal for street photography (or everyday photography). Don’t be too hungry for the new RICOH GR IIIx which has the 40mm equivalent lens. A 28mm is superior to the 40mm.
  5. Best ergonomics. Having a physical button for photography will always be superior to any iPhone Pro camera phone.

Just buy RICOH GR III and call it a day (buy on Amazon or BHPHOTO).

5. Exposure-compensation is key.

Exposure is highly underrated in photography. Just shoot in P (program) mode, and focus on exposure compensation. Typically the darker you go, the better:

Shoot your photos at -1, -2, or even -3 exposure compensation for more artistic and interesting photos.

This is the technique I have been able to stay inspired to shoot in the (very boring) suburbs.

My motto:

ADAP (as dark as possible).

In photography, it is all about reduction.

6. Share your photographic journey

Start your own blog. Share your photographic journey. A simple thought:

If you blogged your photographic journey every single day for a decade (as I have done) … how can you not become successful and stay passionate?

Because this is what I have learned:

The process of blogging something makes something more interesting.

Blogging as meta-thinking.

Share your photos, share your progress, share your thoughts and inspirations. Whenever you are curious about something, do your own research and write about it and share it (my inspiration for the MASTERS series). I was very curious about the history of street photography, which started my pursuit.

7. A passion for adventure and new explorations

Photography is a trillion times more important than our ‘careers’ or monetary considerations. Optimize your life for photography.

This means:

With your job or life, if you have the option to go somewhere more foreign, exotic or interesting… choose it.

If you put yourself in a foreign or strange environment, you will photograph more, and find more inspiration.

I really think there is a link between the passion for travel and photography (TRAVEL NOTES MOBILE).

As much as you can, travel more.

8. Video

Do video. Shoot vlogs. Shoot 24 fps video (I like this on RICOH GR III). Just use your iPhone to shoot vlogs, and upload it to YouTube. Disable comments, views, and monetization options.

Video is a good way to re-spark your passion for photography. Or watch cinema to find great compositions for your photography.

9. The love for new technologies

Like my recent interest in LIDAR as a creativity tool. Thinking —

How can we use LIDAR to help us make better photographic compositions, and how to see better?

10. Visual detox

Detox yourself from the images of others. Delete Instagram, or uninstall all the social media apps from your phone. Uninstall Netflix YouTube and all these visual stimuli from your phone. If you need inspiration or motivation, listen to more music and read literature (poetry), etc.

Conclusion: You’re the end

You’re the end product. You strive to make yourself happy in photography. Everything else is secondary.

ERIC

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HAPTIC INDUSTRIES

  1. MUSE NECK STRAP by ERIC KIM
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  3. ERIC KIM NECK STRAP (MARK II)
  4. HENRI NECK STRAP by ERIC KIM (MARK IV) // in PHANTOM BLACK and CRIMSON RED x MAHOGANY BROWN.
  5. ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP MARK II (only 3 left)

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