5 TIPS HOW TO DISCOVER MORE SATISFACTION IN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

Dear friend,

The unstoppable passion I have:

Trying to discover the maximum amount of passion in my photography, and the maximum amount of enjoyment and joy in my photography.

This decade+ journey has resulted in some interesting takeaways:

HOW-TO-DISCOVER-MORE-SATISFACTION-IN-YOUR-PHOTOGRAPHY Download

1. Debunking some myths

Probably the biggest boon about studying the masters of photography:

Figuring out which myths to DEBUNK.

For example, there are lots of prejudices and ‘rules’ in photography. I always smelled BS, but wasn’t sure until I went back to the root and the fountain of the masters. And this is the great lesson:

For every ‘rule’ and ‘immutable lesson’, there is always a counter part.

For example, debunking the myth of the ‘decisive moment’. This was one of the greatest benefits I learned from studying contact sheets.

2. Debunking some equipment myths

We all live in a consumerist and capitalistic society. No lying around that.

However, the question:

In spite of living in this capitalistic and consumerist society, how can we still thrive without being perpetually dissatisfied with our equipment?

Truth be told, for the longest time, I always wondered:

If I (finally) got a digital Leica (M9) camera, could I achieve my ‘personal maximum‘ in my photography?

After experimentation, I discovered:

RICOH is superior to LEICA.

Do not be fooled by the marketing and the mystique.

I am quite committed to this idea:

If you want to seek your personal maximum in photography (every day life photography), use RICOH GR III (or the newest digital RICOH GR on the market).

3. Unplug yourself from the social media matrix

Social media is the matrix. Instagram, which will eventually be consolidated into Facebook (Meta) is:

A dopamine producing machine and product, which we ‘jack ourselves into’, in order to make us addicted to it, in order for us to keep scrolling and viewing and clicking advertisements.

Let us not be fooled:

Google, Facebook-Instagram, Snapchat, etc are just ‘Adware’ (advertising platforms and products).

At least this is why we should opt for Apple:

Apple’s modus is to keep getting us to buy new hardware … not to keep clicking on new advertisements.

The simple solution:

Create your own website.

Always trust open source over closed source.

Open source is often less sexy and ‘good’ than closed source things, but still in the long-term:

You will have more control.

And for us entrepreneurs, control is everything (control is also happiness).

4. Spend more time looking at your own photos, instead of the photos of others

There is apparently this notion of ‘navel gazing’ (staring into your own stomach or your own belly button). And this is supposed to be bad?

All art we create is for ourselves, and a reflection of ourselves.

Thus when we look at our photos and make photos, it is a reflection of ourselves.

We make photos to reflect and meditate on our lives.

Thus, let us think:

The more I think about my own photos, and re-discover my old photos, the better.

5. A life not photographed is not a life worth living?

Photo Memory: remember your life through your photos.

What is experience without memory?

Augment more memories in your life, and augment more experiences in your life with photography. And I think this is the secret:

If you strive to make as beautiful photos of your life as possible, you are more likely to remember them.

ERIC KIM

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Achieve your personal maximum:

November 13th: SF BAY AREA STREET PHOTOGRAPHY ADVANCED WORKSHOP
December 18-19th: Mexico City Travel Street Photography Workshop Experience (New)

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If this inspired you, feel free to forward to a friend.

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