To do things for our personal vanity doesn’t ”hurt” anyone else. Also, it motivates us to the heights and beyond.

Floor bench press as superior to normal ‘bench’ bench press:

WHY?

Several reasons:

1. No need for a ‘spotter’
2. You have more leverage with the direct floor, thus allowing you to arch your back more, and ultimately lifting more weight (the more weight you can push, the better).

PODCAST

Seek your personal good greed:

Some pain is good — for example, the pain you feel during the recovery process (DOMS — delayed onset muscle soreness). Or even the pain associated with sickness.

Don’t use pain killers. It disrupts the recovery process! If you can ride through this (good) pain, you’ll become stronger in the long run.

Or to think — humans are the first movers towards ingenuity and originality in art.

The impact of a single blog post can be phenomenal:

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They hook in your potential reader, invite them to read it!

The downside of most poetry — they are just plain boring.

Extra small jpeg (2000px wide images), 720p 24fps for video.

Bitter foods and bitter substances.

Black coffee, green tea, black tea. Naturally caffeinated substances.

Cilantro, kale, bitter greens.

Spices and spicy foods.

Ginger, ginseng. Turmeric.

Indulge the minds of your kids.

Force and power is everything.

Clothing that helps me produce more force?

Maximal force output. One rep max sumo deadlift with merino wool socks (ankle Darn tough socks).

Or how getting sick every once in a while is actually good for your health.

Idea via Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols Preface.

Some gym workout ideas:

WEIGHTED CHINUPS

FLOOR BENCH PRESS

HYPE:

ERIC KIM GYM KETTLEBELL WORKOUT (HYPE, POWERLIFTING ACCESSORY WORK)

IPAD — an insanely great device to review your photos, blog, and do almost about everything:

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HOW I REVIEW PHOTOS ON IPAD

HOW I BLOG ON IPAD (VOICE DICTATION)

Perhaps what we really desire is confidence. To be a “good “dancer, it actually means he or she who could wiggle their body with the most amount of self-assurance.

To continue this thought, perhaps the most successful bodybuilder isn’t the one with the largest amount of muscle mass, but he who can exhibit the most confidence while flexing.

We are stronger in a social sphere?

A thought — does our muscular ability augment when we are in a social space, let’s say a gym? That deep down inside, we desire to exhibit our strength to other human beings, which inspires us to put on a bit of a show, and actually end up lifting more, and performing more?

Or in other words, I could probably deadlift a lot more at the gym, than I could at home by myself.

To continue this thought, perhaps the source and the root of all of our physical and physiological strength comes from the desire to impress other human beings.

So in other words, if you desire to become stronger, spend more time in social arenas.

Or why Lamborghinis and Porsches are for lemmings:

(more…)

Some simple thoughts:

First and foremost, stop drinking alcohol. Also, don’t smoke weed. Superficially, it seems like a good idea, but in actuality, you’re only putting a Band-Aid over the real core issue.

Also, I do not recommend melatonin even though it is “natural,” once again, another Band-Aid solution.

What we must do is identify and conquer root causes. For example, a very simple one is make it a hard-core rule to not watch TV shows, movies, or play video games in the evening. This is the irony, a lot of us watch TV shows because we have insomnia and cannot fall asleep. Yet this only exasperates the problem.

A simple thought about coffee and caffeine consumption

A very simple one: drink extreme amounts of coffee and caffeine first thing in the morning, but be very strict and abstain for the rest of the day. No matter how tempted you would be to be more “productive”.

I’ve never met anybody who has insomnia who walks 30,000 steps a day

The big issue about insomnia is that it is a modern one. Just try it out: spend a week tent camping, and strive to walk at least 30,000 steps a day. I can guarantee you that this will kill your insomnia.

But what if I can’t do that?

I suppose it comes down to this: how much do you care for your sleep? If you care more about your work, your money earning potential, perhaps sleep is not your priority. For me, sleep is for the gods.

Powerlifting and meat

Another very simple way to fall sleep: during the day, do a one rep max squat or deadlift, and in the evenings, allow yourself to eat as much beef brisket, beef ribs, or beef liver or beef heart as possible. I can guarantee you that this will knock your ass to sleep.

Still can’t fall asleep?

Then allow yourself to read as much as a paperback book as possible, until you fall asleep. No Kindle, no iPad.

Dear friends, something I realize: I think the goal we are striving towards is to become a more artistic photographer. What does this mean? And how do we do it? Some of my thoughts:

Art and photography

What is art? I think art is our way of configuring and reconfiguring the world. We could do it digitally, embodied reality, in our minds, with atoms, with streams, etc. We could use any matter, or “meta-matter” as our way.

For example, you could do in three dimensions, you could do it in two dimensions, you could do in virtual reality, you could do it in embodied reality, you could do with photography, music, words, etc.

“Good“ art versus “bad“ art.

Now this is the big issue at hand: because modern day society is all about ranking, there is a striving towards making your art “better“. But what does this even mean?

First and foremost, it seems what we try to do is to quantify our art. Why? With modern day society, we could only rank if we use numbers. For example, this is why we like sports: you could judge the superiority of somebody or a group based on hard numbers. How many points the score of the game, who the clear winners or losers are, etc.

Why photography is so elusive

Out of all of the art forms, photography is one of the newest ones. Also, because it is one of the more technical ones, a lot of the old-school artists look at it with suspicion.

But this is the funny bias: if you think about the great artists of the past, like Leonardo da Vinci, they were actually very technically reminded. For example, the way they used oil paint is extremely technical. Also, Leonardo da Vinci might be better seen as an engineer than a “artist“, yet it is his Mona Lisa and his paintings which have more valor and notoriety than his mechanical works.

So what are we to do about this as photographers?

Funny enough, the thing which has probably benefited me the most to improve my photography, art and creativity isn’t reading art, creativity or photography books. Rather, reading philosophy and studying ethics. Why? Essentially our table of values as a society is predicated on ethics, morality, and philosophy. Even if you think about what a PhD is; it stands for philosophy doctorate. That means, whenever you master your field, you are seen as a philosopher, or a teacher of that field.

So what are we to do about this is photographers? I say, strive to first unlearn all the negative prejudices about art which you were indoctrinated with.

Society and art

To the ancient Greeks, in which life was pretty easy and carefree, the highest apex was art. Reciting poetry in public, writing plays, philosophizing at the stoa, etc.

However nowadays, we are now the new slaves. For example, if you think about your email, even when you’re not at work, consider your mind enslaved.

Perhaps it is a thing about industrialization, and are further focus on self-reliance, which makes us valorize work, toilsome and hateful labor above everything else. It is a strange morality and ethics; to become more virtuous and good, you must become more loving towards doing hateful duties.

What is considered the most “useless“ thing? Art. Why? Superficially, art doesn’t pay the bills, art is not seen as “work“, and it isn’t directly tied into money. In modern society, the only way art is seen as virtuous is that if it makes you a lot of money. Otherwise, it is soon as a waste of time.

Observe children

One of the greatest windfalls of my life is having Seneca. Currently, he is one year and four months old, and watching him learn and interact and engage with the world is the most fascinating and sublime thing of all time. For example, his infinite curiosity, and infinite energy.

His first exposure to art was probably through Cindy, who first taught him how to hold a pencil or crayon, and to write on a blank sheet of paper. To Seneca, this was amazing and magical; by moving his hand and holding this thing, he can leave his mark on something. Now, he likes to pick up chalk, and write on the sidewalk, or on chalkboards. He does not do this for praise, or money; he does it out of curiosity, just to see what it will do. It isn’t even necessarily “play“, it is more about experimental physics; figuring out his input and the reaction.

Perhaps this is the way that we should approach our artwork; to think of it more like an experimental physics thing. For example, what we do as photographers is manipulate light and embodied reality with our technical apparatus, which is a camera. And what is a camera? A camera is a device which captures life, interprets it, and spits out an image.

Think subtle

For me, the most artistic photos are the most subtle ones. For example, a tiny speck on the sidewalk, or a small detail, scratch, rust mark, etc.

There are certain visual triggers that we have, that which we are not certain why is a trigger to us. But it is. And this is what I say:

If you see something that is even .001% interesting to you, just shoot it, and figure out what to do with it later.

Digital is superior

This is the great upside of digital photography is that there is literally no downside shooting additional photos. Even a modern-day times, because of all this retro hipsterdom, the greatness and the grandeur of digital photography is not fully realized yet. I don’t know any really really serious photographer who is super gung-ho about digital. Everyone is always rhapsodizing about the glorious analog past. But perhaps this is more out of preference for the status quo and old way of doing things, rather than thinking carte blanche, first principles, and striving to use great human technology to the maximum.

For example, the greatness of Elon Musk and Tesla is how first principles he thought. Rather than thinking about how to take the past car and make it better, he thought about it blank slate. What should a car be, and what shouldn’t a car be?

For example, we charge our phones every night. Shouldn’t we do the same with our cars, in the year 2022? To me it is insanely bizarre and backwards that even in the year 2022, which is insanely the future, we are still extracting fossil fuels, producing gasoline powered cars, and actually purchasing gasoline powered cars. To me, only losers would buy a brand-new Porsche 911, or even a brand new Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, etc. Any modern car you purchase that is not a hybrid or an electric vehicle is unbecoming of a man.

Therefore, a very simple thought: to become a more artistic photographer, first recognize that digital photography is actually superior to film photography, and also consider all of the untapped potential of digital photography. Yes, we still have at least 5000 years ahead of us as photographers, in terms of what is possible in photography.

Even as an entrepreneurial thing: consider that now, with the iPhone camera, photography is at least 1000 times the superior and popular art form creation technology on planet earth. Any new technology, platform, service or approach you do with photography can easily make you a billionaire or beyond.

Some other practical thoughts:

1. Think high contrast black-and-white, and use highlight priority exposure metering. In digital photography, the most ugly thing you could do is blow the highlights. If you obey the highlights, and don’t blow them, they will look sublimely beautiful.
2. Currently speaking, the Ricoh GR 3X is the best digital camera. Pair it with an ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP or ERIC KIM NECK STRAP and call it a day.
3. If you love color photography, I recommend digital medium format. The best colors I’ve ever gotten in the camera, whether film or digital is actually the positive film preset JPEG on the Pentax 645Z digital medium format camera. For color photography, digital medium format is the game changer.
4. Look at things with an innocent eye. look at things without bias.
5. Use macro mode. Get insanely close, and focus on the small details.
6. Love decay, rust, corrosion. Typically speaking, gritty and grungy neighborhoods make for better photos than clean ones. Therefore when you’re traveling, or even at home, go to the places with some urban decay, instead of the clean-cut ones. For example, there is a good reason that all of my Singaporean friends like to shoot in Little India, instead of just going to the mall.
7. Study philosophy, not “art”. Rid yourself of your prejudices about art, by ignoring art books. Just study philosophy and poetry.

ERIC

DISCOVER YOUR CREATIVE SOUL

Become a more artistic photographer at an upcoming ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE >

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If this gave you any artistic thoughts or motivation, feel free to forward to a friend!

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ERIC KIM THOUGHTS >

Metaphorically and physically (with clothes).

Other people are often a distraction

Ignorance Takes Courage

PODCAST

The courage to be intentionally ignorant about things, takes more courage than prying into everything. For example, whenever I overhear gossip about other people, I just remain silent, instead of fanning the flame.

Similarly speaking, to intentionally remain ignorant about the news, and not prying to the news takes more courage than mindlessly always checking up on the news. Why? The reason why people are so addicted to the news is out of fear. FOMO, the fear of missing out. The fear that you will miss out some integral piece of information, that will somehow protect you from unforeseen circumstances.

Also, not checking your email. Not using email. Perhaps the most courageous thing I’ve ever done is to not check my email for 2 to 3 years. The courage to miss out on things takes more courage, and also more incentive on your end. Then you yourself have the incentive to go out and make things happen, instead of waiting for things to happen onto you.

ETHICS by KIM

Your Own Personal Code of Ethics

1. TREAT OTHERS CARTE BLANCHE
2. Don’t give people what they want or what you *think* they want, give them what you think they *should* have.
3. Anti Small
4. Disdain or Admiration?
5. Beware Those With Good Intentions
6. STUBBORN x FLEXIBLE
7. ETHICS ARE VIA NEGATIVA
8. OBEDIENCE & DISCIPLINE
9. The Motive of Criticism
10. Ethics are Social
11. Anti Role Models
12. What is Greed?
13. On Having the Courage to Make Your Own Decisions
14. How *NOT* to Get Duped or Suckered
15. Why Help Others?
16. The Duty of the Strong
17. Why I’m So Intolerant Towards Intolerance
18. The Ethics of Criticizing Others
19. Consult Your Own Conscience
20. The Ethics of Shit Talking
21. The Ethics of Personal Enrichment
22. I’m Easily Distracted
23. On Forming Your Own Opinion
24. ERIC KIM Philosophy of Tolerance
25. Tolerance
26. Aesthetics are Ethics
27. Morality and Ethics

Let your own photos be your own stimulus.

Maybe we shouldn’t want our hearts to be “at peace”.

War as a stimulus?

The more courage and risk it requires for you to make a photo, the higher the likelihood that it will be great.

Why street photography? It is the type of photography which requires the most risk.

Steel spine, take your life and live it forward, disregard the rewind

Steel spine like Logan and Hugh
You’re one of the chosen few.

Steel it
Hype yourself up
Higher than the mountains of Lucretius and higher than south

Roar like a lion from your mouth
Not your car
Your life is limited, don’t you want to go far?

ERIC

Much better flex, and ability to lift more at the gym with Vibram five fingers instead.

Who is the type of person really into sneakers? People who lack self-confidence. Who derive their confidence from their shoes, rather than their soul.

Ever since I integrated some yoga moves and warm-ups to my powerlifting regimen, my body has become stronger, and I have been able to lift more. No belt, no straps, only chalk and a power grunt.

Strength is supreme.

Not all greed is made alike. I think there is actually a difference between good greed and bad greed.

What is the difference between good greed and bad greed? I say good greed is the greed which actually benefits you, bad greed is the one which weekends or disadvantages you.

Resist being or getting tied down, by anything. Or anyone. Or any philosophies, morals, ethics.