Why I love beta:
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What does it mean to ‘live beta’? It means to prefer a life of instability and radical newness, even though it may be ‘worse’ and ‘instable’.
What this means
The reason why this is such a radical notion:
In modern day times, we all seek ‘stability’ for ourselves, our ‘families’, etc.
Much of buying a home– the notion of building ‘stability’ for your ‘growing family’.
But … what if IN-STABILITY were in fact the superior route? That in order to extract the maximum out of life and existence that you MUST seek MAXIMAL instability and dynamism in your life? What would this mean?
Beta Art
Also the fun idea–
Then, your art is never final or perfect. Rather, the ongoing ‘beta testing’ of your artwork is in fact the goal.
Beta lifestyle
Also as a life thing:
Seek the life of maximal change and instability.
A ‘digital nomad’ lifestyle. Or a semi-nomadic one. A life full of travel, unexpectedness, foreign-ness, and learning new things, languages, peoples, cultures, etc.
Don’t seek final or the best
Beta is often inferior to the more ‘stable’ release, or the public release. Yet, Beta is sexier, more interesting, more bleeding-edge. This is what we love as technologists. To always be on the bleeding-edge of things.
Everything is beta-testing
Also if we think about this as a lifestyle approach, it is fun:
Every day is a new fun exciting chance and opportunity for you to test out something new!
A new approach, a new thought, a new concept, etc/
No boundaries or barriers
One thing I also like about the beta mindset is this: there is no right or wrong, everything is just testing.
For example, when I observe Seneca engage with the world, he is just beta testing physics. He sees certain things and objects and interacts with it, and what he is trying to discover is how it reacts as response to him. There’s no right or wrong here; he is simply testing physics, action and reaction, Action and effect.
Anti-finality
The problem with a lot of philosophers and thinkers is this: they seek a supreme final, immutable answer to everything. Even Stephen Hawking and his pursuit for “a theory of everything.â€
However, seeking an ultimate system, or being a systematizer is bad. Even our best friend Friedrich Nietzsche said “I distrust all systemizers.†Even one of his unfinished books, “The Will to Powerâ€, he ultimately scrapped it at the end because he realized he was making an ultimate system.
Why everyone loves waiting for the new iPhone
In some ways, Apple and technology is the ultimate optimistic system; there will always be something new and fresh. Even a funny thought:
One of the best reasons to keep living, is to simply be able to be alive and witness new innovations given birth.
Also, one of the great reasons to be a photographer is that we are the ultimate synthesis and hybrid of technology and art. Consider, the camera is one of the most technological apparatus for creating art. And yes, us as photographers are artists.
Therefore, as time goes on, new innovations will continue to be given birth which will make our lives as photographers happier, more productive, more creative, more artistic, more efficient, and lighter.
Even the other day when I was shooting some street photography at the mall here in Phnom Penh, I was thinking to myself; “Wow, I wish I had a Ricoh GR 3 or Ricoh GR 3X when I was starting off in street photography. How much I hated my old heavy DSLR canon 5D.â€
Even now, I am so grateful for the iPad. The iPad Pro is literally one of the best innovations and creations ever made, first conceived of by Steve Jobs and his crew, and perfected by more recent Apple engineers and artists.
Beta is optimistic
Another good reason to live beta, and think beta is that it is optimistic. The notion of beta in first that things are always improving, piece meal by piece meal.
Also, there seems to be some sort of pride for people who are beta testers. That they are willing to sacrifice stability, and predictableness, in lieu of making things better. Even when I think about myself, and my experimental living philosophy, I am simply be the testing concepts for myself, in order to discover new things, and sharing them with others.
For example, transforming my passion for street photography into my living, intermittent fasting, intermittent fasting and powerlifting (I think I might have been the first person to have deadlifted 551 pounds, fasted, without the aid of a belt, straps, protein powder, creatine, etc.)
Also, my curiosity about composition in photography is this: I am simply curious about what makes an interesting and dynamic photo, and I am interested in making theories which could aid future photographers.
How to live your life beta
The first thought; never plan anything a day in advance. You have no idea what your tomorrow health will be, your tomorrow mood, how well or poorly slept night prior. Treat every day carte blanche, like a blank slate.
Another idea, install beta profiles for all of your Apple devices. Beta.Apple.com is the way (https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram) — you come a beta tester, and also send your feedback.
Upload your photos to arsbeta.com to learn how to improve your photos.
Also, prioritize your health and mood. Subtract things which make you feel unwell.
Every time you click the shutter, you’re making a small experiment
With photography, don’t think that you are striving to make a perfect photo, like Henri Cartier Bresson. instead, think about photography as beta testing with reality;
If I make a photo of this, how will it manifest as a photo?
SHOOT ON!
ERIC
HAPTIC PHOTO SUPPLY
Test reality:
- ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP MARK II: Conquer paralysis by analysis in photography.
- HENRI NECK STRAP MARK IV: Only the best for the best.
ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE
What can you become as a photographer?
Random thoughts
Why are you not allowed to stare at strangers in America, and the west?
Design thoughts
- Design is a mood, ethos and attitude.
- New Yeezy shades — Kanye West as currently the most innovative person alive.
- Billionaire Beggar Aesthetic: the Balenciaga trash bag concept is genius. Also their gaffers tape over their own logo is genius!
Share the ideas!
If any ideas here sparked some beta ideas — feel free to forward to a friend!