October 2022 - ERIC KIM ₿

If all of the sake of existence were for the sake of making photos, it was worth it.

Browse your own photos to seek ideas and inspiration

Why Korea?

How Korea is interesting to me:

First of all, my general sense is that Korea just feels like America junior. Korean modern ideals are very similar to American ideals. The only difference is when youâ€™re in Korea, everyone looks Korean and speaks Korean. But essentially, the modern Korean is American.

Secondly, being Korean American, I have strong clout and influence here. Knowing English and being fluent in English is a huge plus, and also looking Korean is good to look the part.

Third, Korea is like a limitless playground. It is the ultimate urban jungle, with infinite possibilities. You could attempt to visit all of the subway station areas in Korea, and never bore.

Fourth, Korea is at an interesting inflection point in which the old population outstrips the young and new population. I can see the population decline happening right before my very eyes. Barely any new kids, only new dogs (just like America, but worse).

Fifth, very easy being an American or foreigner here. Visa is accepted almost anywhere, and everyone uses Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google, Google Maps etc. Apparently you can even use Uber here! (I didnâ€™t know).

Six, Korea is actually doing a good job becoming more lax with tourism and travel and Covid restrictions. Compare this with Japan which is pretty much on foreigner lockdown.

Seven, South Korea has lots of disposable income. They are relatively rich. Certain new concepts have not penetrated the main stream like gym culture, Lululemon tights for women, etc. A lot of opportunity for foreign investment.

Eight, at this point Korea is quite bilingual in English. Even if you didnâ€™t know any Korean, if you could live a pretty good life here.

Nine, I love taking the subway, the bus, and the urban city and street life. It is a street photography paradise.

DESIGN YOUR OWN CLOTHES?

FERRARI IS BORING.

I LOVE KOREA!

NO TINT.

To tint your car windows, or to tint your lenses, or to tint your sunglasses is cowardly. More courage to have no tint.

VIBRAM 5 FIVE FINGER SHOES

VIBRAM 5 Finger shoes (EL-X) is supreme.

Superior to any Adidas, Nike, Jordan, Yeezy sneaker.

Also, it takes more courage to wear. If most people strive to wear a certain shoes in order to seem unique or to be â€œcoolâ€, having the most unusual type of shoe which is the most functional is best.

KOREA III

XPROIII:

DONâ€™T STRIVE TO BE UNIQUE.

Perhaps the goal of striving to become unique is the red herring. Perhaps the better goal is for you to just strive to do what you want to do.

LIME GREEN

LEICA M11 IS BORING.

You never photograph the same thing twice.

Good for poor people, or good for rich people?

You probably have at least 1 million photos ahead of you.

Glitching is creative.

People leverage.

Why be nice?

Or the more recent notion of being â€œkindâ€?

I say it is much more robust to be respectful instead.

Also, do not concern yourself about making other people feel uncomfortable.

MOOD.

I love beautiful faces.

What do I love about color photos? The emotion and feelings I get from the colors.

Happy is attractive.

What do Koreans want? Approval from others.

Photography is more about a feeling.

How did I get so good at photography?

First of all, my infinite curiosity about photography, and how to make better photos.

Second, studying the masters of photography, and then realizing that in fact, I have more potential than them.

Third, having the chutzpah to blatantly disregard everyone else, and pursue my own unique vision.

LOW-KEY COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

The Seoul South Korea subway is great for street photography

Everyone has headphones on, everyone is distracted. Nobody will notice you making photos.

Design which speaks to you?

Taycanâ€”

Like Kanye said, â€œNew Porsche with the Tesla engine!â€

FUJIFILM for color, RICOH for black and white

Do not do anything expecting thanks.

Donâ€™t do it expecting any thanks.

You donâ€™t do it because you expect gratitude from the other party, you do it because you feel it is the best course of action.

I AM ERIC KIM.

How to become ERIC KIM?

KOREA PHOTOS II

GR IIIX:

XPRO3

Image Curation

Image Selection.

Not image â€œeditingâ€, rather, image culling and image curation.

Image selection.

The art of choosing the photos you care for, the art of image selection. Let us say that you shot 1000 photos, which few photos will you select that you care for?

Imagine yourself as the Jeff Bezos or the Elon Musk of your own industry and niche

Imagine like nothing else or nobody else exists

What if even a bad existence were the best existence?

Newest is best.

What is the best way for you to leverage your human metabolism?

Your limited human metabolism, and also your limited life, and your limited time.

INFINITE EXPLORATION.

This is the promise of street photography.

This is the feeling when Iâ€™m on the subway, and I look up into the city, skyline, which is infinite.

For example, the very optimistic thought I have is this: even if you try to visit every Seoul subway stop, and did it religiously every day for a year, you would still not run out of places to visit.

To take this thought further, there are infinite cities around the world for you to discover.