Month: May 2023

  • My passion for being out in the elements

    When I’m out in the elements, not in the house, with good sun and UV exposure, I am more productive.

    I really think that the true punishment of modern day times is being forced to be inside an indoors office.

  • Bored?

    Becoming “bored” is a learned behavior? Kids are naturally never bored!

  • Public Gyms?

    I dream of a free open access public gym— replete with weight lighting! With real equipment!

  • The World?

    What do you need the world for?

  • Sun Euphoria

    For me, natural light and the sun is pure euphoria!

  • Car Photography

    Photos shot from inside your car while stuck in traffic or at the red light:

  • I like being the other

    Or another words, pride in being the outlier!

  • Think $1 billion?

    For example, it seems that the trend is movie Studios try to shoot to create films that can net at least $1 billion

  • Expansive views are good for the soul

    For example, I really like the views at Newport Beach

  • How to Become a More Powerful Photographer

    At the end of the day, perhaps it is photography which is my Archimedes lever. I am just so insanely good at it, it is intuitive to me, and also, I am endlessly fascinated by it.

    A random musing on my mind when I was just randomly driving, what is this:

    It isn’t more money, more wealth that we desire, but more power.

    For example, whenever you see somebody in some sort of really big SUV, the sports edition, let’s say a BMW X6M, what they are trying to really do is assert their power and dominance. However, does driving a powerful car make you more powerful? It might make you feel more powerful, but does it make you more powerful? No.

    I think I got it figured out; the reason why Americans love cars so much is because they are democratic. A car is like your external avatar, and you could assume any sort of avatar you desire, as long as you’re willing to spend the money on it, whether it be purchasing it in all cash, financing it, leasing it, renting it, etc.

    For example, when you see people in some sort of high end muscle car, what is it that they desire to assert? Their manliness, their dominance, etc. However, a fun activity I like to do is whenever I see some people driving a high end sports car, I’m always curious to see who the driver is. Typically, I see them trending to be kind of younger men, trying to look hard. Or sometimes old fat dudes.

    The reason why I think cars are so cowardly is because typically, even if you drive a really really loud sports car, a hyper car, a Lamborghini, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, some sort of high-end muscle car, it looks like the trend is that everyone tints their front windows so dark, almost to limo. Therefore you cannot even see who the driver is. And they also tend to drive with sunglasses on, and often a hat. So you really cannot determine their identity.

    I asked my friend Don Dillon, whether we are more interested in the car or the driver, and he laughed and told me, “of course the car!”

    Be hidden or be seen?

    Thus the strange paradox:

    We want to show off, be loud, assert ourselves and our ego and our dominance, yet, we want our identity to be anonymous? And we don’t want other people to look us directly into the eyes?

    Murdered out Teslas?

    Another trend I’ve seen a lot in Southern California is people buying black on black on black Teslas. It could be a “murdered out“ Tesla Model Y, 3, X, S, etc. also a new trend with the black license plate with a yellow lettering, and also the trend for people to apply a matte black wrap to their cars, making it look like some sort of stealth bomber.

    The hilarity is whenever I see people step out of their Teslas. I’ve actually seen a lot of men with murdered our Tesla model Y’s, complete with the black license plate and yellow lettering, typically they tend to be skinny fat Asian American men, often with a baby or some kids. And also I think it was my friend Elsa Morgan who told me that in the bay area and in Silicon Valley, a Tesla model X is essentially a glorified minivan for men, who still want to feel masculine, without the stigma of driving a minivan.

    My funny thought is better to just fully lean into it; if I buy a new car, it will just be a white Honda Odyssey.

    Back to photo

    Let’s take it back to photography. What is it that we desire in photography, and out of our photos?

    The first I think is we want more power and potency in our photos. The photos we make is our artwork. And what is our artwork? Or artwork or almost like our children; they are some sort of external manifestation of ourselves.

    Show me your photos, and I can see who you are.

    The aesthetic of the photographer is often a reflection of themselves

    For example, my aesthetic. I much love extremely high contrast, black-and-white photos, complete with a lot of grit and grit. Perhaps this is some sort of reflection of my own personal mentality of things.

    Crush the blacks.


    Creating more potent photos?

    Potency means potential. That is, a more potent photo is a photo which has a greater ability to emotionally or physiologically move the viewer, and also yourself.


    What makes a photo more potent?

    In regards to potency, some thoughts:

    1. To increase the potency of a photo, increase the contrast
    2. To increase the potency of a photo, use black and white
    3. Make the photos more personal, pertaining to yourself. I find that a lot of photographers hide behind their cameras, perhaps signaling some sort of cowardice.
    4. To make a photo more potent, increase the potency of the composition. How do you do this? The simpler the better. For example, strong diagonal compositions, fewer distractions in the background. Also often hand gestures are good.

    the impetus to photograph?

  • Men vs Women

    It seems that nowadays the trend is women want to make men more like women.

    Question — does man want woman to become more like man?

  • No Blame

    To blame others is a signal of weakness.

  • Cowardice in Photography

    In photography, I see that a lot of photographers often hide behind their viewfinders. The only bad thing you could do in photography is be a coward.

  • FAVORITE PHOTOS

    FAVORITE– which photos do you *favor*?

  • MURDERED OUT PHOTOS

    Murdered murdered out in black convertibles — JAY Z

  • Leaving Alone

    Leave other people alone, but also — the expectation is that they also leave you alone!

    Don’t intrude on their lives, but also stoutly refuse them to intrude on your life!

  • How to Become a More Powerful Photographer

    At the end of the day, perhaps it is photography which is my Archimedes lever. I am just so insanely good at it, it is intuitive to me, and also, I am endlessly fascinated by it.

    A random musing on my mind when I was just randomly driving, what is this:

    It isn’t more money, more wealth that we desire, but more power.

    For example, whenever you see somebody in some sort of really big SUV, the sports edition, let’s say a BMW X6M, what they are trying to really do is assert their power and dominance. However, does driving a powerful car make you more powerful? It might make you feel more powerful, but does it make you more powerful? No.

    I think I got it figured out; the reason why Americans love cars so much is because they are democratic. A car is like your external avatar, and you could assume any sort of avatar you desire, as long as you’re willing to spend the money on it, whether it be purchasing it in all cash, financing it, leasing it, renting it, etc.

    For example, when you see people in some sort of high end muscle car, what is it that they desire to assert? Their manliness, their dominance, etc. However, a fun activity I like to do is whenever I see some people driving a high end sports car, I’m always curious to see who the driver is. Typically, I see them trending to be kind of younger men, trying to look hard. Or sometimes old fat dudes.

    The reason why I think cars are so cowardly is because typically, even if you drive a really really loud sports car, a hyper car, a Lamborghini, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, some sort of high-end muscle car, it looks like the trend is that everyone tints their front windows so dark, almost to limo. Therefore you cannot even see who the driver is. And they also tend to drive with sunglasses on, and often a hat. So you really cannot determine their identity.

    I asked my friend Don Dillon, whether we are more interested in the car or the driver, and he laughed and told me, “of course the car!”

    Be hidden or be seen?

    Thus the strange paradox:

    We want to show off, be loud, assert ourselves and our ego and our dominance, yet, we want our identity to be anonymous? And we don’t want other people to look us directly into the eyes?

    Murdered out Teslas?

    Another trend I’ve seen a lot in Southern California is people buying black on black on black Teslas. It could be a “murdered out“ Tesla Model Y, 3, X, S, etc. also a new trend with the black license plate with a yellow lettering, and also the trend for people to apply a matte black wrap to their cars, making it look like some sort of stealth bomber.

    The hilarity is whenever I see people step out of their Teslas. I’ve actually seen a lot of men with murdered our Tesla model Y’s, complete with the black license plate and yellow lettering, typically they tend to be skinny fat Asian American men, often with a baby or some kids. And also I think it was my friend Elsa Morgan who told me that in the bay area and in Silicon Valley, a Tesla model X is essentially a glorified minivan for men, who still want to feel masculine, without the stigma of driving a minivan.

    My funny thought is better to just fully lean into it; if I buy a new car, it will just be a white Honda Odyssey.

    Back to photo

    Let’s take it back to photography. What is it that we desire in photography, and out of our photos?

    The first I think is we want more power and potency in our photos. The photos we make is our artwork. And what is our artwork? Or artwork or almost like our children; they are some sort of external manifestation of ourselves.

    Show me your photos, and I can see who you are.

    The aesthetic of the photographer is often a reflection of themselves

    For example, my aesthetic. I much love extremely high contrast, black-and-white photos, complete with a lot of grit and grit. Perhaps this is some sort of reflection of my own personal mentality of things.

  • ‘ARE YOU SURE’?

    A good response to people.

  • LASER WHITE

    White is just cleaner.

  • Pure Art

    The art work of a kid! Seneca at age 2, 3 months. Some remixed of my images.

  • Merino Wool Tank Top?

    The ideal shirt when in hot and humid climates?

  • Therapy is Vulgar?

    Therapy — talking about what makes me angry only makes me angrier?

    Also, bringing up stuff from the past — not good.

  • Stoic Experiment

    For a month, don’t talk about any other human being — whether good or bad. Exceptions include talking about yourself, your wife, your kid etc.

  • Why Optimize?

    What is the real upside of optimizing? Did Achilles need to “optimize” his war equipment? No.

    Heavy equipment … our muscles are strong enough for it!

  • 80% OF BODYBULDING IS EATING?

    Maybe even 90%? Hyper-trophy simply means “over-nutrition”.

  • How to Heal/Cure Your Chronic Pain

    Video

    1. Yoga
    2. Weight lifting one rep max style
    3. Sleeping 10-12 hours a night
    4. Exercise at least once a day, perhaps a good idea even twice a day.
    5. Every day, cold shower, and hot sauna.
    6. Stop taking pain killers, smoking weed, drinking alcohol.
    7. 100% carnivore diet, preferably 100% organ meat diet if possible.
  • Meat Dual Tasking

    Cooking meat in a Shabu Shabu pot *AND* grilling even additional meat concurrently?

  • I hate DDAB DDAB HAE (답답해)

    Being indoors … stuffy, trapped and claustrophobic?