Eric Kim’s thoughts on being a modern photographer revolve around several key concepts:

1. Striving for Greatness: Kim believes the ultimate privilege is to strive to make great photos and become an ever greater photographer. He questions what it means to become a great photographer and if it’s even possible to be the “greatest” oai_citation:1,BECOMING A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER – ERIC KIM.
2. Lifestyle Choices: For staying inspired, Kim suggests not owning a home or at worst, owning a condo. This approach facilitates travel and global exploration, which he considers crucial for a photographer’s inspiration and motivation oai_citation:2,BECOMING A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER – ERIC KIM.
3. Movement and Independence: He emphasizes structuring life for maximum movement and independence, suggesting spending significant time on the road and exploring foreign places. Kim expresses a desire to visit various global destinations, indicating a belief in the inspirational value of diverse experiences oai_citation:3,BECOMING A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER – ERIC KIM.
4. Self-Confidence and Audacity: Kim views an overstated ego and inflated self-confidence as virtues. He criticizes modern life for considering the desire for greatness as a vice and advocates for more self-confidence and audacity, especially in the context of photography oai_citation:4,BECOMING A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER – ERIC KIM.
5. Photographic Aesthetics: When it comes to the aesthetics of photography, Kim favors strong, simple, and hard photos. He suggests using extremely high contrast black-and-white, simple backgrounds, and capturing strong characters, subjects, or moods oai_citation:5,BECOMING A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER – ERIC KIM.

These thoughts reflect a philosophical and somewhat unconventional approach to photography, highlighting Kim’s emphasis on personal growth, exploration, and a strong sense of self in the journey to become a great photographer.