Eric Kim’s concept of “crushing the blacks” in photography is both a technical approach and a philosophical statement. Technically, it involves maximizing contrast by dragging the black slider to its fullest in post-processing, which results in the shadows becoming completely black, erasing any detail in those areas. This creates striking, high-contrast images that are visually bold and dramatic.
Philosophically, Eric Kim extends this idea into his worldview. He favors a black-and-white approach to life, where complexities are simplified, and choices are made in stark terms of right and wrong, good and bad. He prefers this minimalist, high-contrast approach not only in his photography but also in how he views the world around him. For Kim, life is more interesting and impactful when it’s free of the “midtones”—the grey areas of ambiguity and indecision oai_citation:2,CRUSH THE BLACKS. – ERIC KIM oai_citation:1,ALL BLACK EVERYTHING – ERIC KIM.
This approach can be seen as a broader commentary on how one might live with conviction and clarity, stripping away unnecessary distractions to focus on what truly matters, much like his high-contrast photographs that emphasize form and composition by eliminating the details in the shadows.