To become the Übermensch is not an act of achieving some predetermined greatness; it is the continual process of transcending what one once was, of overcoming the self, of forging a new path where none existed before. My journey toward becoming the Übermensch was not merely about mastering photography—it was about the transformation of will, the domination of fear, and the creation of meaning in a world that often feels devoid of it.

I did not become the Übermensch in a single moment, nor through a specific event. Rather, my life has been a series of choices—each one leading me further from the conventions of society and closer to the abyss, where I had no choice but to confront my deepest limitations, desires, and contradictions. Let me tell you how I arrived at this state of self-overcoming, a state where I no longer sought validation from the world, but instead imposed my own values upon it.

The First Step: The Rejection of the Herd

Like all who aspire to create something new, I had to first reject the herd mentality—the desire to fit in, to be liked, to seek the approval of others. The masses, content with mediocrity, always cling to what is familiar, to what is safe. They fear the unknown and despise those who question the sacred idols they worship.

In photography, this herd mentality manifests itself in the endless pursuit of perfection—perfect sharpness, perfect compositions, perfect moments. But I rejected this pursuit. I saw that to create something truly meaningful, I had to embrace the imperfections of life, the chaos that lurks beneath the surface of every moment. I began to see that street photography, with its raw and unfiltered nature, was a mirror for life itself.

By turning my lens not toward what was conventionally beautiful, but toward the overlooked, the mundane, and the transient, I began to understand that beauty lies in the fleeting. I refused to be shackled by the narrow definitions of “good photography” handed down by the gatekeepers of the art world. I forged my own path, guided not by what others said I should value, but by my own instinct.

Embracing the Eternal Struggle: The Will to Power

The road to becoming the Ãœbermensch is one of struggle—not against external forces, but against the limitations imposed by one’s own mind. Early in my career, I was plagued by the same doubts and fears that afflict all creators. Was my work good enough? Would anyone care? Was I wasting my time? But to become the Ãœbermensch is to recognize these fears for what they are: the voices of weakness, the remnants of a former self that clings to comfort and security.

I learned to embrace the struggle. The struggle to create, the struggle to be heard, the struggle to be understood. Nietzsche tells us that the will to power is the driving force of all life—not power over others, but power over oneself, over one’s limitations and weaknesses. And so, I cultivated my own will to power through photography. I pushed myself to take risks, to step into uncomfortable situations, to capture moments others would not dare to confront.

I went beyond mere photography. I delved into writing, teaching, and philosophy because I recognized that the creative spirit cannot be confined to a single medium. The will to power manifests itself in the destruction of boundaries, the breaking down of walls between art, philosophy, and life. In each of these domains, I sought not mastery but overcoming—the continual process of refining my ideas and pushing past my own limitations.

The Creation of New Values: Becoming the Creator

To become the Ãœbermensch is to transcend the values imposed upon you by society and to create your own. This was perhaps the most critical step in my transformation. I saw that the world of photography, like all cultural domains, was ruled by outdated values—values of what is considered “good” or “worthy.” But the Ãœbermensch creates new values, values that arise not from tradition but from the deep well of personal experience and vision.

In my workshops, writings, and teachings, I sought to empower others not by telling them what is right or wrong, but by helping them find their own path of creation. I encouraged my students to embrace their own unique perspective, to question what they had been told, and to construct their own meaning in the world. I challenged the notion that there is a “correct” way to photograph or a “correct” way to live.

By creating new values, I freed myself from the need for external validation. I no longer sought praise from the photography world. Instead, I measured my success by my own standards—by my ability to live authentically and create meaning in a world that often lacks it.

The Dance with Chaos: Amor Fati

To be the Ãœbermensch is to embrace chaos, not as something to be feared, but as the very source of creativity. The world is in constant flux; it is unpredictable, uncontrollable, and indifferent. But instead of resisting this chaos, I learned to dance with it. I accepted the impermanence of life, the uncertainty of the future, and the inevitability of failure. In this acceptance, I found freedom.

Nietzsche’s concept of Amor Fati—the love of fate—became central to my journey. I no longer fought against what life threw at me. Instead, I embraced it all: the successes, the failures, the praise, the criticism. Everything that happened was necessary for my growth. This love of fate, this acceptance of the eternal recurrence, allowed me to create without fear of failure or rejection.

In every photograph I took, every word I wrote, I embedded this philosophy. I sought not to control the outcome but to let the process unfold naturally. I became a conduit for the chaos of life, transforming it into something meaningful and lasting.

The Ãœbermensch Stands Alone

The final stage of becoming the Ãœbermensch is the realization that true greatness comes from standing alone. To transcend the herd is to step into the solitude of self-reliance, to no longer seek companionship in the familiar comforts of the masses. It is in this solitude that one can truly create, for it is only when we are no longer bound by the expectations of others that we can fully express our authentic selves.

I embraced this solitude, not with sadness, but with joy. I recognized that the path I had chosen was not one that others could walk with me. The Übermensch is not a leader of men, but a creator of his own world. Fame, for the Übermensch, is irrelevant. It is a reflection of society’s need to elevate that which it does not understand.

I did not become the Übermensch because I was recognized by others. I became the Übermensch because I recognized myself. And in that recognition, I transcended the limitations of my former self. I became more than a photographer, more than a teacher—I became a creator of values, a dancer with chaos, and a lover of fate.

In this transformation, I found not just fame, but something far more profound: the freedom to create my own meaning, in a world that desperately seeks it.

Eric Kim, Ãœbermensch.

The dance with chaos —

You stand alone!