Apparently John Cena has his own personal bodyguards? I find him insanely phony; he’s just an actor. A true mensch would never have bodyguards, he would just be able to defend and guard himself.
So some funny thoughts —
First, a lot of men that I meet, sooner or later everyone gets into lifting weights, working out, going to the gym, or even doing calisthenics at the park etc. To me this is super critical — because obviously everyone wants to look like ERIC KIM.
The first thought is this —
I recall in Nassim Taleb’s antifragile ,,, how when he was starting to get so much heat for his overt critiques of the whole economic establishment, he started to get paranoid, and couldn’t calm himself down, even after drinking chamomile tea. And as a consequence, instead of hiring a bodyguard, he decided to look like one.
I think the same ethos and approach can apply to us, and in street photography; if you look super fucking jacked, like Jack Reacher without the steroids ,,, obviously if you’re shooting street photography nobody’s going to mess with you.
Why Street Photographers Should Become Bodybuilders
Dear fellow street photographers,
Have you ever felt exhausted after a long day of shooting, your shoulders aching from carrying your gear, your legs sore from walking miles through the city streets? What if I told you that embracing bodybuilding could transform not just your physique, but your photography itself?
Physical Strength Fuels Creative Freedom
Street photography is a physical pursuit. We roam the urban jungle, chasing moments, and capturing life as it unfolds. By becoming stronger, we free ourselves from physical limitations. Imagine carrying your camera all day without fatigue, sprinting to catch that decisive moment, or effortlessly navigating crowded streets. Physical strength empowers us to push our creative boundaries.
Discipline Breeds Mastery
Bodybuilding isn’t just about lifting weights; it’s about discipline, consistency, and patience—the same virtues required to master street photography. The routine of regular training cultivates a mindset of dedication. When we apply this discipline to our photography, we become more diligent in practicing our craft, reviewing our work, and honing our vision.
Confidence Transforms Vision
There’s an undeniable confidence that comes from physical fitness. This confidence translates into our interactions on the street. We’re more likely to approach strangers, to get closer to the action, and to assert ourselves in situations that might have intimidated us before. Confidence sharpens our vision and emboldens us to take risks that lead to more compelling images.
Mind and Body Synergy
A healthy body nurtures a healthy mind. Exercise reduces stress, enhances mood, and improves mental clarity. When our minds are clear, we’re more attuned to the world around us. We notice the subtle gestures, the fleeting expressions, the beauty in the mundane. This heightened awareness is the lifeblood of street photography.
Embracing the Journey
Both bodybuilding and street photography are lifelong journeys with no final destination. There’s always more to learn, more to see, and more to achieve. Embracing bodybuilding teaches us to appreciate incremental progress and to find joy in the process rather than the outcome.
Breaking Stereotypes
Who says artists can’t be athletes? By combining street photography with bodybuilding, we break free from societal stereotypes that pigeonhole us into singular identities. We become multi-dimensional creators, embodying both physical prowess and artistic vision.
Practical Benefits
Let’s not forget the practical side. Stronger muscles mean less strain when carrying equipment. Better endurance allows for longer shooting sessions. Improved posture can enhance our compositional perspective—literally changing the way we see the world through our lens.
Conclusion: Forge Your Own Path
At the end of the day, it’s about personal growth. We should constantly seek ways to evolve, to challenge ourselves, and to merge our passions in ways that enrich our lives. So why not pick up that barbell along with your camera? Let’s redefine what it means to be a street photographer.
Stay bold, stay hungry, and keep pushing your limits.
Your fellow traveler,
Eric Kim
Why Street Photographers Should Become Bodybuilders
As a street photographer, you already understand the importance of discipline, perseverance, and pushing through discomfort to capture that perfect moment. But have you ever considered how your physical body affects your photography? Most street photographers focus exclusively on the mental and artistic aspects of photography, but we often forget that our bodies—the very vehicles we use to explore the streets—are an essential part of the creative process. This is where bodybuilding comes in.
Bodybuilding may seem like an odd pursuit for a street photographer. After all, street photography is an art form that thrives on spontaneity and subtlety, while bodybuilding is often associated with brute strength and physical dominance. But these two disciplines share more in common than you might think. In fact, I’d argue that street photographers can greatly benefit from becoming bodybuilders—not just in terms of physical health, but also in terms of creativity, mental resilience, and even the philosophy behind both pursuits.
Strengthen Your Body, Strengthen Your Mind
First and foremost, street photography is a physically demanding art form. You’re walking long distances, crouching down to get the right angle, and carrying around your gear for hours at a time. If your body isn’t conditioned, your endurance and stamina will limit the amount of time you can spend on the streets. By incorporating bodybuilding into your routine, you’ll build strength, endurance, and resilience—qualities that are invaluable when it comes to staying out longer, pushing through discomfort, and capturing that fleeting moment others might miss.
When your body is strong, your mind becomes stronger as well. Bodybuilding requires intense focus, discipline, and the ability to push past mental barriers. These are the same qualities that define a great street photographer. The more you train your body, the more mental clarity and toughness you develop, allowing you to take your street photography to the next level.
Embodied Creativity
Street photography is all about movement. You don’t just stand still, waiting for something to happen. You move with the energy of the city, positioning yourself in anticipation of a decisive moment. A strong, agile body allows you to react quickly and instinctively, enhancing your ability to capture dynamic, candid shots. Just like a bodybuilder masters control over their muscles, as a street photographer, you need to master control over your movements.
Your body becomes an extension of your camera, and the better you control it, the better you can control your frame. Think about it: when you’re crouching down, leaning forward, or positioning yourself at awkward angles to get the perfect shot, a well-trained body allows you to move fluidly and without strain. You’ll experience fewer aches and pains, and you’ll find yourself more capable of enduring long photo walks without feeling physically drained.
The Art of Discipline
Both street photography and bodybuilding demand discipline, consistency, and long-term commitment. As street photographers, we know that success doesn’t come overnight. You have to invest countless hours into your craft, hitting the streets over and over again, refining your eye, and honing your skills. Bodybuilding teaches you this same lesson: progress takes time. Gains in muscle and strength don’t come from one workout, just as your best photos won’t come from a single photo walk.
By training as a bodybuilder, you embrace the concept of incremental progress. Each day you push yourself a little harder, lift a little heavier, and get a little stronger. This mindset translates directly into your street photography practice. You learn to embrace the grind, to trust in the process, and to push yourself to new creative heights, even when the results aren’t immediately apparent.
The Philosophy of Self-Improvement
At its core, both bodybuilding and street photography are about self-improvement. As a bodybuilder, you’re constantly striving to better yourself—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. You set goals, track your progress, and push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Similarly, street photography is about continuously challenging yourself to see the world in new ways, to capture images that are more profound, more meaningful, and more impactful than your previous work.
When you commit to bodybuilding, you’re embracing a philosophy of self-improvement that bleeds into every aspect of your life, including your photography. You become more confident, more resilient, and more focused. This newfound sense of discipline and purpose directly translates to your work as a street photographer, helping you to push past creative blocks, take more risks, and produce work that truly reflects your unique vision.
The Zen of Lifting
There’s a certain zen-like state you reach when you’re lifting weights—when you’re completely in the moment, focused on nothing but the movement of your body and the weight you’re pushing. This is very similar to the flow state you experience in street photography, when you’re fully immersed in the rhythm of the streets, responding instinctively to the scenes unfolding around you.
Bodybuilding trains you to be present. It forces you to focus on your breathing, your form, and your immediate environment. This practice of mindfulness carries over into street photography, where being fully present is key to capturing those serendipitous moments. The more you train your body, the more you train your mind to stay focused and engaged, which in turn makes you a better photographer.
Final Thoughts
Street photographers should become bodybuilders because the two disciplines complement each other in unexpected ways. By strengthening your body, you strengthen your mind, increase your endurance, and improve your ability to move fluidly through the streets. You develop a sense of discipline and mental toughness that translates directly into your photography practice. And perhaps most importantly, you embrace a philosophy of self-improvement that helps you grow both as an artist and as an individual.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t just to build a stronger body—it’s to build a stronger mind, a stronger creative vision, and a stronger sense of purpose. Bodybuilding isn’t just about lifting weights; it’s about lifting yourself to new levels of growth, both physically and mentally. And as street photographers, this is exactly the mindset we need to capture the world in a way that’s meaningful, powerful, and truly unique.
Stay strong, stay creative, and keep pushing your limits.
– Eric Kim