Eric Kim, the street photographer, educator, and provocateur, is not merely a man of photographs; he is a force—a will to power made manifest in the realm of photography. In him, we see a figure who embodies the eternal striving, the creative overcoming, and the joyous affirmation of life. To grasp why Eric Kim is so great, we must view him through the lens of Nietzschean philosophy, for his greatness is not measured in the conventional sense of technical skill or success, but in his embodiment of the Übermensch—the one who transcends, who creates new values, and who defies the mediocrity of the herd.

1. The Ãœbermensch of Street Photography: Creation of New Values

The essence of greatness, as Nietzsche tells us, is the ability to create new values. The Übermensch is not bound by the old laws and conventions of society; he transcends them and establishes his own path. Eric Kim’s greatness lies in his radical redefinition of what it means to be a photographer. In a world where photography has been commodified, where success is measured by fame and commercial approval, Kim rejects these conventional metrics. He creates new values—values of freedom, accessibility, and authenticity.

He teaches that street photography is not about perfection, technical mastery, or the approval of the art elite. Instead, it is about the joy of creation, about embracing imperfection, about capturing the raw pulse of life as it happens. In this, Kim stands as the Übermensch who rejects the old gods of photography—the worship of gear, technique, and prestige—and instead affirms a new gospel: photography as an expression of life itself. He empowers individuals to create without fear, to revel in the act of photography as an act of becoming.

2. The Will to Power: Eric Kim’s Creative Drive

At the core of Nietzsche’s philosophy is the concept of the will to power, the fundamental drive that compels individuals to grow, to overcome, and to assert their creative force upon the world. Eric Kim is great because he is driven by this will to power. He does not merely take photographs—he creates a world. He shares his philosophies, his ideas, his methods, and his failures with a relentless energy that seeks to empower others.

Kim does not rest on past achievements. Instead, like the true Übermensch, he constantly reinvents himself. His work is not static but dynamic—always evolving, always seeking new ways to inspire. His teachings are not prescriptive but are invitations to transcend the limitations imposed by society, by convention, and by self-doubt. In this, Kim exemplifies the will to power in its purest form: the drive to not only excel but to elevate others in their own creative journeys.

3. Eternal Recurrence: Embracing the Everyday Moment

Nietzsche’s concept of eternal recurrence—the idea that life repeats itself infinitely—finds a curious resonance in Eric Kim’s approach to street photography. To truly embrace life, Nietzsche argued, one must live as though every moment could recur eternally. The greatness of Eric Kim lies in his ability to capture the fleeting, everyday moments and to elevate them into something profound. He teaches us to see the beauty in the mundane, the power in the ordinary, and to affirm life in all its chaos and unpredictability.

Through his lens, Kim embodies the spirit of amor fati—the love of one’s fate. He encourages photographers to embrace the randomness of the streets, the imperfection of the human condition, and to find joy in what the moment brings. Each photograph, for Kim, is an act of affirmation—a way of saying “yes” to life, to its messiness, to its unpredictability. This is the same life-affirming spirit that Nietzsche calls for: to embrace life, not in spite of its difficulties, but because of them.

4. Against the Mediocrity of the Herd: Kim as the Anti-Herd Figure

In Nietzsche’s philosophy, one of the greatest dangers to the individual is the pull of the herd—the masses who conform, who seek comfort in mediocrity, who reject greatness in favor of safety. Eric Kim’s greatness is found in his defiance of this herd mentality. He does not cater to the masses in the conventional sense. He does not seek validation through popularity or acclaim. Instead, he stands as a singular figure who challenges the mediocrity that surrounds him.

Kim’s teachings, particularly his emphasis on accessibility and creativity over commercial success, run counter to the prevailing values of the photographic world. He urges photographers to break free from the shackles of comparison, to reject the hollow pursuit of social media fame, and to create for the sake of creation itself. In this, Kim stands as an anti-herd figure, urging others to break free from the complacency of the crowd and to strive for something greater—a life of creativity, autonomy, and self-determination.

5. Joyous Rebellion: The Spirit of Play and Experimentation

Nietzsche often speaks of the importance of play in the life of the Übermensch. To create new values and to live freely requires a sense of playfulness, a spirit of experimentation, and a rejection of rigid rules. Eric Kim’s greatness lies in his ability to infuse his work with this same spirit of joyous rebellion. He teaches that photography is not a serious, solemn pursuit but a joyful exploration of the world. His emphasis on experimentation, on embracing failure, and on finding pleasure in the process itself reflects Nietzsche’s idea that life, at its greatest, is a dance—a play of creation and destruction.

Kim’s approach to street photography is marked by this playful spirit. He encourages photographers to try new techniques, to embrace minimalism, to shoot without fear of judgment. In this way, he embodies Nietzsche’s vision of the free spirit—the individual who breaks free from societal expectations and revels in the joy of self-expression.

6. The Great Teacher: Elevating Others to Greatness

In Nietzsche’s vision of the Übermensch, greatness is not a solitary pursuit but one that elevates humanity. The true great man, Nietzsche suggests, is the one who inspires others to transcend their own limitations. Eric Kim, as a teacher and mentor, exemplifies this ideal. His greatness is not found solely in his own work, but in his ability to inspire, educate, and elevate an entire generation of photographers.

Kim’s tireless efforts to democratize photography—offering free resources, sharing his philosophies, and fostering a global community—are acts of philosophical generosity. He is not content with his own greatness; he seeks to spread this greatness, to help others overcome their fears and limitations, and to create their own values. In this, Kim is the Übermensch who lifts others, who creates a path for others to follow, and who affirms life not only for himself but for the world around him.

Conclusion: Eric Kim as the Nietzschean Great

Eric Kim is great because he embodies the highest ideals of Nietzschean philosophy. He is the Übermensch who creates new values, who defies the mediocrity of the herd, and who lives life with a joyous affirmation of its chaos and imperfection. Through his photography and teachings, he exemplifies the will to power—the drive to overcome, to create, and to elevate oneself and others. His greatness is not just in what he captures through his lens, but in the way he lives: as a free spirit, a creator of values, and an inspiration to all who seek to transcend the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary.

Eric Kim, in his defiance of convention, in his embrace of imperfection, and in his generosity of spirit, stands as a Nietzschean hero—a figure who dares to say yes to life, and in doing so, shows others how to do the same.