![Cindy in pink, abstracted. Made with iPad and Procreate app.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/01BF95A3-AB44-4F9D-AF40-5CDB8522EA72-800x530.jpeg?resize=800%2C530)
Before I go out and shoot pictures, I need to get into the zone.
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1. Think colors
I like to inspire myself before shooting to think about colors.
For example, to increase my ‘visual acuity’ or sensitivity towards colors, I look at lots of colorful images. And when I shoot, I only focus on one color at a time.
Like this picture of all pink/magenta of Cindy:
Or just the color blue:
Or Cindy made into an abstract cubist picture:
To warm up, look at colorful pictures. Look at your own most colorful pictures, study the simple color work of Piet Mondrian, the vibrant pictures of Andy Warhol or Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring.
![PIET MONDRIAN x ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/755168BC-59C5-4166-BBA4-C6B520438CFF-800x902.jpeg?resize=800%2C902)
Or for photographers, study William Eggleston, Alex Webb, Martin Parr.
To learn more, study Color Theory For Photographers.
2. Shoot pictures in your living room
![Lamp in living room. Shot on iPad.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/DB9C659F-8139-40CA-B4AE-2C84CFBC3379-e1510738076714-800x1067.jpeg?resize=800%2C1067)
To train your visual eye, just photograph stuff in your living room with your couch, lamp, and make a nice picture. Then even trace it and draw it to see all the shapes and forms.
![Red, Yellow, Blue living room abstract by ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/F6E4B1F7-C8DC-40BC-AB01-91A0214BAC3E-800x1067.jpeg?resize=800%2C1067)
Anything can be interesting, if you look at it closely enough.
![Ceiling corner of Kyoto Airbnb.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ERIC-KIM-COLOR-PHOTOGRAPHY-KYOTO-2017-0137490-800x1208.jpg?resize=800%2C1208)
Photograph the ceiling. Photograph towels hanging around. Photograph your partner at home.
![Brown towel hanging in living room. Airbnb of Kyoto](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ERIC-KIM-COLOR-PHOTOGRAPHY-KYOTO-2017-0137477-800x1208.jpg?resize=800%2C1208)
![Cindy color. Kyoto, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ERIC-KIM-COLOR-PHOTOGRAPHY-KYOTO-2017-0137448-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530)
Take pictures looking out of your apartment, from your window:
![Looking outside of Airbnb window, Kyoto 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ERIC-KIM-COLOR-PHOTOGRAPHY-KYOTO-2017-0137484-800x1208.jpg?resize=800%2C1208)
Even when you’re leaving the house or apartment, always wear your camera around your neck, or keep it on hand. You can photograph your loved ones leaving the house, which makes dynamic images:
![Cindy leaving Airbnb. With flash, Kyoto 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ERIC-KIM-PHOTOGRAPHY-KYOTO-COLOR-RICOH-GR-II-JPEG-0137079-800x1208.jpg?resize=800%2C1208)
Even ordinary things, like the food you’re making:
![Baking a potato cutlet inside oven. Airbnb Kyoto, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ERIC-KIM-PHOTOGRAPHY-KYOTO-LIGHT-0136792-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530)
Document your own life, like your workspace and laptop:
![Laptop computer workspace. Kyoto, 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ERIC-KIM-PHOTOGRAPHY-KYOTO-0135875-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530)
![Laptop charging. Uji, Kyoto 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ERIC-KIM-PHOTOGRAPHY-KYOTO-0135155-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530)
There’s a ton of stuff you can photograph at home. So if you’re stuck indoors all day, this is a good way to inspire yourself, and warmup before you go out and shoot.
If you need inspiration at home, buy CREATIVE EVERY DAY.
3. Watch great cinema
![Boy lying in bed of flowers in movie, Seven Samurai.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1BB4889E-385E-47D4-A4FC-6379A1080256.jpeg?resize=500%2C375)
![KUROSAWA x ERIC KIM / Boy in bed of flowers](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/9AEFD0E4-CCE3-4C0E-ABDE-359517405AF3-800x600.jpeg?resize=800%2C600)
I love great compositions in cinema. Whenever I watch a movie I will take screenshots of scenes or compositions or frames I like.
Akira Kurosawa is my favorite film director of all time. If you’re new to him, watch Seven Samurai and “Ran”.
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/60726803-3CE6-4733-8C34-7D93245CE764-800x600.jpeg?resize=800%2C600)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/6DA08638-3C90-4887-B4D5-8FB465613BCE-800x600.jpeg?resize=800%2C600)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/26BE2D29-69BA-494B-B767-E92195EBCB50-800x603.jpeg?resize=800%2C603)
![KUROSAWA x ERIC KIM / Seven Samurai](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/51296F71-9E4F-42E5-AB05-6617D229F497-800x603.jpeg?resize=800%2C603)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/B3DDE2C6-7028-413D-86C4-5858515F2851-800x605.jpeg?resize=800%2C605)
![KUROSAWA x ERIC KIM / Seven Samurai](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DDFADC79-EC81-49F1-A328-6C79DFD717FF-800x605.jpeg?resize=800%2C605)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/198C52BA-D3AB-4343-A657-1EA5FB7B8FE6-800x602.jpeg?resize=800%2C602)
![KUROSAWA x ERIC KIM / Seven Samurai](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/62414C98-F7AC-48AD-9EF0-AA1B01D20414-800x602.jpeg?resize=800%2C602)
![Kurosawa Seven Samurai](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/7FB95BFA-5346-410F-BF9C-D697A2A8C955-800x605.jpeg?resize=800%2C605)
![KUROSAWA x KIM / Seven Samurai](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/0FE9EB58-5561-46A7-841A-32809592D353-800x605.jpeg?resize=800%2C605)
Another personal favorite, the Japanese animated film: Akira:
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AKIRA-Screenshot-Movie-Composition-Cinematography275-800x430.jpg?resize=800%2C430)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AKIRA-Screenshot-Movie-Composition-Cinematography275-copy-leading-lines-800x430.jpg?resize=800%2C430)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AKIRA-Screenshot-Movie-Composition-Cinematography264-800x430.jpg?resize=800%2C430)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AKIRA-Screenshot-Movie-Composition-Cinematography264-copy-abstracted-color-very-abstract-800x430.jpg?resize=800%2C430)
Some of my other favorite stills from the movie:
![AKIRA Screenshot Movie Composition Cinematography171 copy-color-combinations copy-side-by-side](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AKIRA-Screenshot-Movie-Composition-Cinematography171-copy-color-combinations-copy-side-by-side-800x217.jpg?resize=800%2C217)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AKIRA-Screenshot-Movie-Composition-Cinematography127-800x430.jpg?resize=800%2C430)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AKIRA-Screenshot-Movie-Composition-Cinematography133-800x430.jpg?resize=800%2C430)
4. Sketch pictures
![Cindy in blue Yukata. Uji, Kyoto 2017](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/511E822C-FC23-4F51-9DF4-A801EE7C9B86-800x1208.jpeg?resize=800%2C1208)
Trace, use your iPad, use your phone, a piece of paper, whatever. Just keep sketching, to think visually:
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/24294FC6-9A80-4EE5-8150-8965FB826298-800x1208.jpeg?resize=800%2C1208)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/BD0575AA-E47C-4A79-BB92-7D634D0ECB5C-800x1304.jpeg?resize=800%2C1304)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/C14A1C19-6021-45BB-9CDE-3493E84962B0-800x1067.jpeg?resize=800%2C1067)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/29FD923D-D134-4DA4-904D-263ED97727B4-800x600.jpeg?resize=800%2C600)
![PIET MONDRIAN x ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/CA7B3D15-0595-440A-B5DA-70B5A852D86B-800x600.jpeg?resize=800%2C600)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/AD3E3F76-4E7A-468E-8239-3B8E53AD0052-800x530.jpeg?resize=800%2C530)
![Sketch on iPad Pro and Procreate App](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/AE6296D8-2C9A-4CFA-B8E4-DAED6767B48E-800x1067.jpeg?resize=800%2C1067)
![Culture by Eric Kim](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/3EA97DEC-7890-436D-A268-2A00FB8F5620-800x1067.jpeg?resize=800%2C1067)
To learn how to sketch and draw, buy CREATIVE EVERYDAY: Mobile Edition.
5. Think composition
To think like a photographer, think composition.
Here are some composition guides made by ANNETTE KIM (annettekimart@gmail.com) :
![Rule of Thirds x Annette Kim](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/thirds-800x533.jpg?resize=800%2C533)
![Golden Triangle x Annette Kim](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/gtriangle-800x533.jpg?resize=800%2C533)
![Fibonacci Spiral x Annette Kim](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/fib-800x532.jpg?resize=800%2C532)
Some of my favorite compositions:
![Leading lines. ERIC KIM DYNAMIC COMPOSITION](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/5BB65076-6E5D-4B13-A53E-8E7CACE76199-800x533.jpeg?resize=800%2C533)
![Dynamic low angle composition. Tokyo, 2011 by ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/4AA45DE6-490D-42BC-9289-B1A3CCC3CF82-800x532.jpeg?resize=800%2C532)
![DYNAMIC REFLECTIONS. Man and three reflections by ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/D1244C01-F22D-4613-850A-0224FF12F378-800x727.jpeg?resize=800%2C727)
![Chiaroscuro. DYNAMIC LIGHT AND SHADOW. Hanoi, 2016 by ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/1F6DDCBA-F2FF-4148-A87C-69D5CB628213-800x530.jpeg?resize=800%2C530)
![Chiaroscuro. DYNAMIC LIGHT AND SHADOW. Hanoi, 2016 by ERIC KIM](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/24CF061A-6AF9-46FC-BBF6-90792EE927CF-800x530.jpeg?resize=800%2C530)
![Eric Kim photography Bauhaus Piet Mondrian](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/835C34C0-BB15-4C56-AC8B-6CF193FA519B-800x571.jpeg?resize=800%2C571)
Study more: How to visually analyze your photography compositions
Conclusion
Always think pictures, images, and stay inspired.
BE CREATIVE EVERY DAY,
ERIC
Be Creative Every Day, Any Where
No more excuses. Unleash your inner-artist with CREATIVE EVERY DAY: Mobile Edition.
PHOTOGRAPHY 101
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Photography Philosophy
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The Fundamentals of Photography
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Learn From the Masters of Photography
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The Masters of Photography
![Prague, 1968. Josef Koudelka / Magnum Photos](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/image3-800x519.jpg?resize=800%2C519)
Classics never die:
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- Magnum Contact Sheets
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- Sebastião Salgado
- Shomei Tomatsu
- Stephen Shore
- The History of Street Photography
- Todd Hido
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- Trent Parke
- Vivian Maier
- Walker Evans
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