Which means, in photography even the smallest detail can be beautiful.

Now that I got a kid, shooting street photography of kids is even more meaningful:

What would your own life look like if your life was its own movie?

It seems that in life, a good goal is to strive to become a master photographer, a master street photographer.

How do you do this? Some thoughts:

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First and foremost, it seems that the wise path is to first learn from the masters, then kill them. When you are a young photographer, consider that you’re in utero, in the womb. But at a certain point, you must cut the umbilical cord.

Also something that I personally discovered is that at the end of the day, all of these photographers, master photographers are insecure. Even the dirty secret that I have is that many of these Magnum photographers seem to be small petty, jealous individuals, who all seem to complain about how much money Martin Parr and Alex Soth makes. Because at the end of the day, prestige don’t pay your rent. This is why also it seems that a lot of these master photographers, Magnum photographers teach workshops be grudgingly; they don’t really want to teach, but they must in order to pay their rent and bills etc.

Self confidence is robust

Master also means maestro, teacher. I think honestly, what a lot of us are seeking is some sort of legitimacy in how we approach photography and what we do. Even myself when I remember starting off, I was quite uncertain about what I was doing, whether it was “right“, good, bad, etc.

I think when you’re starting off as a photographer, and you just want feedback. Do you want to see how you could improve, how you could grow, gaining constructive critique, etc. This was the genesis of arsbeta.com — my first attempt in creating some sort of double blind photography feedback platform in order for young photographers and new photographers to gain critical feedback on their photos which was honest, undiluted.

I think the biggest benefit that you can gain is self-confidence. Self-confidence meaning that you love your own photos, and also that you’re on the right path.

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Longevity, having fun!

To me, the best way to define success as a photographer is longevity. If you’re still in the game, consider yourself blessed. Beyond fame.

Second, having fun! The real street photographer is like a big kid with a camera. Even my son Seneca, at the age of two years and four months, is a great photographer. And the funny thing is that it seems that he enjoys photographing more than reviewing photos. In fact, I don’t really think he understands the notion of reviewing photos yet. But he understands the shooting aspect.

What sucks the fun out of photography? I think social media. Uploading photos to Facebook and Instagram is almost like masturbation. I don’t really think masturbation is bad, but, it certainly depletes you of something.

The feedback loop of uploading photos to social media is this:

1. You look for a photo, a single photo what you think will maximize likes and comments.
2. You upload the photo
3. You then wait, a period of time, to see how many likes, comments, or comments you get on it.
4. You have two options; you either get a rush of dopamine and euphoria based on growth, or you actually feel a little bit sad and disappointed if that number is smaller than you anticipated.

Personal example, this is before I deleted my Instagram in 2017. Essentially I remember my goal a long time ago was getting 100 likes on a single photo. That then turned into 300 likes, 500 likes, 1000 likes, 5000 likes etc. I remember once that I uploaded a photo and got “only“ 1000 likes, and I felt disappointed because the other day I uploaded a photo which got over 4000 likes!

Then this is also the same thing with money and everything in between; just think yourself, who is happier? The guy who goes from earning $40,000 a year to $80,000 a year? Or the guy who earns $1 million a year, and then goes down to “only” $250,000 a year?

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Building self confidence in yourself as a photographer

What I personally believe in is that their goal is to gain self-confidence as a photographer. Getting self-confidence in your approach, gaining self-confidence in the types of images of produce, and also gaining self-confidence in terms of your future.

Once again, I believe that the metrification of your photography is the greatest discourager of your photography. Don’t crowd source your self-esteem.

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Assignments

1. Think and consider who your favorite photographers are, and actually think how you are actually superior to them.
2. Work your way backwards; that means, study the end of their life, and try to critically analyze how they lived and approached the end of their lives. For example, Henri Cartier Bresson gave up photography and said it was not a legitimate art form. He is not a good role model.
3. Create your own photo books, and share and publish and share them with the world!

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How to make your own website?

Launch a website using WordPress and Amazon Web services light sail.

It literally only cost you $3.50 a month! If you want to register domain through Amazon Web services, it is only 1 to 2 dollars a month! This is a quadrillion times cheaper than buying real estate!

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Become a photography entrepreneur >

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What can you become?

Conquer your limits:

1. July 15-16th: ERIC KIM SAIGON VIETNAM TRAVEL STREET PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE 2023
2. Oct 14th (Saturday) PHILLY CONQUER STREET PHOTOGRAPHY – New!

ERIC KIM WORKSHOP EXPERIENCES >

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HAPTIC INDUSTRIES

LEGENDS NEVER DIE:

1. ERIC KIM NECK STRAP MARK II: Never Hesitate
2. HENRI NECK STRAP MARK IV: The Best for the Best
3. HENRI WRIST STRAP PRO: Never Be Caught Off Guard

EXPLORE ALL PRODUCTS >

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MOVE THE WORLD

How can you move the world? Simple, discover your Archimedes lever, and your maximal leverage, and exploit it to the maximum.

Maximize your archimedes lever in life >

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Learn from the masters

1. MASTERS MOBILE PDF
2. MASTERS PRINT EDITION

MASTERS VOLUME II INCOMING.

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Now what?

1. Upload your best photos to arsbeta.com
2. Curate your photos and upload them to your own website
3. Always have your camera in your front right pocket, or inside your car cupholder.

And when in doubt, just shoot it.
ERIC

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START HERE // BOOKS

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THE ERIC KIM BRAND.

Also, I am the only ERIC KIM.

If you live to be 120 years old, certainly sooner or later you will find an opportunity to change your

Real men know when to be obedient:

Critical or not?

VLOG

A lot of people treat their car as an externalization of themselves, an external self avatar. But, like Tyler Durden says, “I don’t own a car.”

Video

A REAL MAN KNOWS WHEN TO BE OBEDIENT TO HIS WIFE.

NEVER RUSH NOTHING.

Seek to become yourself!

INCOMING!

Why so EMO?

VLOG

THINK MASTER, NOT SLAVE:

PODCAST

BE THE MASTER STREET PHOTOGRAPHER, NOT THE SLAVE!

I’ve been hitting the gym religiously, every single day, the last few months. This is the strongest, most powerful I have been in my whole life.

After going to downtown LA the other day, going to my favorite fashionista coffee shop, interacting with people, etc., currently speaking, my self-confidence is out of control.

This is what my personal theory is; the stronger you become at the gym, and the more you strengthen your legs, hypelifting, one rep max lifting, demigod level, this testosterone and self-confidence will spill over into your ability to shoot street photography, photography, etc.

First and foremost, I believe that 99.9% of street photography is just courage, confidence, and the ability to step outside of your comfort zone. And the more you go to the gym, the stronger you become, the heavier weights you can lift, naturally your testosterone will increase. Men with high testosterone stand really really tall and straight, strut around, shoulders up and chest back, and I think, your testosterone permeates in the air.

I love this. Why? All of these loser anemic standoffish people and guys look at me with envy; they are jealous that I have so much self-confidence, and I am so happy friendly jovial and gay.

Something I have observed; it seems that as time has gone on, people are becoming more and more unattractive?

Some theories:

1. First and foremost, perhaps people are just spending too much time indoors. Being indoors is bad for your health. People are far more attractive when they spend more time outside, in the direct elements, have a tan.
2. This bizarre trend towards vegetarianism, veganism, “plant-based“ diet. This is just bad.
3. Too much emphasis on clothes, not enough emphasis on the human body, fitness, weightlifting?

The first thought is to put yourself in a more dynamic, grainy and gritty environment. For example, downtown LA, on Broadway, near the Ace hotel and il Café, or the fashion District, Santee Alley. If you live in southern California, LA, Orange County, just go to downtown LA.

THE ERIC KIM APPROACH:

AUDIO

VID

POD

THOUGHTS ON LIVING THE BEST LIFE:

HOW I LIVE MY LIFE:

AUDIO

For example my great surprise that the Leica Q camera accepts Panasonic Lumix batteries?

True strength is simplicity.

You don’t need any investors. The first thought is the downside of having an investor is that you have less control and power and freedom. Second, you don’t need any outside investors; just do it super cheap and scrappy and free.

I have a fun and interesting concept space:

First, place that you could go to lift weights, heavy. Power rack, 1200 pounds of steel, Texas power squat bar, no bench. HYPELIFTING.

Second, artistic creative space and studio. Also part exhibition hall and gallery.

Third, part creative collaborative co-working space, and coffee shop. Also the plus; coffee is free.

Fourth, free daycare and place for your kids to hang out. The ERIC KIM Montessori model.

Goals

What would be the goal of this place?

1. To foster fitness, it becomes like a daily place for you to hang out, a new modern day creative gymnasium. A new place to get investing, stock, crypto ideas, and also a space where you could feast on meat; 100% carnivore style. Costco business Center for meat.
2. Assuming you have kids, a place that you could bring your laptop, work, standing desk, insanely fast free gigabit speed of Wi-Fi, to do your remote work, but also have a place for your kids to hang out and work out. Question; why don’t they have a weightlifting gym for kids?
3. A place where you can meet great like-minded individuals, and everyone can collectively thrive.
4. Become happier, more productive, more creative, more artistic.
5. “Any social interaction that you don’t have which is face-to-face is bad for your health”; an interesting quote from Nassim Taleb. A physical space which can foster more human face-to-face time?

Podcast

Vlog

This is the way:

Because ironically you’ll actually waste more money!

Let me teach you how to leisure:

1. Everything you do is unrushed, unhurried.
2. Not everything that you do must have some sort of productive end goal.
3. More time in the direct sun, in the direct elements.
4. Sauna every day.
5. Going to the gym as one of the ultimate leisure activities; not rushing your work out, chatting with people, playing around and having fun!
6. Creative leisure, and ability to shoot the shit.
7. Entrepreneurial ventures also leisure based, not forcing yourself to “make money”.

In terms of maximal productivity, maybe the best thing is to just work at the park. Bring your laptop, iPad, or your phone.

90% of the day should just be recess!

“Learning” is overrated.

I can’t wait until Seneca plays football or any other field sports! Grass is good.

Being stuck indoors is a punishment.

We the new studs!