I hate old music, I hate old clothes, old fashion, I hate old homes. I prefer the new, fresh and hygienic.
I hate old technology and old concepts. I hate thrift stores and “vintage†things.
I hate old music, I hate old clothes, old fashion, I hate old homes. I prefer the new, fresh and hygienic.
I hate old technology and old concepts. I hate thrift stores and “vintage†things.
Reduce steps and complexity.
Thus silly to use a belt or knee wraps as a way to “protect†yourself— a form of fear.

Before you do anything else, make sure to always prioritize your own personal duties.

Whether we like it or not, marketing works. It works on us, it works on nerds, it works on everybody.
In fact, the whole capitalist society and system we have is based on aspirational modes of thought.
For example with cameras, the aspiration is that we will become more creative, make better images, and become more inspired.
With cars, the aspiration is that we will live a happier life, a more sexy life, and a more adventurous life.
So how should we apply this to photography?
The first thought I have is that when it comes to marketing, it is an aspirational thing. To become more.
For example, if you are a photography teacher, the emphasis should be on helping people become more inspired, more created, more motivated.
If you’re a portrait photographer, wedding photographer commercial photographer, etc., then the focus is this; become more beautiful, look more professional in order to close more deals, gain more followers and likes, become the envy of your friends, etc.
Perhaps it is easier to just shop online, read the marketing copy, and if the marketing copy accords with your core values, just buy it. For example, I got these Lululemon license to train shorts, and I got drawn into it because the marketing copy said that it was abrasion resistant. In accordance with my value of wanting some shorts, that were insanely durable, which could maybe last me at least 10 years.
If you’re a photographer, and photography is your passion, I assume that your end goal is to go out and make more photos. To become more inspired, to see more photo opportunities, and to shoot more photos that you are proud of.
And then if this is your actual goal, what you should be doing is traveling more, going on more embodied reality adventures, attending more workshops, attending classes, buying photography books.
Often the problem is that we feel unmotivated in our photography, and we mindlessly scroll through these camera equipment websites, gear review websites, and camera rumor websites, looking for that new perfect camera that will satisfy our every single desire.
I know personally speaking, the one camera one lens to have is the Ricoh GR 3IIIx. Why? Is the newest digital RICOH GR camera, and it could always fit in your front right pocket. Now you have no excuse to never shoot. Beyond this, I find all camera equipment superfluous.
I say don’t sell yourself short. Better to over emphasize and over exaggerate yourself, than make yourself too small.
Some thoughts:
For your road on becoming in photography:
Photo experiences of a lifetime >
HAPTIC TOOLS to turbocharge your photography:
Create your own future in photography >
If this gave you any turbo thoughts, feel free to forward to a friend!
Just write reviews for products on your own website, not the third party website.

Perhaps it is a good thing to be insatiable. Why? This is what gives you the infinite inner motivation to keep on going.

The best way toward maximal productivity, and extracting the maximum amount out of life.
Even more than achievement.
In life make insanely audacious goals. Just give yourself the time of at least a decade to achieve it.
For example, 700 pound lift, 600 pound squat, 500 pound benchpress.
No need to classify yourself as tall or short, big or small, etc.
The downside of classifying yourself is that you make yourself equivalent to others. You stand alone. You’re not alike.
For example, every new generation of car always looks a little different. Perhaps the exception is the Tesla model 3 and the Tesla model S, whose design is quite consistent.

Speed is paramount:
“Cool Prius!†(said nobody)
The funny thing is nowadays, the so-called virtuous say that it is more virtuous to take your time. To do things slowly is better. Slow food, slow living, etc.
However at the same time, ultimately we are more fascinated by speed. For example, we are fascinated by fast cars, fast sprinters, fast technology etc.
Even one of the great downsides of current electric vehicles is the recharge time. It is just too slow. Even with a supercharger; it takes 15 minutes to get to 200 hundred miles. Compare this with gasoline, where you get over 300 miles in less than a minute. Gasoline is still at least 10 times faster, maybe even 100 times faster than recharging your electric vehicle. This is why for ultimate ease and convenience in life, either a hybrid or a plug in hybrid car is still best.
There are many ways you could integrate speed into your photography. The first one is shooting extra small JPEG. Essentially no buffer time, and it imports into your iPad, iPhone, or laptop insanely fast.
Also upload speeds. Unfortunately even in today’s world, we are limited by upload speeds. Even if you have the fastest Internet connection, uploading takes forever. Therefore the upside of shooting extra small JPEG is that extra small JPEG images (around 2000 pixels wide) is insanely fast.
And a few years back, I borrowed a Pentax 645Z, and shot extra small JPEG, with a positive film preset. During lunchtime, I imported all the photos into my iPad, and by the end of the wedding, I already uploaded to Google Drive/dropbox, and sent the files to my friend. This is the ultimate; speed.
Even I have found with communication, whether email or text messaging, better to send a quick bad response, then a slow good response. Or you can always do the funny confirmation of their email, very quickly, and tell them that you’ll get back to them; even though you may never.
I think the main upside and benefit of speed is that it allows you to do more, with less friction.
My ideal is that every single day, you’re constantly shooting photos throughout the day, maybe around 300 to 1000 images a day, and either during the day or in the evening, you are selecting and flagging your favorite images, and exporting them and uploading them concurrently.
For me one of the biggest things was getting rid of post processing. If you shoot extra high contrast black-and-white in camera, let us stay on your RICOH GR digital camera, you literally do not need to touch any of the images, and you do not need to post process them! It is almost like the digital equivalent to shooting film; one of the great things I loved about shooting film, and getting my film processed and scanned by Costco was that after the photos were scanned by Costco, I just used the scanned JPEG images, which already looked great! (FILM NOTES)
In fact, I think in-camera JPEG photos look superior to processed RAW images. I say just experiment shooting in-camera JPEG; experiment with different color presets, for example I really like the “classic chrome†preset on the Fujifilm digital cameras, or use cross-process filter on the Ricoh GR digital camera for color.
RAW is too slow, cumbersome, annoying, and time-consuming. Anything which is time-consuming is bad.
Has this ever happened to you? That you saw an interesting potential photo opportunity, and instead of just shooting it, you hesitated, because you thought either you shot it before, or it might be a boring photo?
I say conquer this. Just shoot cliché photos, or photos you think you have already shot before. Do not strive for a good photo; just shoot instinctively.
Vibram 5 Finger EL-X shoes are great. The lighter your shoes, the lighter your feet. The further you could walk with less fatigue, and also the faster you can sprint. I am a big fan of the notion of barefoot sprinting, and also barefoot walking. And barefoot running.
The reason I love espresso machines at home so much is that it is literally the fastest way to make coffee in the morning. Also, just use an automatic grinder; much faster way to grind your coffee.
Also nowadays when I go to the coffee shop, I just order the cold brew. Why? It is so much faster; they just pour it from the spout, and I don’t need to wait for it at all. Also the reason I don’t like hot drip coffee; it is often way too hot, which means I have to wait before I drink it. And now that I got Seneca, I just need to quickly down the coffee. So if I order a cold brew, or a nitro cold brew, I just down the whole thing in one go, toss the cup, and get on with my day.
With espresso at the local coffee shop, you often have to wait for too long. Either there are other people in line, or the barista‘s are processing other orders, and also the caffeine content in espresso is not strong enough.
Something I’ve also discovered; you can voice dictate something a quadrillion times faster than you can type it with your thumbs or even your fingers.
One way I have been able to be far more productive, and jot down my ideas quicker is by using voice dictation. For example, this whole thing was written by voice dictation; on my iPad. Just using iA Writer, and the built-in voice dictation function in the built-in Apple keyboard (bottom left button).
This is where vlogging is also good; vlogging is great because you can quickly and naturally process your thoughts, something which is much more natural, and much more personal than just written text.
Also, you don’t want to spend too much time at the gym. I just want to quickly get in and out. What I personally do is I only stick to one lift every single gym session. Example, either a floor bench press, squats, or sumo deadlift. Once I’m done, I’m out.
For me, progress is just keep doing the thing, and moving on with your life. For example, not to be too caught up in your past photos; more interest in the photos you’re going to shoot today, or the near future.
Therefore in my mind, speed is simply not looking back, but looking forward. Isn’t this the ultimate optimistic thought?
ERIC
Transform your photography at an upcoming ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE:
Feeling motivated? Feel free to forward this to a friend!
Funny enough, sometimes really really rich people actually look homeless.

Only do exercises and lifts which you personally enjoy doing. Don’t do any sort of exercises only for the sake of developing a “certain muscle group“.
For example, don’t just do shoulder presses in order to build impressive shoulder muscles. Also, don’t do boring abdominal workouts just for building up your abs.








































Perhaps this is how our muscles get stronger
For example, initial success of Migos was through unique approaching sound. Now, it is no longer novel. Unless Migos does something radically new, they will not remain relevant.
However, a better example is Kanye West. A man who is constantly inventing and reinventing himself. Kind of like a David Bowie.
Also, the downside of Apple is that they are just rehashing the same formulas, over and over again.
Same thing with Lamborghini; they’re just relying on the past innovations of Marcelo Gandinhi, who first innovated with the Lamborghini Countach and the scissor doors. Let us also remind ourselves that Lamborghini is owned by Volkswagen; an old company that is more interested on profit maximization and efficiency, rather than radical innovation. Do not get suckered by Aldie, or even mentally; both which are owned by Volkswagen as well. Same thing goes with Ducati, and also Bugatti.
Surprisingly, going to the gym, and not listening to music is a great way to come out with interesting thoughts.
Also, while you’re working out, you’ll come up with lots of interesting ideas. My theory is that the hormonal rush you get from lifting weights is intimately tied with creative ideas.
The ancient Greek ideal.
For example, women could care less about your car, or even how rich you are, your clothes or muscles.
Even with muscles, and weightlifting, it seems that for us men, the only people who is really impressed by it is other men.
For example, how much you could deadlift or squat; only other men care about this.
Even with your car; perhaps it is best for you to get a car to impress other guys, flex on other guys, and disregarding what do you think other women will think of your car.
Thus, what is the car that is most likely to impress other men? Perhaps a McLaren, or a Lamborghini with the scissor doors.
For example, I like lifting weights just for fun.
And certainly beat your own expectations of yourself
For example, my great personal pride in being the first person I’ve ever seen deadlift 475 pounds without a belt, or straps. Also, doing the deadlift without any music, and also doing it fasted, not even anything for breakfast or lunch.
Also squatting 385 pounds with no belt or silly knee straps.
Not motivated by fear, notions of â€dutyâ€, efficiency or prudence.
JUST EAT IT:

For example, I hate the persistent three dot buttons on top of the iPad. Takes away from the zen and purity of the iPad design

Media which causes you to aspire towards greatness
Perhaps the best is to just have an uber-powerful desktop at home, and just travel with an iPad or iPad Pro?
Jealousy is bad, envy is good. The strong man looks at the great strength of others, with great admiration. This motivates him.
However, the weak man sees the greater strength of others, and feels petty jealousy. He thinks that the stronger man is somehow “cheating“. Whereas in reality, the weak man sees his self esteem lower in witnessing the sight of someone else stronger.
Jealousy is thinking that somehow the gains of others takes away from your own gains, zero sum. Envy is when you look at someone else, and you aspire to become as strong as them. Once again, jealousy is bad, envy is good.
Rather, be driven by enthusiasm instead.

becoming a photographer open source video download
What does it mean to be a photographer? Being a photographer means the camera is your way to engage with, interact with, and interpret the world around you.
I’m starting to think and believe that progress, and “getting better“ at something is too soft of a concept. Why? It is mostly a post industrial one, in which we are trying to use numbers, and other quantitative measures to rank one another. The ethos behind that is a new religion; the defecation of numbers, or data. For example, the underlying ethos behind Google and a lot of tech companies is if data doesn’t prove it, it is not substantial.
However, to live in life in which you are just relying on data is a cowardly one. Why? I think the reason why people rely on numbers so much is that they lack faith in themselves. Rather than pursuing their own inner artistic ingenuity, like Steve Jobs, people just allay their responsibility and outsource the risk to “control groups“, or “focus groups“. There is no focus group on earth that would have initially approved Steve Jobs‘s vision of the iPhone without having a physical keyboard. Remember just a decade ago when Blackberry phones with the physical keyboard was all the rage? And when the iPhone first came up with a touch keyboard, how much criticism and critique it got? Or when Steve Jobs first made the iPad, how much hate mail he got for not having USB ports?
In today’s world, I believe that one of the best ways to become more courageous, is a “via negativa†(Taleb) one.
For example, acts of subtraction makes one more courageous. Or acts of deletion make one more courageous.
For example, physically deleting, and permanently deleting files on your computer takes great courage. Or permanently deleting email, instead of archiving it and hoarding it forever. How funny is it that we millennials disdain how our parents hoard all of this physical junk in their garage is, yet we hoard all of our data on the cloud.
Therefore, a great act of courage you could do is just delete your Instagram.
Nowadays, I think having an Instagram is almost akin to saying you go to McDonald’s. Everyone has one, thus you should have one. But then again 80% of America is obese, should you? Most people drink Coca-Cola; should you? Most people prefer to drink a Starbucks Frappuccino; should you?
Another strange bias we have in America is that the more difficult the path, the harder is, the more virtuous it is. However, I believe this to be quite foolish. Maybe then it would be more virtuous for us to use a horse and carriage instead of an automobile car.
As for us photographers, perhaps the most basic thing we could learn actually how to do is how to build and maintain our own website and blog. Our own self hosted domain. Yes, there is some level of technical difficulty which is required of us, yet it is still a quadrillion times easier than learning how to code.
For example, I only know the basics of FTP, website domain hosting stuff, HTML, etc. I know the purest basics to just get done what I need to get done. But beyond that, I have no idea. I have no idea how to hand code my own website; I prefer to just use templates. And no, learning how to self build your own website by hand is not virtuous. I recently had a conversation with an aspiring artist hipster who said he wanted to learn how to build his own website from hand, but in reality, my sense was he was making zero progress on it. That for him, it was kind of more of an aspirational one, rather than a true reality he desired to pursue.
And this is the thing; striving to take the harder path for the sake of the harder path prevents one from actually doing it. This is why artistically and creatively, I believe it very wise to use templates, and the simplest method and technique possible. This is even why in photography, I think knowing the purest basics of photography is all we need. For example, exposure compensation, shooting in JPEG, program mode, that is all we need.
“Productivity isn’t the point of life†(often said by unproductive people)
I make a distinction behind true productivity, and superficial productivity.
Superficial productivity is just mindlessly checking your email 1000 times a day. Or checking things off your to do list. True productivity is having the courage to only focus on your most essential tasks, first thing in the morning.
As photographers, our desired end goal is to make new photos. Not to sit on our laurels. In fact, I believe the demise of Henri Cartier Bresson was that he became too successful. That within his own lifetime, he became too much of a legend, in which it suffocated him. He then believed that he couldn’t any longer match his old skills, or his old photographs, and does he retreated and retired into drawing and painting. His former self frightened him, and he lost the energy to go on.
This is not the way. The proper way is to actually see your past self as a weaker and inferior version of yourself, and believing the present and the future of yourself as superior.
What is romanticism? Believing that the most superior version of things were in the past. Having no or zero faith in the present or the future.
Who are the great innovators and entrepreneurs? Those who disdain the past, and rather glorify the present moment and the future. Therefore, more virtuous to be a futurist than to be a retrospective one.
For example, Kanye West. Also, Elon Musk.
The simplest path is often the wisest path, and requires the most courage. Also it is the most productive one.
For example, my current simple set up for photography is Ricoh GR 3X, extra small JPEG, high contrast black-and-white, program mode, auto focus. iPad Pro and USB-C to SD card adapter, and just importing photos into Apple photos on my iPad, favorite my favorite photos, and just uploading them to my blog. This is my current eternal creative return.
In just continuing this progress, and recognizing that all progress is flux. To me, progress is not advancement, or getting better at something. It is simply just doing it. To keep doing it.
Currently speaking, I am the most motivated photographer I know. Why is this? First of all, I don’t have an Instagram, and I do not upload my photos to social media. I have disabled all comments, stats, likes, and metrics of “external success“. I have already achieved all markers of traditional successes in photography, and it no longer interests me. Also, in my mind I am a billionaire (Billionaire Mindset YouTube Video) // Billionaire Mindset Podcast.
Then, what is the Brave New World of Photography, photography success, and photography motivation?
Why?
Action and reaction. This is our ethos. I believe more in action than I believe in progress. Why? Notions of progress are still backed in data, and need to be qualified by some sort of external measure. Action is a physical one. Even observing Seneca grow, he is more interested in action and reaction, than anything else.
So some simple actions you can do in your photography today, now:
Our new motto.
We have no idea what the future holds for us. But shoot through your life, and shoot through your photos. Photography flux forever.
Vale,
ERIC
Become yourself in photography >
If this gave you any interesting new turbo thoughts, feel free to forward to a friend!

Why is it that we’re always trying to blame others? My theory:
When we blame others, we get a little dose of pleasure of making ourselves feel more superior.
I say this is base and unbecoming of ourselves.
For others, just remain silent. You are entitled to think what you think, but verbally — remain silent.
No need to blame or even worse — “explain†the behavior of others. Better to just observe and learn the cause and effect of the “degenerate†actions of others and its effect, rather than the moralizing which goes behind it.


Perhaps the road to greatness, and becoming the best version of yourself is to become more courageous — not being afraid to displease others. A life in which you are just trying to please others is a slave one.

Something I have realized; there are some things which are created with soul, and some things which are not. What is the difference?
Things which are created with soul are done with extreme pride, love, and intention from the creator. Ethos behind creating some thing is that the creator wants to create something insanely great, to benefit others and the world.
There are other things which are created, which are either only created for a profit (let us say the “new†Lamborghini Countach), or things which are created to satisfy a contract (most of the new popular music, or rap or hip-hop music).
The last Apple product I have purchased in used which I feel like is infused with great passion and soul is the iPad Pro. Why? It is a very niche product, that not a lot of people will buy, but for the diehard creators, it is a godsend.
Taking it back to design, I feel like concept designs, and one off things are often done with soul.
Like Nietzsche said, the “grand style†doesn’t desire to please. It disdains to please.
For example, I really love the design of the Lamborghini Sian — I feel like the designers of the car were just like big kids, who wanted to make the most extreme design, to please their inner souls, and the limits of design and engineering.
For example, the Lamborghini Urus is just like an Audi Q8 with a body kit and stronger engine.
Or also how to Lamborghini Huracan V10 engine is eerily similar to the Audi R8.
One of the things I love about the branding of Lululemon is that on their product label, they say why they made it. This is great, because it shows the intention of the creators.







Even if you have a quadrillion dollars, or making insane financial gains, etc., if your health is poor, it is all for naught.

You know you’re doing something right when people start to criticize, critique, or question you, or are confused by you and your behavior.

A thought this morning:
A noble goal in life is to simply strive to become the best, most supreme version of yourself possible.


















Ever since I was a kid, muscles were hugely fascinating to me. Why?
First of all, any human being can increase their muscle (skeletal) mass.

Ground beef (ideally grass fed ground beef). Just stop by the local market, whether organic or not, and I like buying it fresh — easier to cook.
It seems the easiest is to just use a big non-stick pot, and just stir fry it all (2 pounds or more).
The spices I like:
Then just pour it all in a big bowl, and enjoy with kimchi, or mustard!