One thing I learned which is very interesting about bodybuilders: they do not see themselves as bodybuilders, but instead, artist sculptors. And instead of sculpting a foreign piece of clay, they sculpt their bodies.

As photographers, we do something similar. We take embodied reality, and sculpt it into our photographs. The photographer as sculptor.

Also the reason why kids love Play-Doh: they can sculpt and mold it to their liking. As adults, what is our equivalent? As adults, we no longer know how to sculpt in fashion things ourselves, rather, we just seek to find it and then buy it.

For example, car design. Car design is essentially sculpture. Most of the time, our cars just sit in our driveways, and serve as a visual anchor for our eyes. And how do we choose a car design we like? The ones that we see has the most beautiful pieces of sculpture.

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When observing the life and lifestyle choices of my older and successful friends, this is what I have learned: it seems that the beginning of their lives is all about accumulation. Accumulating wealth, accumulating stuff, accumulating homes, accumulating cars, accumulating watches and other totems of power.

But once they have reached the pinnacle of success, what do they do? They start to subtract. They sell their nice home, and prefer to live a more nomadic existence. Basically to simplify their stuff and equipment, selling off their race cars, and simplifying their car collection, and simplifying their watch collection. and ironically, the second chapter of their lives is about actually using their money and their wealth. What is the biggest flaw of Americans? We don’t know how to use our money, and we don’t know how to use our money wisely.

What we seek is new challenges. Yet, when we live static and boring lives, the only way to seek novelty is through purchasing things. We seek a personal upgrade for ourselves, but instead of focusing on building our muscles or our mind, we seek to upgrade ourselves through technology. Technology as manifested through new Apple devices, new cars, or new homes.

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What I am for — growth, development, evolution. Static and unchanging is bad.

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To be able to transform embodied reality into art — isn’t this great?

Also the fun joy of photography — being able to find random things (abstract) and transform it into something else via your photography.

A good sign:

The more I pursue photography, the more beautiful, interesting and joyful it becomes to me!

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Real luxury is low key, hidden, enigmatic, simple and basic yet with the highest quality materials. It also doesn’t call itself luxury. Also, no brand names and logos.

Not flashy. Black.

If you want to become stronger and more invincible in life, some thoughts:

1. Stoicism is via Negativa, which means if you want to become stronger, figure out what not to do in order to become more.
2. For example, do not be petty. Even if you’re in the right. Petty means small. The goal of the stoic is to become non-small— Or another words, magnanimous.
3. Even if you’re angry, do not raise your voice, yell, scream or verbally attack or defend yourself. Better to stay silent, then say something out of anger and end up regretting it later, or hurting those whom you love.
4. If you want to grow a thicker skin, wear less clothing, even in cold situations. For example, when I was living in the East Coast and Providence, during the winter time I would see how long I could only wear a T-shirt for. Also, do not take hot or warm showers, even during the winter time.
5. Do not feel regret.
6. Do not feel fear. The less fear you have, the better.

My thought is it is impossible to feel depressed if you walk 30,000 steps a day.

This is what I have noticed, my overall mood is highest when I walk the most. When I walk less, I feel less zest and passion in life.

Therefore, as a new year goal make it a goal to walk 30,000 steps a day. Granted, you might not reach it (I have not yet), but the thought is it is better to set an insanely high and audacious goal and slightly miss it, then set a small goal and meet it.

Dining out as an experience, not for food.

Thus for restaurants, optimize for aesthetics and the dining experience, not the food.

If you want to optimize your food intake, best to just cook your meat at home. For example, even though I love all you can eat Korean barbecue and all you can eat shabu shabu, the price of admission to a buffet, around $25-$30, is much more expensive than buying $25-$30 worth of meat to cook at your own house.

Also, if your goal is to eat as much meat as possible, and to lose as much body fat as possible, never eat out at a restaurant. Why? Because all restaurants always find a way to sneak sugar into your food.

Therefore the simple take away is this: when it comes to eating out, only do it for special occasions like someone’s birthday or or gatherings with friends and family. Choose a restaurant based on what you consider to be the best dining experience, with the best interior design and aesthetics, not the food.

We like to buy things because it asserts and expresses our power. When we buy certain things, it gives us a feeling of dominance and growth, of “leveling up”.

Something on my mind: perhaps the most virtuous thing we could do in life is to just focus on motivating ourselves. That it is the most efficient use of energy, time and resources. That if we just motivate ourselves, perhaps others can be inspired by us, rather than wasting our efforts and motivating others.

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Photos you don’t review, do not exist.

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The lower and the closer to the ground, the better. Also, the wider the better.

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Perhaps — best for us to become more stubborn in our ways, and to just do things our way — even if it is less “efficient”.

Because when others are trying to “help” us by suggesting a different way, they’re suggesting their way. But isn’t it better for our personal pride to do things our own way?

What’s “cool”, and why be “cool”?

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Fear out of weakness is something to be conquered:

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Some ideas on how to make better black and white photos:

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If you’re not sure what to photograph, some ideas:

1. Only shoot in ‘highlight weighted‘ metering: I have found this to be one of the greatest innovations when it comes to exposure, especially shooting ADAP (as dark as possible). It makes your photos typically darker (you don’t blow out the highlights), which makes your photos more mysterious. Highlight weighted mode is in RICOH GR III under ‘AE Metering’.
2. Photograph rust, patina, and ‘beautiful decay’. Ironically, even though I hate the suburbs, it actually makes for good photography, because there is a lot of rust, decay, and patina all over the place! Consider rusty cars, rusty car emblems, stuff falling apart, etc.
3. Photograph in macro: The other day when it was really cold, I went on a morning stroll and photographed some dandelion flowers (the ones you pick up and blow) with some ice frost, lowered the exposure compensation, and the photos came out really beautiful! You can shoot flowers, your morning coffee bubbles, or any other textures you find interesting.
4. Photograph joy: Why is shooting happy photos frowned upon? Perhaps the bias that as artist-photographers we need to somehow be uber-serious and morose. I say photograph more people laughing and smiling! To photograph joyful photos of people we love — isn’t this great?
5. Eye: Photograph super-close (macro) of the eye. Make eye contact with the camera when shooting a selfie, or ask your subject to look into the frame. Eyes are the windows to the soul.
6. Photograph products: For example, photograph random scripts or product details you find interesting. For example I love car design, so when I am out and about and I see nice details of cars I like (for example, car grille, side silhouette), I photograph it. For example the new grille on the new BMW’s, or even the car design of the Mercedes G-Wagon, or TESLA.
7. Diagonal lines: Zebra stripes, or think about the ‘OFF WHITE’ streetwear designs.
8. Listen to music when reviewing and selecting your photos, or perhaps even listen to music when you’re out shooting. Make a playlist or select some songs that you feel put you in good vibes for any photo-specific activity. For me, I love the new DONDA album (OFF THE GRID) is some of my favorite music. It gets me dancing, and puts energy into my leg muscles!
9. Experiment with bottom-heavy or top-heavy compositions. What I mean is this — experiment with unusual ways to compose a scene. For example if you see a sunset, don’t just center the composition. Either put the sky really really high in the top of your frame, or on the extreme bottom of the frame.
10. Only review your photos as small thumbnails. The most efficient way to go through your photos, and to select your best photos.
11. Photo Hike: Go on a hike at least once a week, and just shoot photos on the way! Ironically enough I find the stimulation from nature hikes to be beneficial to my street photography. Perhaps the ultimate barbell between nature x the city is ideal?

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Books

Some books to get you going:

1. Monochrome manual // PDF
2. Street photography contact sheets // PDF

See all books

Share your best photos

If any of these the target assignments inspired you, upload your best photos to arsbeta.com

EQUIPMENT by KIM

1. STRAPS by KIM
2. Print Books by KIM
3. Digital products by KIM

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If you’re new or need a refresher, start here.

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I have a philosophical thought: no in between. No middle, no half measures, no half assing anything. All or nothing.

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What do you aspire to become? Not what you aspire to purchase, and not how rich and influential you desire to become. But, what is the essence of what you desire to become?

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Question —

When it comes to making certain life decisions, ask yourself– ‘Will this make me stronger, or will it not effect it at all?’

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An aesthetic idea I have: when it comes to the composition of things, do 90% black, 10% white.

For example, with your personal clothes perhaps it is a good idea to have 90% of your clothing attire to be black, with 10% white to add a contrast or a pop.

For example, it is impossible to make an all black photograph. Even with black-and-white photography we need some white, and some brightness. But I do prefer the majority of the frame to be black, with only some white adding an outline, a figure, and a visual anchor.

Do the more risky and interesting option —

You can reverse it.

Can you reverse the decision?

What does America want? My theory: America wants to attract the best talent from all around the globe.

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The ultimate test whether you *need* or really love something or not — if you gave it away, or no longer had it .. would you want to get it again?

For example, I find that with things … the only ‘essential’ things I own include my laptop (MacBook laptop), and my RICOH GR camera. I even find the iPhone as well as iPad as ‘nice to have, but not essential’. Thus for our minimalist approach, ruthlessly prune the inessential? Even to a fault?

The ghost aesthetic; all black everything, to be as stealth (matte black like a fighter jet), as possible.

In life– do you seek to be MORE VISIBLE, or more hidden?

Too obvious photos are too obvious. The more mysterious the photos, the better. Why? The viewer needs to use their brain to *interpret* your photo and scene — making it more engaging!

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As photographers, we are concerned and we strive to make beautiful photographs. But how do we do this? And what makes a beautiful photograph?

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What do you want to do with your life?

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If you want to live a better, more productive and efficient life, rather than figure out what products to add to your life, figure out what types of products to get rid of or subtract from your life.

For example, rather than figuring out the latest Apple product to add to your life, figure out whether you could just get rid of more Apple products, and simplify and streamline your devices. Or rather than figure out what new iPhone to buy or upgrade to, figure out what types of superfluous apps you could delete or uninstall from your phone.

Also, rather than figure out how to become happier in life, maybe best if figure out what things to get rid of in your life which make you miserable.

Also, rather than figure out what new things to watch to entertain yourself, maybe it is best to figure out what types of entertainment you want to subtract from your life.

Having fewer options will force you to become more creative and innovative.

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It seems that the trend nowadays that everyone just wants to become a billionaire, and become very rich, and have financial independence and location independence etc. But, all of these goals are simply a means to something greater. What is it?

The more important question is what do you want to do? What do you want to do with your life, and what you want to do in a tree while you’re still alive in this life?

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The richer you are, the fewer things you can afford not to own.

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The other day I was in a retro arcade, and I saw street fighter, streetfighter two championship edition, and street fighter two turbo. Also, thinking a lot about streetwear.

Isn’t it ironic that the word “street” is also in street photographer?

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What is collaboration? When we no longer have unique ideas of our own. Where we think we need to draw on the creative minds of others, in order to supplement or augment our own.

But nowadays, it seems that the cult of collaboration has taken over. That we are no longer allowed to be solo individuals, and we think that all collaboration is good collaboration. But I do not believe this to be so.

Perhaps, collaboration is not good. That we should become more isolated, and become more solo.

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What is an artist? Somebody who cares insanely a lot about aesthetics.

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When is thick good, and when is thin better?

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My personal ideal for is street photographers:

1. Insanely strong and durable legs. Being able to walk 30,000 steps in a day like it is no deal. Also, being able to sumo deadlift at least 405 pounds, and squat at least 315 pounds.
2. Minimalist ideology and approach. Perhaps it is better to be minimalist to a fault.
3. Black on black on black on black. With our clothing choices, all black everything aesthetic and look. This allows us to be the most stealth, low-key, focused, simple, and elegant.
4. For thinking and philosophy, practical. Stoicism and entrepreneurship.

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Something I’ve discovered: whenever I follow a certain ideology, or act upon my principles, or beliefs, I typically make decisions I end up regretting later. Therefore, maybe it is best for us to not cleave onto any ideology. That every time we make a decision, even ignore our heuristics and just decide based on the information at hand. More of a “Bayes” model to decision making.

Carte Blanche every single decision.

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Advice I would have given myself in street photography, if I started all over again:

1. The most important equipment in Street photography is a good pair of minimalist shoes. The lighter, zero drop, the better. Also, pair it with some good merino wool socks.
2. The best camera for street photography is the newest digital Ricoh GR camera.
3. The best way to become a more creative Street photographer is to limit your options. For example, restrict yourself to one focal length and preferably a prime lens.
4. In the street photography, do not desire to be in any other city to shoot street photography. Perhaps the best approach is to maximize your own city, to discover how to innovate to shoot your photography in your own city, no matter how boring or unideal it is. William Eggleston is a good example, because he was able to make interesting photos in his very boring city.
5. A Tip I learned from Daido Moriyama: when you’re walking on the streets, always walk both sides of the street, and also feel free to reverse your walking directions on the same street. Better to milk a few streets a lot, than explore a large distance. For example, better to loop the same block 100 times, than to see 100 different streets once.
6. Lots of opportunities to do suburban street photography, just go to the local Costco or Walmart to shoot street photography.
7. To increase your street photography optionality, allow yourself to shoot street photos both with permission and without permission. Candid photography is not better than shooting street photography with permission. Do both.
8. My definition of street photography is creating art out of humans and society. Also, I do not think you need to photograph humans to make a street photograph. Rather, capturing the essence of some sort of humanity seems to be the goal.
9. Out of all the master Street photographers, I still think Henri Cartier Bresson was the best. Why? He was able to milk every sort of composition possible. However, we must go beyond Henri Cartier Bresson, because even at the end of his life he became disenchanted with Photography. We must not give up on photography.
10. Instagram is the worst enemy of photographic productivity. To become a more productive photographer, delete your Instagram.
11. Both black and white and color street photography is fun. I encourage you to experiment with both, and allow yourself to cycle between the two. Eventually you will settle on your preferred aesthetic. For example, when I’ve been bored with black and white Street photography, I picked up color. And eventually after long periods of shooting, I typically revert and settle back to black and white.
12. To become a More Efficient Street Photographer, and more effective, shoot JPEG not RAW. Shooting JPEG will allow you to shoot more, experiment more, and waste less time on post processing. Also, more megapixels means more problems. Small JPEG is best.
13. To become a more influential Street photographer, publish your own photos on your own blog, and also make your own YouTube channel. I encourage you to spend 90% of your energy on blogging, and 10% on YouTube.
14. When giving advice about Street Photography, just give advice you wish someone told you when you started off. This seems to be the most genuine and honest way to approach things.
15. For myself, my favorite cities to shoot Street photography in the world include Hanoi, Saigon, Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, and Mexico City. In America, my favorite cities to shoot include the Mission District in San Francisco, downtown Los Angeles, and New Orleans. Of course New York City is also fun.
16. The best camera straps are leather, because they wear beautifully and patina better overtime.
17. The best clothing for street photography is all black everything, and merino wool. Also, Gore-Tex.
18. To improve your composition, do not strive to create more layers and complexity. Rather, the best street photography compositions are the most minimal. Therefore, when you’re composing a scene in street photography, subtract.
19. Buy books, not gear.
20. The fewer cameras you own, the more productive you’ll be as a photographer. Why? Less paralysis by analysis.
21. With post processing, the more contrast, the better. Also, crush the blacks by dragging the black slider to the extreme.
22. Social media for street photography is fragile. For example, in the early days Flickr was the go-to platform. Now, nobody uses it anymore. The same thing will eventually happen to Facebook and Instagram. However, your own website and blog will endure.
23. The less technical you make your street photography the better. For example, I just prefer auto focus and program “P” mode. Also, auto ISO. The more you can automate your technical settings, the more you can focus on shooting and composing, and being more fearless.
24. There is no proper way to pursue a street photography project. For example, it depends on your temperament. For example, you can start off with a big idea and go specific, or you can start specific and go broader overtime. Also, you can start with the theme and shoot it, or you could just shoot without a theme in mind, and discover the theme afterwards. Just experiment.
25. To be a more productive street photographer, don’t eat breakfast or lunch. Only break your fast at night. Intermittent fasting plus ketogenic diet is good for Street photographers.
26. If you got a kid or a baby, use a baby carrier to shoot photography. For example, I was quite Productive Shooting Street photography with baby Seneca in the baby Bjorn and ergo baby carrier. you can also shoot street photography with a stroller.
27. The best workouts for Street photography include deadlifts, squats, and kettle bell swings. Any powerlifting type of workout that gets your adrenaline up is good. Also, the more testosterone you have in street photography the better.
28. The best way to naturally increase your testosterone is to do one rep max type workout, eat more fatty red meat, eat more whole eggs, and more bacon. The more saturated fat, the more cholesterol, the better. Also organ meats. And also no alcohol, sugar, or carbs.
29. Do not shoot street photography while intoxicated, it is only a crutch.
30. If you can make one street photograph a year that you’re proud of, that is a good crop.
31. A good keeper rate in street photography is one Good Street Photograph a month.
32. The best way to get honest feedback on your street photography is on arsbeta.com
33. More efficient to publish your street photography as a free open source PDF book, than think about printing some expensive hardcover book.
34. Are you do not need to make a living as a street photographer to make yourself legitimate. Feel free to make your money elsewhere.
35. A good way to monetize your street photography is not by selling prints, but from education. Teaching online workshops, and in person workshops, and also doing street photography travel experiences and tours. Also, creating your own street photography products, whether physical or digital.
36. 99% of street photography is conquering your fears.
37. In order to become a better street photographer, you must shoot all day, every day. Consider street photography as your life and lifestyle, not a weekend hobby.
38. In a Covid pandemic world, just get your vaccine and booster shots to increase your confidence to shoot Street photography. And also wouldn’t doubt, mask up.
39. You can shoot street photography anywhere. In the subway, at the park, at the beach, at the local shopping mall, even on a cruise ship. Imagine a world where we could even shoot street photography on a spaceship or on Mars?
40. The best camera strap for Leica cameras, Fujifilm cameras and Sony cameras is the HENRI NECK STRAP. For RICOH GR, ERIC KIM NECK STRAP.
41. The future of street photography digital medium format. Either Pentax, Fujifilm, or Hasselblad. The future of street photography is not iPhone.
42. Even though you shoot street photography in the same city, and go to the same places, it is never the same. Why? The people are always different, and the landscape is always changing.
43. The best way to invest money to make yourself a more productive street photographer is use your money on travel experiences, gas, Airbnb, and airfare. Traveling is the ultimate stimulus for street photography (TRAVEL NOTES)// Travel Notes digital
44. There is no final end or destination for our street photography. Rather, the process of shooting Street photography is the reward and joy in itself.
45. Street photographers are artists, with great reflexes.
46. Rather than playing video games, invest your energy to explore embodied reality with your camera.
47. Street photography is the ultimate video game and adventure.
48. The higher the risk in street photography, the higher the reward.
49. Street photography entrepreneurship.
50. Make your own list of street photography tips, and publish it to your own street photography blog.

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If you desire to become a street photography entrepreneur, start off by making your own blog on street photography.

WordPress.org and get hosting like bluehost.com or 1and1.com. The best domain is your first and last name. If that is taken, do your firstandlastnamestreetphotography.com

What should you write and blog about? Just create advice, tips, and ideas which you think could have benefited you when you started off in street photography.

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The desire we have for something else — what if we did the opposite and simply had blind enthusiasm and preference for our current situation, our own city and things?

For example there may be a benefit to blind nationalism. To prefer your own nation above others.

Dear friends,

What do we lack as photographers? Confidence, and also self-confidence in our own photography.

What is the goal?

I say the goal is towards self confidence. To become a more self confident photographer — to become more confident in our approach, our photos, and our progress.

How does one become more self confident?

I say–

Become more child-like.

Let us consider children– they have no problems asserting themselves as artists. They have no problems pursuing their art, with no obstructions or desire for acclaim from others. I think it is only society which corrupts us into seeking external validation for our worthiness or value as photographers/artists.

Detaching yourself from external affirmation

Why do we desire others to affirm us and our worthiness? Why don’t we just affirm ourselves? Or just break away from all notions of ‘legitimacy’?

The joy of viewing your own photos

A big thing I have discovered is that I actually really love looking at my own photos because:

1. It helps me re-live wonderful past memories (I have a poor memory)
2. There is a certain aesthetic joy I get from looking at my own photos — I am always amazed “Wow, I had no idea that scene could have manifested itself like that as a photograph.”
3. I am becoming less interested in making a good single photo — I am more interested in the process or stream of photos.
4. I am becoming more future-oriented. Now that I have a kid (Seneca), I am more interested in my future and his future. Life is about the future– future growth, future progress, and future thriving.
5. When you view your photos– you can see unique compositions you might have done anew.

Having faith in yourself

Perhaps the best way to become more confident in your own self and photography (confidence means ‘faith in oneself’), is —

Detach yourself from anything which saps away your faith.

For example, measuring yourself against other photographers on social media. Deleting my instagram was perhaps the best thing I’ve ever done for my self confidence. Therefore perhaps the best way to become ‘more’ self confident is to simply REMOVE or SUBTRACT (via negativa) that which is anti-confidence for you.

For example, anything with numbers seems to be bad for self confidence. Therefore, ‘demetricate‘ yourself. Personally speaking I turned off all statistics for my blog and more recently I’ve also been turning of metrics for my YouTube channel which is hugely advantageous. It helps me stay more focused on my creative vision, rather than seeking a meter to see how well I am doing via numbers.

ZEN ZONE.

Then another thought is perhaps we must get into a zen zone (creative isolation) in order to progress and grow as photographers. To turn a blind eye to all other photographers, and become insanely focused on ourself, and our own goal.

The blog as a zen platform

Creating your own self hosted blog platform seems to be a good approach. And this is what I have realized:

The benefit of self-hosted (wordpress.org) is the ultimate control.

In life, more control is supreme.

Just make your own blog on bluehost.com and install wordpress.org (or use 1and1.com, which I use).

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Self hosted publishing ideas

1. Publish photos to your own blog
2. Publish your photos as PDF
3. Self print your own photos at a local printer, just do a simple letter-press ‘zine’ (magazine).
4. Make an iMovie slideshow with your favorite photos and share with friends and family

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Self confidence in street photography

1. To become more extroverted in street photography: Smile at strangers, wave hi to them, and make small talk with them. Small talk as a means to start making ‘big talk’ with people (first warm up people with small talk, then transition into the deeper questions).
2. Take a photo of a stranger without permission, smile and make eye contact with them, then compliment them and move on.
3. The goal is to conquer confidence in street photography.

Street photography 101 >

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HAPTIC INDUSTRIES

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2. ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP MARK II: Always locked and loaded >
3. HENRI SHOULDER STRAP: For the heavyweights >
4. HENRI NECK STRAP MARK IV: The OG >

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HAPTIC PRESS

HAPTIC books to inspire and motivate your photography and artistry:

1. CREATIVE EVERY DAY (Print Edition) // Digital Edition
2. Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Street Photography EBOOK
3. LIMITED-EDITION MASTERS VOLUME 1 Print Edition // DIGITAL

Discover all HAPTIC PRESS IN SHOP >

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TURBO IDEAS

1. In praise of productivity
2. The Philosophy of Photography Aesthetics
3. How to photograph
4. Optimize it For You.

More on blog >

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Your photo assignment: EYE

EYE:

Make the focus on the human eye your photo assignment. Upload your best eye photo to arsbeta.com

Remember the saying:

Eyes are the windows to the soul.

A turbo thought:

Better to seek MORE CONTROL rather than ‘more happiness’, or even ‘more joy’ or even ‘better’.

For example, TESLA cars are perhaps the best car, but you don’t have as much control. You have less control of the platform — you still gotta bring it into a TESLA dealership if you want to get things fixed or changed. Perhaps then it is better to have an old-school gasoline car you can still change your own oil, and change the parts and modify and customize it yourself (even though it is less sexy, and more of a pain in the ass).

Same goes with APPLE products, perhaps Android phones are superior to iPhones insofar much as you have more control over how to change it, edit it, and customize it.

Also why I am so pro-crypto currency — you have more control over your money and resources.

Metrics are an abhorrive way to approach your photography. You cannot judge the personal quality of your photos and the meaning they give to you with a metric or a number.

Would you judge your love for your child or your partner with numbers?

We must de-metricate ourselves, and also our photography to progress and grow.

The purpose of life isn’t to be productive, said all unproductive men.

Productivity — comes from the notion of ‘product’, to produce.

Pro+duco (to draw out, to lead).

The irony about productivity is this:

There is currently a cult of productivity in modern society, yet there is also a group of individuals who are very anti-productivity.

But — what is the real goal here?

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What if your present life and situation were in fact, the best one?

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In praise of home life:

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What is beauty for you in photography?

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How does one photograph?

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Don’t optimize it for Google, social media, or even for others — optimize it for yourself — for your own ultimate ease of use.

Never plan a thing a day or night before — only the day of, or the moment of.

Dear friends, on my never ending quest towards maximum efficiency in life, some thoughts:

1. Don’t own a car

First of all, don’t own a car. just like Brad Pitt from fight club, remember the scene when he says he doesn’t own a car? Rather than being the guy who has the coolest car, it is a much better flex to not own any car.

For example, I am much more intrigued about the person who is able to live without a car, rather than the guy who drives the Lamborghini or the Tesla model S plaid.

Why are you more efficient when you don’t own a car? Because you end up living more local. You end up going to the local grocery market more often, which means fresher food. Also, less wasted food.

Ironically enough when me and Cindy lived in Berkeley, and we got rid of our car, instead of wasting all this money at Costco, we actually saved money by going to the local Whole Foods instead. We stopped buying superfluous foods, like almond butter and avocados. When we lived without a car in Berkeley, maybe we spent $50 a week going to the local Whole Foods on a weekly basis, than the nearly $150 a week we spent going to the local Costco when we did own a car.

Also, I think as as modern Americans, we spend too much time thinking about cars. Thinking about when to upgrade our car, when to buy a new car, or modifying our existing cars. A car is perhaps one of the biggest money and time sucks possible. 

Perhaps it is a better luxury to not own a car, and just take Uber when you do need a car.

2. 30,000 steps a day?

I’ve made it my New Year’s resolution this year to try to walk at least 30,000 steps a day. I have not reached this goal yet, my best day was only 28,000 steps. Regardless, it totally changes the way I think. Rather than thinking of long-distances as a burden, I see as as advantageous and part of my goal.

For example, a lot of the streets and sidewalks in the suburbs are very ugly. And the closest coffee shop is quite a walk away. In the past I used to think that this was a major pain in the ass, but now, I see it as part of my goal. I’m excited to walk the unnecessarily long distance to just get a cup of coffee, because it is part of my goal.

And how does walking more help one become more efficient? It is because you kill a lot of birds with one stone: it improves your mood, your metabolism, your body posture, and also help strengthen your joints in your knees, hips, back, etc. My theory on why so many modern Americans suffer back pain is because lack of walking, and sitting all day. To walk nowadays is the new luxury.

Also, when I’m walking, I just take my Ricoh GR 3 and ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP MARK II where I go, and I end up shooting a lot of pictures. 

Also, thinking. The more I walk, the more I can think of. The more ideas I come up with, which is my passion.

3. Maximum impact workout

A new thought about working out: The purpose of working out isn’t to train until failure, and it isn’t too tire you out or exhausted. Rather, it is a form of force expression, and all you need is one rep. A one rep maximum of something very difficult.

For example, more efficient and better to do just one single one armed push-up, instead of 100 normal push-ups. Also, better to deadlift 475 pounds once, than to deadlift 100 pounds 100 times.

A new hack of mine is my 48 kg kettle bell, which is 105 pounds. I just try to clean it once or floor press it once, and then I’m done. Warming up, stretching, and doing the lift might only take me 10 to 15 minutes tops. This is much more fun, exciting, an interesting then doing an hour of mindless cardio— which I hate.

Once again, shorten the duration, and increase the intensity. Better to go allout once in a period of 15 minutes, than three hours of half assed and distracted effort.

4. Intermittent fasting, coffee, and one huge meat meal a day

Something I’ve been doing for the last five or six years is intermittent fasting. This is no breakfast, no lunch. Only dinner. And when I do break my fast, I attempt to eat at least three or 4 pounds of meat, preferably red, fatty, and delicious.

My ideal meat is either beef ribs, pork ribs, fatty steak, pork belly, or any meat high in cholesterol and fat. Also, grass fed burger patties frozen are a good deal. And after eating a bunch of meat and I’m still hungry, I’ll often finish it with frying around 12 eggs, yes including the yolk.

Some people might called it keto, but it is not quite keto, because my meat and protein intake is too high. I just call it a carnivore diet. And to wash down the meat, I usually have it with kimchi, sauerkraut, spicy mustard, tapatio, kale, spinach, or any bitter green leaves.

No carbs, no sugar, no artificial sugar, no sweeteners, no 0 cal sweeteners, nothing sweet. No honey, and no traditional starchy vegetables. No broccoli, no cauliflower, no potatoes, no yams, no bread (doesn’t matter if brown or white), no lactose (milk sugar is still sugar). No alcohol, no wine, no beer, no weed. No downers.

My extreme approach to diet in nutrition is what has helped me stay productive, even raising a newborn child.

Also, I save a lot of time. Not having to cook breakfast, cook lunch, or clean up during the day saves me an insane amount of time and effort. And when I do break my fast it is either with Cindy and Seneca, or after Seneca has gone to sleep. And after eating my massive meal, I just take a cold shower, put on an eye mask and earplugs, and jump into bed.

Also, I allow myself unlimited coffee during the day, as long as it is before noon. I just drink it straight black, no milk of any kind. No almond milk, no normal milk. Just pure black. And of course no sugar.

5. Don’t get distracted by your phone

One of my best life hacks is not having my phone in my bedroom. I charge it outside in the living room.

I also have all my notifications on my phone silenced, and turned off. The only notifications I have on my phone is the phone call future, and the FaceTime feature. I also strive not to send any text messages or use text messaging, is I find it highly inefficient. More efficient to just call somebody.

Also,  The only apps I have installed on my phone are generative and productive ones. IA writer for writing things, like this, Safari, the WordPress iOS app, Zen Brush 2, and the photos app.  I have not had an email app installed on my phone for almost a decade.

6. No news

Another huge productivity hack: I have not read the news for the last five years. This is what I realized about the news: it is outrage pornography. What do I mean by that? The reason why we are so addicted to reading the news, is because of Fomo which is fear missing out, and also we want entertainment. We actually get a little adrenaline high from getting angry at outrage things that happened in the news, and we do this in order to those ourselves with a little bit more excitement during the day.

Even with finances, to check your finances obsessively and to check your investments obsessively is very bad for focus. Even with crypto, I only check the prices maybe once every year, or once every two years. And most of the time, the price of crypto is foreign to me, unless somebody has told me.

By not reading the news, and not being on social media is good because it helps you focus on what is in front of you, and what is on your mind.

And if you want new ideas, just read philosophy, poetry or literature, or go on some walks around the block.

Even watching cinema and films is more productive than watching the news. I often find that watching Phyllis off call cinema is good to get your mind going, and even watching action movies is a good way to get your adrenaline pumping, which you could harness into creative activity.

And no, there is no ethical or moral obligation you have to read the news. If you truly do want to be altruistic, first start with helping your family, then your friends, and then your local community.

7. Efficiency is not an end into itself

The purpose of life isn’t to be efficient for the sake of it. Rather, efficiency as mostly a means to something else.

For example, I strive to make my life as simple, streamlined, and efficient as possible, in order to assist my focus, creative productivity, health, and mind. If I am not being efficient, I don’t care.

Let us consider, spending quality time with somebody is the most inefficient thing you could do, yet may be the most virtuous thing you could do. Either you are absent, or present. For example when I’m playing with baby Seneca, I make sure my phone is not on me.

As a caveat, I do walk around the block with Seneca on a baby carrier to help him fall asleep, while I am writing or doing voice dictation on my iPhone, and writing out and blogging ideas.

Also, one of the best uses of time is to have quality time eating a luxurious dinner with friends and family. For example, some of my favorite memories include having three hour long dinners in Marseille in the south of France with my friend Yves and Pierre and Cindy and moms.

Efficiency as a means to more quality time with family and loved ones. Efficiency also as it means for greater artistic creativity and productivity. 

8. Focusing on your Archimedes lever

It is said that the mathematician Archimedes one said: “give me a lever and I can move the world!”. What did he mean by that? If you know what your fulcrum is, where to put it, you could multiply your force expression a 1000 fold.

For me, that is blogging. Therefore, if I seek to become more efficient and effective, I should just focus on blogging instead of other things.

For yourself as well, consider what you consider your number one greatest strength, and just folks on leveraging that.

9. Don’t own a home, just rent.

Another one great thought I have about homes is this: it is far more efficient, effective, and productive to rent a home, rather than owning a home. I bet you even Elon Musk doesn’t own his own home, because who has the time to maintain it?

Why are we suckered into wanting to own a home anyways? My theory: it is just another form of consumerism. Ever since we are children, we were suckered to having tracked into desiring the same things: to get into a good college, get a good job, buy a few nice cars, and then eventually buy a house, then send our kids off to private school, and then recycle the habit.

Even when I go back home to the bay area, it seems that the number one thing people are always talking about is complaining about how they cannot afford a home in the Bay Area. That is, they cannot afford to buy a house.

But once again, is the desire to buy a home a good one? I think not. If you buy a house and you own a home, it owns you. This is a big take away I’ve had one living at Cindy‘s moms house, witnessing how things break all the time, how living in a home you accumulate so much stuff, and you become chained to your home.

Also, it seems that once you own a home, your expenses actually go up, because you got to buy more stuff to fill your home with, more trips to IKEA, Crate & Barrel, Home Depot, more orders on Amazon, etc. I actually think that the most frugal and Cindy have been was when we were living in a tiny hotel room in Saigon, when you know there’s literally no space for you to accumulate stuff.

Also, knowing that there was no space to put our stuff, my desire for buying new things miraculously went away.

But one thing I have learned about living in the suburbs: the longer you live and stay here, magically your desire to either buy stuff or want to buy stuff goes up. Because there is nothing else to do.

It seems that also another reason that we want to purchase a home is this notion of success or stability. But what if stability is anti-innovation, that is stability is not the goal? That self-preservation might actually be holding us back.

Therefore if you want less concern about your home, and less energy wasted on maintaining your home, and extreme efficiency as your life goal, perhaps owning a home is anti-efficiency. Renting a home is superior for efficiency.

10. Movement is the goal

What is the purpose of cars? To move. What is the purpose of our legs? To move. Motivation means movement. Also with artworks, films, movies, and photos, what do we seek to do? To move ourselves and move others, figuratively and literally.

Ultimate goal of efficiency is to move. To move more, to move mean.

So starting off this year, consider, how can you move yourself more?

ERIC

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If this sparked any creative ideas within you, feel free to forward to a friend!

ERIC KIM NEWS LINK.

In this short and uncertain life of ours, do we even have sufficient time and energy to criticize and critique things?

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Why do materials matter? Because when it comes to aesthetics, or how we perceive and internalize things, it changes our mood, our sense of power, and something hidden within us.

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One of the main reasons I love black so much — it is the ultimate zen color.

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My new goal for myself: striving to make myself limitless.

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What’s the most efficient clothes?

We must go further.

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The more we can link, the better. This is why I like Chainlink — we must make things more linked, more inter-connected!

Also this is the power of blogging, the internet and websites — the privilege to link, to hyperlink. Never stop linking to others, and past things you’ve written!

I just finished watching fast and the furious 9, and when listening to the feature commentary from Director Justin Lin, I am amazed that the franchise has lasted this long, and also the last film was really good. Granted there were some parts of the film that felt cheesy, but I still thought it was very strong and funny.

Which makes me think: rather than thinking about success, perhaps we should just think about longevity. To last. Even Nietzsche said things of the highest value on earth is durability.

Therefore, as an artist and as a creative, your job is to last. To focus on your own personal longevity.

So how does one last, or focus on longevity as a photographer? Some ideas:

***

1. Perpetual curiosity

How do children grow? Their curiosity. I have seen the demise of many photographers because they no longer are curious. They think they have 100% perfect foresight in knowing how their photos will manifest. But perhaps a goal is to always be curious how reality will show up in your photos.

2. More bold risk-taking

I think as street photographers, we are adrenaline junkies. That means, we love street photography because of the challenges, the difficulty, and the fright associated with it.

Therefore, realize that the adrenaline in Street photography is the reward. It is that which continues the cycle of us going out and shooting.

Therefore, do not think that fear is something to be abolished and eliminated, rather an energy source which is to be channeled. Channel your fear into photographic productivity.

3. Delete social media

The biggest detriment to artists nowadays is social media. Where your self worth is being quantified into numbers. I say delete Instagram, if your goal is photographic longevity.

4. Share your wealth

I like the idea that the more you share, the more superadditive it becomes. That means, for example imagine a world in which you shared $100 with somebody in the future both of you guys would get $500 back.

Especially now with digital technologies, it is no longer zero sum. But you giving me something, you’re not losing something. We both gain.

Therefore, when in doubt be generous. Be generous with your ideas, your things, and your information. The reason I love knowledge and information so much is because it is ethereal and ephemeral, and can be infinitely multiplied. Share your secrets and ideas widely.

5. Consider yourself an artist.

Why is it that photographers do not feel comfortable calling themselves artists? I think because of the pretentiousness in art, typically artists are only regarded as painters and people who draw.

But funny enough, whenever you talk to kids, they have no problem calling themselves artists. Only when we become bigger and older, and then people tie our success and legitimacy and self identification with money, do we become corrupted.

Therefore, regard yourself as an artist. And don’t just tie yourself into photography. Allow yourself to double dip. You do photography and other forms of arts creation. You can make music, dance to theater, make illustrations, etc. You’re an artist.

6. Do not aspire to become your master

The goal is for you to discover your own vision and your own approach, not for you to become your teacher sensei master. You want to become your own master.

For example, in the karate kid, the kid thinks that the goal is to become Mr. Miyagi. But Mr. Miyagi told him, no, because for you to discover your own style and approach is the goal.

For example, we might find inspiration in Henri Cartier Bresson, but the goal is not to become Henri Cartier Bresson. The goal is for you to create your own style and approach in photography, and only seek Henri Cartier Bresson and the other masters as a source of inspiration and motivation. They are not the end goal. You are the end goal.

7. Get a Ricoh GR

I am still convinced: I think that all photographers will benefit getting a Ricoh GR digital camera. For example, if you’ve never shot flash Street photography or flash photography I’m a huge fan of the Ricoh GR 2. But if you want to try something new, and focus on natural light, Ricoh GR 3 has been quite fun for me.

I do miss the flash, but because the increased macro functionality of the Ricoh GR 3 as well as the in camera black and white jpeg is great, I prefer the Ricoh GR 3 over the Ricoh GR 2.

Why does having a compact camera matter so much? Because if your camera doesn’t fit in your front pocket or is not always around your neck, it is useless. The bigger, heavier, and more obtrusive your camera, the less you’ll carry it with you everywhere you go, and the fewer photos you’ll shoot.

8. Travel and think Nomadic

Even though technology has changed much of modern society, I believe that much of our inherent DNA and biology is the same.

For example, for maximum human thriving, I believe in a semi nomadic lifestyle, to travel, and to walk much. For example, I’ve been striving to walk 30,000 steps a day — this has been a rewarding challenge for myself. I sleep better at night, my legs feel stronger, I walk more, I think more, and I make more photos. And I’m also happier, more productive, and feel better.

Also, we all know that we find more inspiration and motivation to walk more and shoot more photos when we’re traveling or on the road. Also, if you live nomadically, that is you only live one city for six months to two years, then you will always be forced to adapt, and adaptation is what drives our growth.

9. Think the future

Your photography journey has just begun. Think about your photography 10 years from now 20 years from now 30 years from now. Pace yourself. Photography is not a race, it is a marathon.

10. Don’t strive to or expect to make good photos

Desiring to make good photos is what holds us back. Why? Because when we see something that we’re not sure it’s gonna be a good photo or not, we don’t photograph it. We get overwhelmed by paralysis by analysis.

Then the best way to overcome this is don’t strive to make good photos. Just shoot photos which pique your curiosity.

11. The journey never ends

The only end to your photography journey is your personal death.

Therefore brothers and sisters, shoot on!

ERIC

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Motivation assignment: Selfie

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Start Here

1. Books
2. Masters
3. Composition

Books to read

1. Heraclitus Fragments PDF
2. Iliad PDF

FILMS

1. Fast 9
2. Book of Boba Fett

Turbo Ideas

1. The paradox of productivity
2. How I made money with crypto
3. How to become more extroverted
4. Break the simulation
5. 1000x different

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Don’t desire the same things others desire.

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Superficially, you are a photographer. Then after that you’re a visual artist. But ultimately you’re an artist.

Both for fine dining, street food (tacos), and also just getting good and affordable organic food from the local boutique market, and cooking at home at AirBnb!

Funny enough, even the best Ramen I’ve had outside of Japan is in Mexico City. The best Ramen I’ve ever had was at a one Michelin star restaurant hole in the wall in Tokyo. The Ramen place I went in Mexico City is my second favorite Ramen of all time. Also, the best Thai food i’ve ever had in my life was in Mexico City. Thanks to Todd Hata for introducing me.

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When in doubt, choose and opt for joy.

Let us think about Nietzsche’s “Joyful Wisdom”. Joyful living, joyful photography, joyful existence, joyful life.

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Perhaps in order to get more out of existence, we must become more economical.

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