What I love most about street photography: how open and democratic it is… for all!

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Simple thought:

If you are on the market for a new laptop, I recommend getting a maxed-out (refurbished) 16” MacBook Pro (from the Apple Refurbished online store) instead of buying the 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar.

Why? Simple:

1. The keyboard on the 16” is far superior to the 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar. When I say superior I mean to say: Causes less carpal tunnel when typing. I love my 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar to death, but I am realizing that the lack of cushioning in the keyboard causes carpal tunnel in my wrists, fingers, and joints.
2. The cost differential (if you buy refurbished) isn’t *THAT* much. And also considering we are living in this mostly non-travel COVID world, you don’t really need a laptop which is *THAT* portable. No more coffee shop adventures with your laptop — it will probably be mostly parked at home. So then the trade-off of weight (the 16” MacBook Pro doesn’t feel that heavy, about the same weight as my old non-touch bar 13” MacBook Pro Retina screen).
3. The screen is substantially bigger and also brighter. Looks waaaay better when viewing your own photos for your own personal pleasure full-screen.

As much as I hate to say, shooting street photography is (kind of) like shooting a gun. For example when I was a Boy Scout during Boy Scout summer camp, I got all three (archery, shotgun, and rifle merit badge) all in one summer! And similar parallels between ‘Zen in the Art of Archery’ vibes we get from Eugen Herrigel (apparently Henri Cartier-Bresson loved this book).

The gist:

When it comes to photography and street photography, we must harness the following:

1. Focus
2. Breathing
3. Not to shoot too quickly, nor too slowly
4. To parse out the cadence of our shooting (the rhythm in which we shoot photos)
5. All the while being mindful of composition, aim, and framing.

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An interesting personal curiosity of mine:

How does one create value out of “nothing”?

My thoughts:

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My life is my life. Your life is your life.

The goal isn’t to imitate the life or lifestyle of any individual, but to pick and choose elements which you like from others, and apply, modify and adapt it to your own life!

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The best portfolio is a digital one. Why digital? More flexibility, customization, and ability to add and remove photos at will!

I will make the heretical statement:

A digital portfolio is *superior* to a traditional print-based analogue portfolio (printed book, in-person gallery exhibition, prints, etc).

Why? My thoughts:

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We are all obsessed with ‘building a brand’ and ‘branding’. But what if the best brand were no brand?

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The notion of being a “master” comes from the Proto Indo European “meghs” which means “big, great” (same word as magnus, and “mega” in Latin).

So how does one become “mgh” (mega, great, magnum?) Simple— here are my thoughts:

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When to be stubborn, when to be flexible? My thought:

Be insanely stubborn for 1% of the insanely important things in your life. Then be uber-flexible with the other 99% petty things in your life that you “kind of” care for.

In other words:

Become more stubborn for what you truly care for, and become more flexible for what you don’t really care for, or what you feel “meh” about.

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Kids are the ultimate creators. In some ways, a child playing is the apex of power and creativity. In this regard, we must play more with children and *become* more child-like.

Some of my thoughts on the philosophy of playing with kids:

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ZEN VIBES:

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What Becomes MORE Valuable Over Time, What Becomes LESS Valuable Over Time?

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The general gist:

Don’t concern or worry too much about your own personal needs. Meet the bare minimum for your basic human needs, and devote the rest of your intellectual and creative metabolic energy towards greater ends!

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I have zero qualms about investing any money that makes me more productive and focused.

Also— monetary investments to gain new and interesting experiences, or towards education of any sort. Or using money to buy more time, free up more of your mental space (trading money to gain more “mind space”). These investments always have zero ounces of regret attached to them!

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No regrets or sad feelings in life. Perhaps everything which happened had happened as it *should* have happened.

This doesn’t mean that everything happens for a reason, but it is a good mental tool to help us cope with (past) reality, recognizing much was out of our control, and we will never truly have 100% control over reality, the future or fate.

Or as Nietzsche coined the phrase: “Amor fati” (love your fate, or what happened to you, or what will happen to you!)

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Then nothing? So why doubt yourself, be fearful, and why not not pursue what you’re truly passionate and enthusiastic for in life?

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My simple approach to life. The general gist:

My life purpose is to plumb the depths of human experience, knowledge, wisdom and art and by having unique human experiences I can learn. Then my end game is to share these lessons with others!

In other words I experiment with everything in order to gain deeper truths about reality, being human and society. Then I can transcend myself and just transform myself into a tool to serve and help empower others!

Convenient comes from “convenio” in Latin (to come together): con (with) + venio (to meet).

Typically when we think about convenience culture, we see it as a vice. To do what is convenient is seen as lazy, immoral, and bad.

But what if convenience was the superior mode of life … convenience as a road and a means to more artistic and creative productivity in life?

My first blog post (Hello World) on June 21st, 2010. I suppose my 10 year anniversary has elapsed a bit, but some thoughts:

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Surprisingly the RICOH GR III is really good for macro photography; shooting uber-close. The macro abilities of RICOH GR III are actually substantively closer than the ability of the RICOH GR II. The improved macro function of the RICOH GR III over the GR II alone is worth the upgrade!

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Lately one of my new fun hobbies and passions in photography and video:

Shooting macro videos on my RICOH GR III of everyday stuff.

For example:

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Also notions on “true” entrepreneurship vs “vain” entrepreneurship.

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Quick thoughts:

1. Not as heavy as I thought it would be. Feels only marginally heavier than my 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar. Perhaps in this new COVID world where we won’t be traveling as much, it seems like it makes more sense to get a (refurbished) 16” MacBook Pro Touch Bar instead of getting the 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar.
2. The keyboard feels much better than the 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar. More key travel equals less carpal tunnel for typing (sad truth I get carpal tunnel and wrist and finger pain when typing on my 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar for too long).
3. The screen seems substantively brighter (at max brightness) when compared to 13” MacBook Pro Touch Bar. I can notice the difference and it is good.

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The more eggs, the better:

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Fuck it you only got one life to live. Why waste any of it thinking small, doing small, being afraid, and taking no risks? Let us not be fooled my friends… the best life is the life with the maximum amount of risk, the maximum amount of insanity, and the maximum amount of attempting (to ‘essay’ or ‘assay’ the great!)

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A realization:

It isn’t money, power, fame, or notoriety I desire… but control.

Control over myself, control over my decisions, control to do what I want to do, and control to *NOT* do what I don’t want to do.

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Don’t expect others to treat you the way you treat them.

This then means:

You are a magnanimous monster of great and highly virtue. If others act petty around you; don’t let it faze you.

You just do you (meaning, you pursue your epic virtue for the sake of it and for the sake of yourself!

ERIC

New thought:

Life is too short. Let’s put ourselves in a robust (antifragile) stoic position that nothing any longer fazes us.

A thought and realization:

With COVID and beyond, the car becomes an external skin (like the Iron Man armor). It becomes a second home and a new mobile work space.

So perhaps when it comes for you to buy a car consider:

If I became homeless, could I live and work out of my car?

Perhaps the new millennial way to work and live: just live out of your car!

A new thought and social innovation idea:

We do home share (Airbnb) we do car share (Uber); why not life share?

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Uber-simple approach to sharing your photos:

Just share your own photos on your own blog!

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A brief primer to digital photography:

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In life if you approached it like it were all fun and games … wouldn’t you be happier, more productive, more creative and more passionate about living?

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Photograph like a child!

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Just read a bit of the book, ‘Aristotle’s Way‘ (published by Penguin/Random House) and really liked the section and chapter on leisure, as well as the conclusion. The gist:

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In other words, the process and effort is the reward!

For the most part, I FAAAR prefer interacting and playing with kids than adults. Why? We have soooo much more to learn from children:

1. Their phenomenal sense of creativity, disregard for rules and ‘social tact’. They speak what is *really* on their mind.
2. I wonder if children (if we observe their thought patterns and behaviors, etc) are the more *true* form of human being. The modern adult as simply a castrated, domesticated (herd) animal. Children are like wild beasts; is this our primal nature?

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Why not rather instability?

Consider … if an object is uber-stable and at rest, it is boring. No motivation to move, advance or do anything. Whereas instability means:

Move, change, advancement forwards.

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Do anything for 10 years with passion, enthusiasm and zest and you will master it. For me this includes photography, blogging, lifting weights, talking, traveling, and teaching.

I am convinced. RICOH GR III is the best camera of all time (thus far). Why? Reasons:

1. The smallest size of all time, and the most premium. Smaller than even the great RICOH GR II, with better performance. Also lighter. The smaller and lighter your camera, the more you will carry it with you everywhere you go and the more you will shoot. And for us photographers, to make *new* photos is our lifeblood.
2. The best JPEG files: Cross process filter on JPEG is phenomenal. So is the high contrast black and white monochrome mode. You will never need to shoot RAW ever again!!
3. Shoots great videos and is perfect for vlogging.
4. The best price. You cannot beat the ‘bang for the buck‘ compared to any other camera on the market.
5. The sharpest photos. Sharpest photos… even more sharp than digital Leica photos! Also the resolution of the JPEG files are huge (6000 x 4000 pixels). You can print insanely huge, and also pixel peep a ton as well (if you want).
6. Charges via USB-C: This means you can use your MacBook Pro charger to recharge your Ricoh GR III … insanely useful.

Long story short, get RICOH GR III.

ERIC

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In photography and life, never stop curating your photos.

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Some of my best photos (a dynamic, ongoing list):

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If you try to compete with anyone (besides yourself) you’re gonna lose.

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Who is ERIC KIM? Why is he so opinionated? Where does he come from? What does he want?

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First of all I don’t believe in “white” people. This makes no sense. I’m actually more pale and more “white” in skin tone than many Caucasian people (the more accurate term for a “white” person) as a Korean.

So when I talk about “white washing”, what do I mean? I mean it is like applying bleach to anything which is saucy, interesting, enjoysome and “racy” and “inappropriate” in life to make it acceptable and “wholesome” to essentially placate over-protective parents, paternalistic members of the elite intelligentsia, and also to placate advertisers.

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It seems the pipe dream for everyone is to “make money online” and to gain “passive income” online.

But why? Towards what ends?

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What is one of the most fun things to photograph, shoot, and video? Nature!

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We are addicted to speed. Why? Speed is more fun!

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Auto telic: to do something for the sake of it. Telos— purpose or aim. Auto (done by yourself, pursued by yourself).

Thus if we approached photography from this autotelic perspective, we would be far more happy, creative and productive as photographers and visual artists!

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What is “fake”? It means to rob, swindle, or to “spruce up with artificial means”. Thus in this regard, all news is “fake” news. Yes this includes Google News, New York Times, NPR, The New Yorker, Atlantic and every form of mainstream (and underground) news.

All news is polished and spruced up not for “journalistic integrity” but towards what news agencies really want — more advertising revenue.

Why is change so scary and difficult? Why are we so reticent to change? My thoughts:

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If there is something about the world or society which annoys or upsets you don’t just sit around complaining. Instead become the change which you desire to see manifested in the world. Change it. Fix it! This is the true entrepreneurial spirit. Less talk, more walk and action!

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The very happy and optimistic thought:

The more I go out and shoot and photograph the world, the more beautiful, rich and fuller it becomes.

Isn’t this a great thought?

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Hegemony comes from “hegemon”— leader, guide. Think “Enders Game” (my favorite science fiction book of all time, as audiobook). Or think of the “Dollar Hegemony” (Henry C K Liu).

Typically when people think “hegemony” it is seen as bad and evil. “Hegeomai” (the root word of hegemon, or hegemony) is actually good … it means to lead, go forth, lead the way, guide. It comes from the Proto Indo European “*sehg”: to seek out.

Anyways back to the notion of “Digital Hegemony”— the gist is at this point Google *is* the Internet which means if you desire to be relevant online, best to kowtow and merge with Google and play good with Google, or be left behind.

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It seems right now the best WordPress blogging theme is Newspack.pub by Automaticc (company which runs and owns WordPress.com).

Why? Essentially this is the conspiracy:

WordPress.com and Google “News Initiative” is together in bed, plotting to take over the (news and blog based) internet, to maximize Google’s digital hegemony over advertising (Google Adsense).

Let me explain more in depth:

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If you got nothing to photograph around you, just shoot some flowers!

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A realization about life:

Life is no fun and has no savour unless we expend effort and exercise our skills.

Skill excercisement is fun, challenging and makes life worth it. If everything were handed to you on a silver platter … life loses all zest and interest.

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My honest thought:

There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to approach street photography, just like how there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way a tree grows.

Thus take extreme ownership over street photography. Your street photography. Your rules.

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One of the most under-rated forms of street photography:

Kid street photography.

Honestly at this point; it all goes. With permission, without permission. Photos of your own kids or the kids of others. Photos of kids in public space or private.

I see street photography as more of a technique, approach and ethos. This means there is a ‘street photography style‘ — striving to capture raw human emotions. The technicalities (with permission, without permission, candid or posed, etc) doesn’t matter.

Real thoughts:

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My very pragmatic thoughts towards minimalism:

Minimalism is more convenient, productive, and generative.

Do not pursue minimalist ways for some sort of strange virtue-flexing (I am doing a ‘good’ thing for the environment or planet or whatever). No. Minimalism is about convenience and productivity-maximizing!

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Life is a never-ending journey; this is what makes it so fun and valuable!

All street photo:

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In today’s brave new COVID world, you’re also a brave new street photographer.

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I love kids. Why? In some ways I’m a big kid. I love playing with kids — they speak their mind, they don’t censor themselves and they are typically insanely honest. They love to play, and their spirit is tremendous.

More adults should be like kids, and more adults should have kids (especially if you’re smart, educated, intelligent and want to make the world a better place!)

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Shoot this brave new world:

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Like Juvenal said in Roman times:

The (vulgar) masses are distracted and fleeced by circuses and bread (circecen + panem)

Our modern metaphor:

Our circuses are TV shows, UFC fights, sports, politics, the news (both real and fake) and our bread is high fructose corn syrup, ‘organic’ foods, Coca Cola, cookies, and McDonalds.

Takeaway:

Don’t let the bread and circuses distract, sucker you, or sap your precious attention.

Your attention, focus, and zen above all.

ERIC

Fuck the socials. Fuck social media (Facebook–Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Flickr, etc). The best social media is you; your own website-blog and platform.

Until you own yourself, you cannot be free.

Freedom is our apex goal, and the end-goal for you as a creator, innovator, entrepreneur and thinker. Why build your own empire on the land of another? Why be a digital share-cropper?

No. Make your own site. Be the master of your own domain (web domain). You own it; you own yourself.

ERIC

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A meaningful photo project you can pursue:

Shoot the pandemic, and record your own views, perspective and thoughts via your photos.

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Let us not be suckered; all debt is bad debt.

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