Dear friend,

Here are some distilled ideas on how to make better photos, after about 10 years of distilled information/knowledge (from age 18-29).

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What is the point of art?

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Dear friend,

A philosophical idea I’ve been mulling on for a long (ever since I was a kid is this): How much money is enough?

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Dear friend,

The key to success: HUSTLE ALL DAY.

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Kanye West is one of my inspirations in life.

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Dear friend,

We are always trying to learn how to get more followers— but what if our goal was actually to get people to unfollow you?

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(Photos by Brian Milo, Interview by Eric Kim)

Eric chats with Brian Milo, Street photographer, Music Lover, unconventional wedding photographer, and print addict. They talk shop on printing, motivation, and prioritizing.

Eric: Great to have You, Brian! To start off, what is your life story? Where were you born, how did you first pick up a camera?

Brian: Thanks for having me, Eric.  I have worn many different hats in this incarnation on earth; son, father, husband, friend, drummer, photographer, student, teacher, construction worker, computer operator among many others.

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The key to happiness is FREEDOM.

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Dear friend,

I want to write you a letter on how you can unlock your inner-genius.

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Elon Musk is my hero, and has taught me far more about photography and life than any other photographer who lived.

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Photography means painting with light.

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The iPhone/smartphone is the holy grail of photography.

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I love photography because it is the most democratic art form that exists.

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Dear Kai,

I want to write you this (public) letter on why I admire you.

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I currently think the LEICA 35mm f/2.4 ASPH (silver) is the best designed (in terms of proportions, build quality, sharpness, compactness, weight, and red lettering on silver) lens out there.

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Cindy A. Nguyen: The sounds of the city — the torrential rains, the construction sites, the tranquil cafes, the continuous traffic— play together as music notes to form a song of the city. Sống, means “to live.” In this film, I weave together vignettes and sounds of life in Hanoi.

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Kind of a crazy thing– I think you can stay true to your roots, values, and ethics– and also get rich:

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If you are working as a suit with golden handcuffs, I feel for you:

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Why is it that photography seems like a competition?

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How to treat other human beings with respect.

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Dear friend,

I will teach you how to become more free in life — to not give one flying fuck about your reputation.

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Dear friend,

I have a proposal for you in life — make fear your slave.

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Dear friend,

What does it mean to be a human being?

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LIFE LESSONS from my motivational life-coach– Friedrich Nietzsche:

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Five main concepts you need to know about photography composition:

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No.

I’ll tell you why.

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This is how I define photography for myself:

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Dear friend,

I think you were put on this earth to do great shit — to help empower your fellow friends, family, community — and the whole world.

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Images by @OGGSIE via a mobile device:

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CHRISTINE CHUNG: As someone diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder, it is hard to make people understand through words and I think that it would be better understood through visual imagery.

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Fan Ho: in my opinion, better than Henri Cartier-Bresson.

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Dear friend,

I want to tell you the story why I bought a Leica camera.

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Dear friend,

A secret I wanna share with you — don’t trust no photo blogger (especially not me).

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Dear friend,

Here are some tips on how to exude confidence from your pores:

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Dear friend,

What are your personal morals and ethics when it comes to street photography?

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Dear friend,

I want to write you a letter on how to live a happy life:

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I am pissed off from this concept of a ‘lifestyle.’

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Dear friend,

If you are pursuing your life’s passion — you will always find someone to hate you for it.

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Dear friend,

I want to write you a letter on the EGO — how we can kill our personal ego (in a negative way), but also let our ego flourish (to become the best version of ourselves):

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So my grandpa died at age 92. I am 29 years old now (2017). In theory, I have 63 years left of life.

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Let me set the stage with 18 year old Eric:

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To me,

Photography is a meditation on life and death.

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Dear friend,

You are a unique human being— with a unique and beautiful perspective on the world.

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Super-inspired by Kandinsky; the painter and art philosopher Wassily Kandinsky:

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If I were to buy a new Leica today, this is advice I would give myself:

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HiFi Tam (born September 11, 1996) is an unknown Chinese photographer and aspiring artist. He has been trying to explore the issues of urbanization, industrialization, poverty and environment by walking around the Pearl River Delta area with his point-and-shoot camera.

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The coolest timepieces // MEMENTO MORI:

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The coolest camera design in the camera/photography industry at the moment:

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Super inspired from the movie ‘FIGHT CLUB’– in terms of how to conquer my personal fears in life, how to break free from societal bullshit, and to become the best version of myself:

Here are some life lessons I’ve learned from the film:

1. Self-improvement is masturbation

In society, we are spoon-fed this need for constant ‘self-improvement’ in the eyes of some self-improvement guru.

But the fallacy is that we need ‘improving.’ You are already perfect the way you are.

Rather, Tyler Durden suggests we seek ‘self-destruction’ — the antithesis of self-improvement.

Not to destroy ourselves to commit suicide or cut ourselves. Rather, to destroy the bullshit consumerist mentality we have in our minds.

To destroy the false veil of reality, to see the truth in life.

2. Don’t squander your potential

‘I see all this potential; and I see it all squandered. Entire generation of slaves with white collars.’ – Tyler Durden

As humans, we have so much human potential. Yet, we waste it pointlessly. We waste it becoming consumerist slaves — except instead of chains, we wear golden rolexes. We live in a golden cage. We cannot fly free.

So friend— how can you fulfill your potential in life?

3. Our life is a spiritual war

‘Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don’t need. No purpose or place. No great war, no great depression. Our great war is a spiritual war. Our great depression is our lives.’

To have a zest for life, we need struggle. We need pain. We need something to overcome.

We need to find meaning in our lives— to find some deeper purpose.

For me, I find purpose in life through creating art, through empowering others, and in terms of fulfilling my creative potential.

What is your drive in life?

4. Life is about pain and sacrifice

‘Without pain and sacrifice, we would have nothing.’ – Tyler Durden

To me, life is all about sacrifice.

My mom (umma) sacrificed her life and suffered to give me and my sister a better shot in life. Whenever I show my love for Cindy, there is always some sacrifice. As Nassim Taleb says, ‘Love without sacrifice is theft.’

How can you put more ‘skin in the game’ to life a life with more pain and sacrifice— but in a meaningful way?

5. Purge

‘It is only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.’ – Tyler Durden

Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) — aka the alter ego of Edward Norton, blows up his own condo. But after purging himself of his prior life, he is free.

Practically speaking — I have gained much freedom by purging myself of my past. Purging my past negative memories, purging my superfluous possessions, and purging bullshit. This helped me become reborn, and now I feel free.

6. It is cooler not to own a car.

‘I don’t have a car’ – Tyler Duren

Be like Tyler— don’t be a slave to wanting an expensive car. In-fact, it is cooler not to have a car.

Also consider, are you a slave to debt? Does debt have you working that job you hate, just so you can buy that next $30,000 car?

Consider if you are paid $20 an hour ($40,000 a year USD). Are you willing to work 1,500 hours (62.5 days straight with no rest), or 187 eight-hour working shifts (6.25 months at $20 an hour) just to buy a car, or any other bullshit consumerist good you don’t need?

What is your time worth to you? What is your life worth to you?

7. Who are you?

‘You are not your job; you’re not how much money you have in the bank; you’re not the car you drive; you’re not the contents of your wallet.’ – Tyler Durden

Our identity is who we are as human beings— our soul, the creative work we do, our worldview, and our self-identity.

We don’t need to identify ourselves via the work we do, how many 0’s we have in our bank account, or society’s labels of us.

8. There are no bullets inside

In one of my favorite scenes, Brad Pitt and Edward Norton enter a convenience store, pull out the cashier, and Brad Pitt puts a gun to the head of the kid.

Brad Pitt asks the cashier what his dream in life was. The kid says it was to be a veterinarian, but he dropped out of school because it was too hard.

Brad Pitt then says, ‘I will kill you unless you go back to school and pursue your dream.’ The kid runs away.

Edward Norton says something like, ‘What the fuck — why did you do that?’

Brad Pitt then says to Edward Norton:

“Imagine how he feels— tomorrow will be the most beautiful day of his life. his breakfast will taste better than any meal you and I have ever tasted.“

Brad Pitt then also says that in life, when we have no fear or distractions, we can let ‘that which does not matter— truly slide.’

The best part— Edward Norton opens up the pistol, and sees that the gun has no bullets inside.

Assignment: If someone put a gun to the back of your head, and asked you what your life dream was — how would you answer? And what would you do tonight or tomorrow to pursue your dream?

9. Become the best version of yourself

The interesting concept of Fight Club — Tyler Durden is the same person. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton are the same person.

However Brad Pitt is the idealized version of Edward Norton. Brad Pitt is everything that Edward Norton wants to be.

We all have an inner-Brad Pitt (or Tyler Durden). The only thing we need to do is to take radical change in our lives, to become what Nietzsche calls— the ‘over-man’ (or ‘superman’) who overcomes all the difficulties in his life.

We need to take responsibility for our lives. Not to blame others or make excuses. We just need to go out and pursue our dreams and do what we truly believe in — refusing to let the rules of society cage us in.

10. Life isn’t about winning or losing

Fight Club isn’t about winning or losing. It is rather about fighting your inner-self, your inner-ego, your inner-fears. In Fight Club, you aren’t beating another person — you are just conquering your own fears in life. And you are getting closer to another human being in fraternity.

In real life, there is no winning or losing. We are all on the same team in this world community of humanity. We need to help one another— build each other up, instead of tearing each other down.

Let’s win in life together. Empower yourself in life:

• Life Lessons from FURY (2014)
• 29 Life Lessons I’ve Learned
• How to Conquer Your Fears in Life
• Conquer Yourself
• How to Focus
• Avoid Excess
• Innovation is Knowing What Not to Do in Your Photography and Life
• Embracing FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
• Endurance
• Don’t Crowd-Source Your Self-Esteem

See all philosophy >

Be strong,
Eric

If you want to conquer your fears and meet new peers, attend an ERIC KIM WORKSHOP >

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CINEMA >

Cinematography and life lessons:

• FIGHT CLUB
• FURY (2014)
• THE MATRIX
• AKIRA PART I / AKIRA PART II
• Batman: The Dark Knight
• Dr. Strange
• Suicide Squad
• Kendrick Lamar: HUMBLE.

Dear friend,

I think the two things holding us back in life include fear and distractions.

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Dear friend,

I wanted to write you this book on how to take better photos.

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“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under a bucket, but on a lamp stand; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works.” – Jesus

You are the light of the world. You have a special gift that you can share with others.

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Dear friend,

Advice I wish I could have told myself a long time ago: invest in experiences, not stuff.

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Have you ever shared a photo and had someone protest: “But that’s not street photography!”

This is the story of my life.

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Interview with Brian Milo — my personal printer, and the master printer for ‘Dark Skies Over Tokyo‘ by Haptic Industries.

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I’m inspired by the street photography of the @wearethestreet collective:

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The first rule of street club: you don’t talk about street club.

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Dear friend,

I want to share with you some of my thoughts on love— my experiences, what I think love is, and why it is the superlatively most important thing in the world:

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Dear friend,

I (and you) are philosophers— not philosophers in some pretentious way, but we are philosophers because we LOVE WISDOM.

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STREETTOGS STARTING GUIDE TO STREET PHOTOGRAPHY:

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ANTIPHOTOGRAPHY.

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Dear friend,

Here are some tips to take your street photography to the next level:

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I’ve wanted to get cut (low body fat percentage, to see my 6-pack) for my entire life.

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Dear friend,

You know that voice that tells you that you’re dumb, or that you’re going to do something that annoys or offends others? Yeah — ignore that voice.

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I do genuinely believe that the Ricoh GR II is the best camera for 90% of photographers out there.

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Dear friend,

I want to write you a letter about the lessons I’ve learned after shooting pretty much all the expensive cameras out there.

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LIBERATION TIME: film and poem by Cindy A. Nguyen:

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Never complain in life— just find solutions.

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‘Don’t worry about looking good— worry about achieving your goals.’ – Ray Dalio

A lot of us care more about looking good, rather than winning.

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The Fujifilm X100F — the F stands for Fucking Fast// and Fucking Awesome.

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