Ironically enough, even though I’m a huge fan and proponent of buying stuff in person, in order to witness it firsthand, in your hand, and how it feels in terms of the ergonomically, perhaps it is better for us to just become enamored with the marketing language of some thing, order it online, save yourself time and wasted effort, and if you don’t like it just return it — online by printing out return labels and receipts. Very much like how we do with Amazon purchases and things. Maybe it is better for us to do this instead of deal with a cumbersome approach of interacting with humans in terms of returns.

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I am a Steve Jobs fan boy, not an Apple fan boy:

On the pursuit for finding and discovering a perfect device, I experimented using the iPhone Pro in white/silver, but much to the dismay of myself, I hated the glare that it gave when I was driving (the polished stainless steel sides of the phone are beautiful, but give very bad reflection in clear and shininess when in direction sun). I recently switched it out for an iPhone Pro in graphite (black), and I’m very dismayed. It is just boring.

How can we make iPhone exciting again? Some thoughts:

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If you want more inspiration for your photography, just have a kid.

Your children as the ultimate work of art:

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A simple thought: if you optimize your whole life and your whole existence for and towards photography, how can you go wrong?

That is, to optimize your life to expose yourself to new experiences, thoughts, and approaches in order to maximize your inspiration and motivation to make photos.

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In terms of marketing language, one of the best concepts that Apple came up with is the notion of “space grey“. However, since then it seems that Apple has gone astray without Jony Ive at the wheel.

One suggestion I have is with the iPhone Pro, bring back the notion of black. Don’t call it “graphite”, which is a very confusing and strange way to describe it. Perhaps better to just call it “pitch black”— similar to their “midnight black” colorway for the iPhone 13.

What is my greatest passion? My passion for innovation. My passion for attempting and truing new things, creating new things, and creating new methodologies and approaches.

My personal ambition:

To become to photography what Tesla (Elon Musk) is for electric cars, what Kanye West (YEEZY) is to fashion/music/hip-hop/rap, and what Apple is for technology.

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The more and more I think about it … with gas prices this insane (and will probably go higher into the future) — why would you ever buy a non-electric car again?

And also–

The only electric car to get is a Tesla.

Just like how the only smartphone to get is an iPhone. Essentially, the Tesla will become the iPhone for cars.

Display on iPhone Pro is quite phenomenal — when viewing your photos.

Don’t go alternative. No alt coins, no “alt culture”.

The joy of all you can eat Shabu Shabu — the feeling of overflowing bounty!

Something I think about a lot when shooting photos and composing:

Which composition is the best?

The first trick:

Shoot all iterations of the scene, and figure out *later* which you prefer.

For example, when photographing this abstract of a cross … which do I prefer?

The best way to study design. Study and observe the silhouette you see.

Lower your exposure compensation to as dark as possible (ADAP) to reveal more. Low key shows more design components and silhouettes.

Why do I have so much joy in shooting and making photos? The joy of playing with compositions.

I cannot be placated. Perhaps this is my super-power?

Perhaps this is my great drive?

Something interesting I’ve observed in Seneca:

There is a strong link between him touching things, and learning what they are.

A secret on capturing the decisive moment in photography:

Start shooting *BEFORE* the decisive moment happens!

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Something very tricky about exposure —

In photography, we often try to capture the ‘perfect’ or the ‘ideal’ exposure.

But what is the purpose of exposure? I say to be creative!

A simple thought:

To either make your photos very very dark (as dark as possible, silhouette) *OR* to make your photos very very bright (high-key, very white).

The single lift to rule them all — sumo deadlift (one rep max style). Or single armed heavy (105 pound) kettlebell cleans.

Physical education, physical culture. Physical training, physical privileges.

Fatal flaw with iPhone SE marketing materials–

Calling it a ‘smartphone’.

No. It is an iPhone, not a ‘smart phone’.

The new iPhone SE is quite exciting — the same processor and powerful chip as the standard iPhone/iPhone Pro, yet a smaller form-factor, classic design (home button).

But assuming you got ‘fuck you’ money, or ‘fuck off’ money, should you prefer the iPhone SE over the iPhone Pro or the iPhone Mini?

Good for democratization of photography

iPhone SE is great because it democratizes photography for all. Now, anyone can afford to make great photos, and can afford a great computer (the iPhone). At ~429$ USD, anyone and everyone can afford it.

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For example — I have seen in my short life:

First, the ideal is to become ‘self employed’.

Then, the new ideal was

Become a millionaire and retire early, travel the world, etc.

Then —

Create a billion-dollar company, sell it (IPO), then fuck off and do whatever you want (travel, pursue art, etc).

Now —

Speculate in cryptocurrency, and make a bunch of money, then retire, buy a Lamborghini, etc.

For example, do you really *believe* in Bitcoin, or do you just want to get uber-rich?

The reason I like Bitcoin:

1. Easier to send ‘money’.
2. There is a limited amount of Bitcoin in existence (because there is a hard cap on it, you cannot just ‘print money’ like fiat currency, like the USD). This means that in some ways, Bitcoin is safe against inflation.

Recently I’ve been getting the ‘W Magazine‘ in the mail, which is supposed to go to Cindy’s younger sister. But recently, looking through it, I’ve been very inspired. Why? Fashion, women, and the whole fashion world and industry is good insofar much as it glorifies the human individual as a piece of art. And glorifies fashion clothing (art pieces) to outfit the most apex thing (the human being):

Long story short, if you want more inspiration in photography, life, and human beings– more focus on LA, fashion, and human art, than objects, things, cars, etc.

Or in other words:

LA over Silicon Valley.

Something funny — when someone refers to Seneca as a ‘baby’, I get low-key offended. And thinking about common terms like ‘child-care’, etc … none of them seem apt. Best for me to think of Seneca just as ‘my son’.

Or for me to think about him as my ‘Pride and glory‘:

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Lamborghini is great because of the attitude associated with it (the panache, the extroverted egoism, the ‘I don’t give a fuck’ attitude). Yet, the design itself has some fatal flaws. For example the Lamborghini Urus, which seems to be the new ‘it’ car:

The insanely ugly piece of plastic on the side back, just like the Toyota Camry.

This thing:

Same as the Camry here:

Once again the Urus:

Also when seeing a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ in person– my critique:

The back-end of the Lamborghini Aventador is quite lack-luster — too much plastic in the back tail-exhaust area:

In fact, I actually believe the design of the Lamborghini Huracan is *superior* to that of the Aventador (which has the iconic ‘scissor doors’). I actually would *PREFER* to have a Huracan STO over the Aventador, even though I lose out on the scissor doors.

What I desire to become–

Not just ERIC KIM, the photographer … but to become *THE PHOTOGRAPHER*.

No reason to ever ever ever get another Android, or Windows, or non-Mac or non-iPhone thing:

Something I think people don’t recognize or know — how easy it is to share your photos and videos quickly and efficiently and effectively from your laptop, via your desktop, MacOS, or on Apple Photos.

Keep bravely marching forward, either for better or worse. Ignore the feedback and criticisms of others. You know what’s best.

Allow and permit yourself unique and different privileges.