A thought and reflection on photography and art:
There are no ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ ways to approach photography or art.
Then perhaps our greatest contribution to others can be:
Just share how *YOU* do it, and let others ‘take it or leave it’!
In other words, anti-artistic tyranny. Every one can do photography and art however *they* desire to do so.
All teaching is just suggestions and guidance!
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When I look at my photos (often when I photograph the same scene in both monochrome *AND* color, the monochrome photos seem so much more artistic. Why is this the case?
Theory:
Color looks like ‘real life’ and we disdain ‘real life’. Perhaps we prefer the *false* reality of monochrome?
Then perhaps this is what art is:
Art is contra-reality?
A quick guide and primer on doing a floor bench press (not using standard bench press).
Why do it on the floor instead of using a bench? Some thoughts:
(more…)Just share it all.
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No right or wrong way to do things. The goal: create a new bespoke mould for yourself!
I only ever feel like I ever got a good “workout” if I push myself to my one rep max, and either fail (while almost succeeding) or from suceeding.
Morale:
To skate and dance around and push yourself towards the proximity of your limits is pure bliss!
More interesting to come up with interesting questions than need to come up with the answers (and all the answers are subjective anyways!)
As someone who has been sponsored in the past, got free stuff, got paid, got special gigs and treatment etc I’d say brand sponsorships and endorsements (while they sound sexy) is mostly a trap. Why?
Well first of all, you lose your true opinion. For example as I was getting free cameras from Fujifilm I learned:
I would actually never spend my own and real money on a Fujifilm camera (and even before I got sponsored, I never purchased one with my own money).
Same when I got free phones from Samsung. Truth be told, I’d never actually buy a Samsung smartphone for myself in cash.
So as a consequence, it is great having free stuff but the downside is that I don’t use the stuff I really want to be using, and also I don’t know what my true preferences are. I’m not saying 100% undiluted what I *really* think and believe, in the low-key fear I might stop receiving free stuff in the future. So in this way, you become trapped.
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My goal and my personal pursuit:
Discovering how we can maximize human potential … using my self and my life as a guinea pig!
Thought 1:
Variety of social spaces throughout the day. Not just staying home all day.
We get joy from looking at the photos of others (National Geographic, the old masters of photography, photo books, etc). But a thought:
(more…)Isn’t it better that we get more inspiration from looking at our own (old) photos than the photos of others?
First snow in Providence Rhode Island today.
A lot of East Coasters and Middle-Coasters often think California is the best. In my opinion, I think California is sooooo overrated.
Life with snow is more fun, interesting and dynamic!
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Generation Iron 4 (Natty 4 Life) is a great film. Highly recommend it. Some quick thoughts:
Just watched Generation Iron 4 (Natty 4 Life) and really enjoyed it. The thought which came to me:
In body building, the ‘natural’ body building scene is more ‘legitimate’ or more ‘wholesome’, whereas 1000x less popular than the ‘freak show’ of traditional body building (with steroids).
Then this makes me think and wonder:
Why strive towards mainstream success? Perhaps mainstream success is positively bad; low-key success (in your small field, according to your own ethics and beliefs) is superior.
Even more deep:
(more…)*WHY* compete in the first place?
Why be consistent? And how to become more consistent? My thoughts:
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When it comes to lifting and powerlifting, I say this is the hierarchy:
Typically speaking, I encourage you to first strengthen your legs (strong legs as the more masculine thing) and to make your leg strength your priority. Typically if you get a 4 plate deadlift (405 pounds+) or a 3 plate squat (315 pounds) your upper body will also naturally become very strong and buff (you must shoulder that weight, or lift it).
Anyways, here are some of my thoughts on squatting:
(more…)No new ideas, no new life.
(more…)Thought:
Perhaps we should strive for some sort of stability in our everyday environment, in order to be more ‘instable’ (creatively motivated) in real life?
Nothing can conquer me! The most robust and Antifragile position you can put yourself into!
Better yet, you intentionally put yourself in very difficult scenarios in order to test your strength, courage and fortitude
Why exercise, tax and exert bodily effort? Simple… as a means of inspiring and triggering your mind to think!
Don’t separate your identities, or your activities. You’re always a photographer and always you. This means always be shooting, always be recording, and most importantly… always be living!
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My dream:
(more…)Come up with certain ideas and share them with others which can empower *all* photographers from around the globe, regardless of experience, socio-economic status, etc!
You exist and will continue to exist for (some) time. The question:
How do you desire to harness your life and existence? What interesting experiments do you want to try and discover for yourself or for others?
For example what new truths do you desire to discover? What new things do you desire to discover about your self or body? What specific or universal truths do you desire to discover?
Or in other words, COVID has taught us:
We humans thrive when we have the opportunity to interact, talk, and engage with other human beings!
If you want to discover more inspiration and motivation, you need some sort of visual distractions (in embodied reality) via human beings, random textures, variation of environment.
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Ideation:
The art of coming up with new ideas.
Why ideation? Why ideas? A world and society without any new ideas is a society on the decline.
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‘Adrenaline in me like I got injected (BIG SEAN).
The more we can live with adrenaline, the better.
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Theory:
Our mood is mostly hormonal. Thus if we can identify the specific activities, substances, or lifestyle things which affect our hormones in a certain way… then it means:
(more…)Our moods are easily within our control!
Ever since Covid hit, I’ve been gymless for many months. Just got a new membership, and hit the deadlift, squat, heavy dumbell press. After quarantine my strength is still surprisingly good! Max 455 deadlift before COVID, and I just did 415 (pretty easy), squatted 3 plates and a 10 on each side (felt easy), and 100 pound dumbell with good effort.
Since this week powerlifting again, I’m less agitated easily. My mood is far more balanced and zen-stoic calm.
I read a theory from Nassim Taleb about testosterone:
The higher your testosterone, ironically your mood is *less* variable, and cortisol (stress) affects you less.
Then the theory:
If you desire to have a more stoic and zen calm in life, increasing your testosterone (via natural methods like powerlifting and consuming more fatty red meat like beef) is massively advantageous!
FIRST SENT TO ERIC KIM NEWSLETTER >
Dear friend,
The thought to inspire and motivate you:
Ask yourself… ‘Why do I make photos?’
From this answer, all the other answers will come easy.
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The better we understand *why* we make photos, the more motivation we can give ourselves to actually shoot!
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Real gratitude:
In fact, your life is great. And you feel deep gratitude for the greatness in your life.
False gratitude:
Your life is actually quite shitty, but you play the ‘sour grapes’ idea in your mind, trying to trick yourself into thinking that your (really bad) situation isn’t *that* bad.
Why is this difference important?
Well, let us say you’re in an abusive relationship. To simply say ‘oh my situation isn’t that bad, he doesn’t beat me *THAT* bad’ is unacceptable. We must not be fooled. And to have false gratitude will prevent us from actually changing our real life situation for the better.
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When I am looking out, and I see some of these things, it motivates me to shoot photos:
Life with photography is far richer, more vibrant, more joyful and superior to life without photography.
If your goal is to augment your happiness in life, deeper integration with photography is supreme!
(more…)Like seeing a guy squat 405+ at the gym (ass to grass) and making it look easy (no belt). It gives me confidence I can do the same!
So why make it more complicated than it needs to be?
There are many things which are unlimited and many things which are limited and having bounds.
Limited and bounded: the maximum extent of human life (maybe 130 years?)
Things which are unlimited: digital things, energy (in a practical form), etc.
Then the question arises: how to maximize and leverage things which are unlimited while being mindful of what’s bounded in our life?
In life, your basic needs will be met. Also, even if you acquire all the best tools, fashions, equipment, clothes, cars, watches, homes, etc … what is the end of all of it?
To me, it seems the best strategy in life is this:
Harness your body, mind, and gut as a tool to create new art works, to discover new truths which will have positive utility for mankind, and to help evolve humanity forwards and upwards!
There is no such thing as “good” breathing and “bad” breathing, and we also don’t need to force ourselves to breathe.
So why judge our photos in a similar vein? Why not enjoy photography as seamlessly and effortlessly as we approach breathing; subconsciously, unconsciously, and without force and effort?
The best photos are effortless. You shoot as you see things, with no hesitation, self censorship or judgement.
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The best entertainment is challenging, enthralling, dangerous, cruel, tragic and beautiful all in one.
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Disregard notions of having to make a “good” photo. Better to take a “bad” photo than no photo!
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Certainly there is no such thing as ultimate truths, but it seems that our attempt to seek *some* interesting personal truths (which can be applied to a sub-section of society) is very interesting and important!
And if you cannot seek your own equals or find your equals, just go at it alone, and find your equals as you go along!
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Thought:
With us men, there seems to be some sort of male hierarchy based on physical strength.
For example at the gym, the question is:
Can you deadlift over 4 plates? Can you squat over 3 plates? Can you bench over 2 plates?
This seems to be the very basic bar in terms of strength. Either you are above it, or under it.
If you are over it, you become part of this elite club. If you cannot, you are just another ‘rando’ (random) individual who is just sort of a hobbyist.
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Gym as a great zen temple. Also a great place to socialize, meet new folks, shoot the shit, walk around in big areas when you’re trapped at home all day, and getting a great gym pump.
Photo idea:
Photograph really up-and-close macro photos of food.
Food is insanely interesting to photograph, to see all the valleys, shapes, textures … especially in porous materials like bread.
When looking at sourdough bread (high contrast monochrome) up close and personal, think about the fractal pattern:
(more…)Bread up close and personal is no different than a Rocky Mountain cliff from afar!
In other words:
Limits are bad.
The feeling like not having heavier weights to attempt a 1-rep max. In powerlifting, it’s always the thought of increasing your one-rep max even further is what makes it fun. If your gym had a limitation on the maximum weight, it would lack all interest! All records are there to entice us to try to break them!
The first Iron Man film: one of my favorite Marvel films of all time. Why?
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Photography is all about framing, position of yourself and your camera, and how you compose the scene:
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As I get older, it seems I prize reliability more and more. The “best†less and less.
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We want to super charge and turbo charge our vehicles, devices, etc… but why not turbocharge ourselves?
The new goal:
TURBO HUMANS.
