We want security and freedom … but for what, and from what? And what do we want to do with our own personal security and freedom anyways?

I am a huuuuuge fan of smartphone cameras and all the empowerment and all the new opportunities it affords us in a very democratic way. But the thing and what I believe my honest truth is:

A stand-alone camera, dedicated camera, focused on only making photos or video will always be 10x superior. 

My thoughts:

It seems we are all hungry for and thirsty for a “better life”. But what is a “better life” anyways? And once we achieve and obtain this “better life”, then what?

If it weren’t for us street photographers, how would future generations know what life was like today?

A play on Galen’s idea “The best physician is also a philosopher”.

I say:

Become less curious about the life and lifestyle of others. Become more curious about yourself, your body, your mind, and your own personal life experiences and story.

No niche or boundaries to your photos. Shoot it all.

When you quit sugar and you taste bitter foods (black light roasted coffee, 100% cocoa nibs, 100% cocoa powder), you discover these “bitter” are actually quite sweet. Which makes me think:

Perhaps in life, we should avoid the obviously sweet stuff. If we want to maximize our happiness and health, perhaps we should seek the bitter?

Or how I say it:

Bitter is better.

In this bitter and cruel game of life, bitter is better.

My thoughts on Nassim Taleb‘s “Skin in the Game” philosophy —

Don’t be a coward. Expose yourself to risks for the betterment of society and others.

My thought:

In this game of life, your goal is to extract and contribute the maximum to society.

Promote yourself because you are valuable, smart, intelligent, skilled, and your opinion matters.

You are the brand. Your first and last name. Yourself above all.

All niches are traps. Avoid them!

In praise of being different, unpredictable, random, and fun:

Because one day, you will be right.

Providence Rhode Island as the best city-state:

Delta measures change. Change over time. Growth. Augmentation. Increasing. DELTA is good. Also the logo of ARSBETA.COM

How to live and think like a billionaire:

People who believe in the singularity — repulsive both aesthetically and philosophically.

I am anti-conspiracy theories, and anti-notions of some sort of plot for the American government trying to ‘control’ the citizens. No. It is far more complex. You just got politicians lobbying for power, and lobbyists lobbying for more money and influence. The whole system is chaotic. Not only that, but the good thing:

There is no conspiracy.

This means — all the ‘connections’ we see are just randomness, chaos, and chance. There is no face to ‘Big Brother’ nor a face to ‘Uncle Sam’. We Americans — we got the power. “We the people” as Jefferson said; or even inspired by Roger Williams regarding ‘soul freedom’.

Do things early and always add buffer to whatever you do.

A new realization and epiphany in life and technology:

Don’t get locked in.

For example with social media, don’t get locked into their digital chattel slavery, or becoming a ‘digital sharecropper‘. Do not become an ‘Insta-Slave‘.

Even with Apple — don’t get locked into their ‘walled garden’ ecosystem. Steve Jobs had all the best intentions, but … true freedom requires you to NOT be locked or chained to any platform, device, or operating system.

Hygiene as a philosophical endeavor (Galen). The physician is also a philosopher. Hygiene isn’t just anti germs — it is also physical health, physiological health, mental health, hygiene from toxic people and toxic news, etc.

Freedom is the goal. But once you got it, then what do you wanna do with your life?

If you let pleasure guide you, you will learn much.

For example, I love lifting weights and physical exercise. Fitness is pleasure to me. This as I gain, I learn and love life!

Uber-simple cooking:

The goal:

Infinite Muscular Gains

Strive for uber-simple. The simpler, the better.

Purism is bad for photography, art, and life:

As simple as possible — uber-simple:

We simpletons. We think too binary.

My thought:

Towards a more carnivore diet — also eat a LOT of bitter greens (kale, collard greens, spinach!)

The new goal and aesthetic and approach:

UBER-SIMPLICITY!

Uber-simplicity is the goal.

The more distractions, the more money (advertising or app revenue) for Apple, FacebookGram, GoogleTube, Amazon, etc.

It is simple— just follow the money.

Humans are awesome. To be pessimistic and negative is easy. Takes more skill, courage and valor to be optimistic.

Do you aspire to become more of a man, or more of a machine? Or both? A hybrid?

Don’t waste too much energy trying to motivate others— best to spend energy focus and time to motivate yourself.

Flow on!

Hands down, price aside, iPhone SE is the best iPhone — even better than iPhone Pro.

Why?

Lumix g9, Leica-Lumix 12mm f/1.4 lens (24 mm full-frame equivalent), and RODE Microphone with Wind Jammer. Optimal for street vlogging, or vlogging … anything. Shoot 4K at 60 FPS; it is a beast.

Simple workflow:

Lesson from my friend Todd Hata:

Better to buy the cheapest iPhone or Tesla than buy the most expensive Android phone or the most expensive Toyota.

Also — perhaps better to buy the cheapest Lexus than the most expensive Toyota (Toyota owns Lexus). Also getting the cheapest Genesis car than the most expensive Hyundai car (Hyundai owns genesis).

I became an entrepreneur because I was dissatisfied with society, how the world works, and dissatisfied with the photography culture and world, thus … I desired to create the change which I wished to see manifested in the embodied world.

I do both:

Intermittent fast (no breakfast or lunch), and when I break my fast (dinner), I eat a SHITLOAD of food (mostly meat // a more carnivorous diet).

No venture capital. No collaborators. No sponsors. No brand deals. Just you.

A consumer thinks:

If I could discover the perfect product and can buy it, I’d be so happy.

The producer thinks:

Man, everything sucks and is so mediocre. I’d rather build something cool myself!

As of now, RICOH GR III is the best camera (at all price points) in the market. Leica, Fuji, Apple doesn’t come close.

My personal thoughts on the importance of tolerance in society:

Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean everyone else shouldn’t like it or do it!

Video as the future of photography and media. We will always prefer video (photo, video AND audio) over just photo, just audio (podcasts).

In other words, if you want to succeed in the upcoming brave new world of digital media, start making videos:

Don’t strive to become anyone else; strive to become MORE of yourself!

All photos are different and alike at the same time:

Beyond thinking about “good” and “bad” photos. Best to think about just making photos which document and detail your own personal life journey:

A philosophical photographic approach and thought to life:

Everything doesn’t happen for a “reason”, but we should think:

Don’t desire for reality to have manifested any other way!

Towards a more carnivorous diet, or a more ‘animal based’ diet:

Towards a ‘one rep max’ approach to life:

In praise of the park life:

Start with the end, and work your way backwards. Or the chess idea:

Study the endgame — the most effective way to master chess (not studying opener moves) // via Peter Thiel (‘Zero to One’ Book)

Or in other words, not tech for the sake of tech. Or as little tech as possible.

The best life — the life with the least amount of stress, anxiety and bullshit. A “via negativa” approach to happiness, focus, and life.

I do it uber-ghetto and simple:

My workouts:

The notion of “just do you” is a good one from modern day thinking. It means:

Leave others alone, but also demand others leave you alone.

We talk much about “body shaming” or even LGBTQ “pride” weeks. But how come we never talk about body pride?

Collection doesn’t take skill (it just takes time and money) creating does.

Anti-collection; pro-creation.

My goal:

Become the uber-photographer — ABOVE and BEYOND photography.