Not “good” or “bad” artist … “strong” or “weak” artist.

The wrong thought is that humans are naturally lazy and want to maximize our laziness. The truth is actually:

We desire more difficult challenges, newer sights, and new challenges to challenge us. Having an epic goal in life which we can aim at, and strive to overcome … this is the maximal joy in life!

On photographing the same thing over and over again 

1. Whatever you photograph, it is slowly decaying and dying
2. You are also slowly decaying and dying

One of my primary strength: making small talk with strangers.

A thought:

As photographers, are we striving towards capturing ‘objective’ reality, or are we striving to abstract reality?

Very simple idea:

Your bodily and physiological health is of supreme importance. Focus on this, and everything else will follow.

Strong external stimuli gets me going:

Stronger external stimuli:

1. Harder music
2. More sunlight
3. More walking
4. More experiences
5. More life!

We want to live a life without regrets. Why?

Dear friends, during COVID-19 things might be hard to stay motivated in your photography. Some simple ideas to get you going:

1. Photographic barbell: Spend time looking at your old photos and also shooting new photos. Looking at your old photos will re-spark your passion and motivation for photography!
2. Cross-pollinate: Cross-pollination in photography is this: Study old-school artists (Renaissance painters, etc) and figure out how you can ‘steal’ their techniques approaches, etc to re-spark your passion, and creative vision for photography.
3. Shoot with a new filter during covid-19. For example, I am enjoying cross-processing filter on my Ricoh gr III camera, which I know in the future will date my images in a creative way. I will look back at these old photos and remember: “Wow, I remember what it was like living through Covid-19! Filters are a good way to document your life journey.

SHOOT ON!

ERIC

Our joy … to rearrange reality?

In the aesthetics of photography we are concerned with making beautiful photos. But why?

A thought

When it comes to aesthetics in photography, are we trying to make it as real to real life as possible, or as divorced from real life as possible, and why?

Vietnam being one of the pivotal moments of my life.

I’m not anti waste for ecological or ethical reasons on “saving the planet”. To me, it is more of an aesthetic thing.

For example:

Depending on whether you overexpose or underexpose a photo, you can shift and change the colors. Just like what a painter would do!

Don’t let others superimpose their definition of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ unto you.

In other words:

You cultivate your own artistic and aesthetic tastes for yourself!

Would you let someone “educate” you on what ice cream flavor is the best for your tongue? Of course not!

Not photo OR video … but both!

“Mutum est pictura poems.” (A picture is a silent poem)

A picture is in the past known as a painting (photos didn’t exist then).

So in some ways when we talk about photographs, this is more specific. A picture can mean painting OR photograph.

Simple idea:

To maximize your photographic potential, barbell between looking at your old photos (and re-uploading them) and shooting NEW photos and uploading NEW photos!

A car can be bought, a body can’t.

Even if you’re into cars, better to get a clean car, and build it up than to buy a car which is already a supercar.

Why? True pleasure is in the building up and process of power augmentation, not the final result.

To maximize muscular gain, eat more meat.

I’m never satisfied, that’s why I stay alive.

We are told that to be consistent is virtuous. What if being INCONSISTENT were better?

Your task as a photographer: document and record your own odyssey in life.

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How do you make better photos? Simple; just follow the light!

Dear friend,

A recent epiphany the other day:

Perhaps the best way for us to approach COVID-19 is this… instead of seeing the face mask as a hassle or whatever, instead … to see it as an interesting prop for us to shoot more interesting selfies of ourselves, and also to shoot interesting street photos of others with face masks!

My thoughts:

I believe happiness as a physiological phenomenon. Some thoughts:

The ultimate way to live life:

ZERO COMPROMISE.

The future. RICOH GR III x ERIC KIM NECK STRAP MARK II:

So this is the basic gist:

Click the videos below, and just drag your mouse around; to get a 360 virtual reality / augmented reality experience of what I see, witness, and do.

Everyday is carte blanche; a new blank piece of paper, a clean new slate for you to impress yourself upon!

Can you become an entrepreneur if your primary interest isn’t in making money? I think so!

Why I prefer a smaller but more ‘luxury’ apartment:

What’s the best way to learn? Imitate artists and the work of artists you admire. For example, my love of the work of Leonardo da Vinci:

I wonder if cruise ships will never be allowed to sail again. The thought:

When I was photographing the cruise ships, I had no idea COVID would happen, making it impossible to go on a cruise ship ever again.

Which makes me think:

Perhaps we should approach photography like this: Whatever you photograph, it might be the last.

The elixir of youth, life and becoming an uberman?

A thought:

Perhaps we should treat face masks as a fun, interesting new photographic prop. To embolden us in street photography, but also to give us the opportunity to use it as an interesting prop when photographing others (street photography and people with face masks), or even when shooting selfies of ourselves?

My new vision for sharing photos:

Share public .ZIP download links including your JPEG images … to allow your viewer to freely (open source) experience your photos in the best possible way.

Something on my mind:

When it comes to aesthetics in photography … do we want our aesthetics to look as much as ‘real life’ as possible, or do we prefer the more extreme — “un-reality”?

Providence Rhode Island is my new favorite city in America; possibly the world?

Dear friend,

Right now is your chance and opportunity to pursue your own passion photography project. Some thoughts:

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Why I love photography so much:

My practical ideas and thoughts:

1. Intermittent fasting
2. No breakfast or lunch. Only massive dinner.
3. No sugar, starch, carbs. No alcohol, weed, drugs. Only lots of black coffee.
4. Body weight exercises AND weight lifting.
5. The more muscular my body, the more artistically productive I am.
6. Combine ALL forms of visual art … the ultimate cross pollination to discover new artistic inspiration.
7. No phone as ultimate productivity hack.
8. Switch between iPad and Laptop for maximal productivity.
9. Living in tiny apartment with washer and dryer in unit and fast WiFi.
10. Drinking 100% cocoa powder, or cocoa nibs to extend fast.
11. Drinking green tea/matcha green tea in the evening instead of coffee.
12. Crock pot or oven for maximal ease of cooking delicious meats.
13. Best bang for buck meat: pork shoulder roast (.99 cent a pound), chicken legs or leg quarters, and beef. For ease of cooking big cuts of meat, just crockpot it!
14. Don’t sit. Eat standing up. If tired, take a nap by lying on my back. Standing desk, or squatting desk. Using iPad to compute while standing.
15. Cold showers
16. Water/kayak shoes (cheap minimalist shoes) for no foot pain.
17. All merino wool everything for optimal clothes. Merino wool men legging, t shirt, socks, etc.
18. Don’t own a car. Walk everywhere. For groceries, grocery delivery.

Pain as a stimulus to growth, movement… and a necessary component to pleasure.

What made Leonardo da Vinci such a genius? His imagination.

In praise of muscles:

Art: something you create with your own will-power. It is important because without art, we would have no reason to live.

On shooting from a distance:

Rather than criticize and critique .. better to take a ‘generative’ approach.

What is the use of studying the words, thoughts, books and art works of others?

Let their works be a stimulus to OUR OWN art-works and creations!

The goal:

Hybrid of both stoicism and child’s mind

The human body is the apex source of inspiration, motivation, and power.

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My Philosophy of Art

The ultimate democratic approach to art:

Art is whatever you want it to be, however you want it to be.

Health:

Physiological power to pursue your own personal life-goals and ends.

If you like watching action movies, perhaps also a good idea to live your life as if it were your own action film!

To me, street photography is deep gratitude towards existence and life. To shoot street photography means:

I LOVE REALITY! I’m so grateful to be alive!

The best life:

What I believe in:

How do you know what you should make and create? Simple thought:

Create what you like to consume!

Hugely beneficial to study sculpture, movement, physics, human physiology, statues, human athletes, etc to gain a deeper understanding of composition, force, and beyond.

A new genre of street photography:

Video street photography.

Let me explain the concept:

In life, perhaps we shouldn’t strive to go backwards. To have the courage to keep marching forward.