You’re brave, what is your duty? If you really knew me, you would know I don’t care much for myself. I don’t think of myself at all. 

My ego is just a tool. I yield it to guide my soul. I feel my role is to help empower others. To encourage, and uplift their spirits. To wear my confidence like mail, chained tight to my purpose with no kinks.

Drinking the Dionysian gin and tonic. Staring at my goal, I nod it. 

What is your duty to mankind? Only you can say. Let no nay-sayers guide you otherwise. Tie up your loose ends, and seek your own end.

ERIC

POETRY >

A thought on success:

Be insanely different from everyone (in other words, just be you).

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Currently on a cruise ship (what I consider a pseudo-utopia).

Currently thinking about money:

What would be the purpose/function of money in a “post-monetary society”?

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The less friction, the better. The more direct approach we take in life, the better.

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Travel further with TRAVEL NOTES >

A question:

Will traveling actually help improve your photography?

I think so. Not directly, but this is generally what happens:

When you travel, you focus on making photos, you shoot more, and thus you learn more, and improve your photography!

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Low-key:

Shooting photos with a lower-exposure (darker).

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A fun activity:

Take screenshots of photos you’ve already shot!

I call this ‘meta-photography’ — using the screenshot tool to photograph your own photos.

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If you want to re-spark your passion for photography and travel, pick up a copy of TRAVEL NOTES on Amazon, or here in our HAPTIC SHOP.

Let us assume you are financially independent, location independent, nomadic, rich, and whatever form of success.

Now the question is:

How should I live my life? How should I direct my life-force-energy?

My simple thought:

Perhaps the end-game is for us to focus on creating our artwork [photography and beyond]!

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A thought:

The end goal isn’t happiness, it is artistic ex/outpression, and the witnessing of yourself becoming stronger.

Also, helping empower others along the way while you’re still alive!

Happiness is a reflection of power and thriving?

When are we happy? We are happy when we are witnessing progression in our life, when we have strong health, and strong confidence in ourselves. To strive towards happiness is good; but we want happiness in order to maximize our health, in order to maximize our creative output and personal evolution!

TRAVEL NOTES now live on AMAZON >

RICOH GR III is the best travel photography camera. Small, compact, phenomenal sharpness and dynamic price, lightest [even smaller and lighter than RICOH GR II], recharges with USB-C. There are no ‘real’ flaws with the RICOH GR III in my eyes [only thing I wish is it had an integrated flash — but even this seems optional at this point].

It seems that with traveling, the point is for you to experience more, to think more, to be less weighed down, and to photograph more. It seems that if these are the goals, to have the smallest, lightest, and most affordable camera [use your money towards travel expenses] is the best option.

Long story short, if you like any form of photography (travel, street, personal, documentary, etc) — it seems the RICOH GR III is the ultimate camera.

ERIC

Extract the Maximum from Reality and Life:

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Dare to stare into the depths of your soul and exclaim whatever you want to the real world.

DARE
Dare to care about what you are curious about, to follow your gut, to never second-guess yourself.

DARE
Dare to bear your heart and soul to others; to never water yourself down in falls. Your goal is to enthrall others and you; to steer your own rudder in life.

Strife is beautiful; life is a beautiful war. You’re hard in your core, and you have much to share with others still in store.

Let the creativity seep out of your pores and veins, and let yourself go insane. No stains from your past holding you back. Steer straight and never veer — your destination is near!

ERIC

POETRY

• Life Isn’t Fair
• UPLIFT.
• Don’t Be Timid
• FLY HIGHER!
• Ain’t Nobody Stopping You!
• Seize Today!
• You Were Destined to Do Great Things, My Dear
• Fly Higher!
• CREATIVE DYNAMITE
• KILL EK
• ROOTS.
• MURALS.
• Keep Sailing

Was on the plane and cruise ship without wifi, and instead of blogging in real time, and I used iBooks Author to put together some photos and some thoughts while in transit.

Free PDF DOWNLOAD >

Better to be poorer, with more freedom, and more control over your artwork and life.

For example as a musician, better to have a very small and dedicated fanbase [than to have millions of fans, but being forced to make music you don’t care for].

Better to be poor and own your own website/blog to freely share your thoughts and opinions, than to be controlled by some sort of publicist who won’t allow you to say what you really think.

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You don’t have a duty to help all of mankind. My idea:

The goal is for you to create genuine thoughts, ideas, and art-works, and to share them as widely as possible.

Even if you can positively impact and empower 1 other human on planet earth — you’re fulfilling your duty!

This is the strange thing I notice:

We admire things [cars, homes, electronics, stuff] more than we do humans.

For example, we find Porsche cars more impressive than great individuals. We find Rolex watches more impressive than brave and courageous individuals. We find big homes more impressive than great thinkers. We find stacks of money more alluring than innovative minds.

Perhaps this pre-occupation with objects, money, and things more than individuals and real human beings is a sign cultural and social degeneration?

My suggestion: Let us focus on admiring people more than things, possessions. Instead of admiring things, let us admire heroes and individuals we desire to emulate!

ERIC

One of my life goals:

Strive to [everyday] have the maximal feeling of physiological power and self-confidence.

To get drunk off Dionysian self-intoxication; to channel my inner powers to creative output.

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In praise of thinking for yourself:

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I don’t think the purpose of a vacation or any activity (sleep, nap, massage) is to “relax”. Better to think of it as recovery and to reinvigorate yourself!

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TRAVEL FURTHER WITH TRAVEL NOTES >

I think on your road to deepening your personal wisdom about the world, travel is a necessity.

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My current thought:

The objective of life is for you to advance your artistic innovation, insight, creativity.

And how to do this?

Optimize your life which prioritizes your artistic evolution and thriving.

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Evolve
Strive to enthrall yourself with your progress and strength
To what length can you evolve forth? Is there any chord holding you back?

How can you evolve? How can you fly higher, swim further, and go more?

My idea: strive to impress you. Channel your dissatisfaction in a positive way. Allow yourself to go hard all day, everyday, let yourself go cray cray. You’re here to stay. Creative self doubt, just slay.

No need to pray or hope. Just do it now, share your dopeness and authenticity.

You’re strong, focused and raw. Throw your javelin, and dare.

ERIC

When you see an interesting scene — keep shooting the scene, change up your composition/framing/orientation — and later when you review your photos on your computer, THEN choose your favorite!

• Download ZIP of Composition Files >

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Make shots
Photograph your thoughts
Shoot your soul, emotions, and motions
Black or white, chroma; it’s all dolce and sweet

Your photos are your art; why hesitate, why not start?

Chart your creative seas, stir it up, and venture endlessly.

ERIC

In praise of books:

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Photography makes life worth living!

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What is the root cause of depression? Why do we feel depressed some days, and uplifted other days? Does depression manifest differently in different people?

Is the word “depression” even useful? Let me essay some of my thoughts:

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BOLD and BRAVE, no Regret or Shame

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TRAVEL NOTES by HAPTIC PRESS

Why travel? For me, traveling isn’t for the sake of traveling. Instead, traveling as a means or a bridge for self-introspection.

When you travel, you finally get the distance away from all the craziness and hecticness in the world. Even the benefit of flying on an airplane without wifi; finally the chance to disconnect — which will open up and free your mind.

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Dear friend,

Since dropping STREET NOTES, PHOTO JOURNAL, FILM NOTES, and STREET HUNT — we are very excited to share with you our newest creation:

TRAVEL NOTES

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More options, more stress, more distractions.

In praise of “choice minimalism” of living.

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In today’s world, assuming you have the means— why would you ever buy a gasoline car?

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When you buy something, it requires much of you. You must take care of it, you must maintain it, you must use it. 

You don’t want to just store it, or have it collect dust somewhere. And if it does become unused, you’re gonna one day figure out what to do with it — to throw it away, give it away, or sell it. All require much work. Throwing away (mental, emotional, sentimental guilt). Giving it away — deterring a “worthy” recipient. Selling it — the stress finding a buyer, using time, and coordinating it all, and also getting a fair price.

Be extremely selective and picky about what you buy and admit into your life. Only buy what you can imagine using for an eternity.

Invest more money in yourself and experiences. Invest in metaphysical things. Good thing about buying experiences— you store them in your heart and memory, not your garage! You can infinitely hoard memories and experiences inside your mind.

A lesson:

Generally in life, more and bigger is worse.

Let me explain.

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Beyond “virtue signaling”— virtue flexing.

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For many of us, we strive to retire, become “financially independent” and “location independent”. It seems the modern form of success is to become a “digital nomad”.

But once you achieve all this — then what?

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ERIC KIM PORTFOLIO BAG: Perfectly fits your iPad, iPhone, and RICOH GR III or II:

Only 3 left in stock >

Free photography tips on ERIC KIM NEWSLETTER >

An encouraging idea to start this week:Whatever ‘imperfect’ art you make is perfect!

What I mean is this:

In our lives, we are often discouraged to create artwork because we think:

If my artwork isn’t “good”, it isn’t worth doing.

However this is my thought:

It doesn’t matter if it is good or bad, just make it!

The fact that YOU made it makes it legitimate and good!

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It is pretty obvious that at this point, we are all always on our devices [phones, laptops, etc]. Is this a bad thing?

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The joy of walking the streets, wandering, interesting with strangers (or not). The joy and delight in being a part of society. The joy of making art works from human beings in urban and public places.

When in doubt, shoot more street. Go to the downtown area more. Travel to more cities. Attempt to shoot more. Get closer. “Work the scene” by shooting more of a scene. Don’t hesitate before clicking, just shoot it!

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What makes visual art so fun and great —

The excitement to witness and create new forms, shapes, colors, and combinations!

For example my impetus in photography:

The excitement to witness new things, new scenes, new combinations, and to create NEW types of images!

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Thinking about materialism and consumerism:

Much of the things we purchase is in order to ‘flex’ our personal possessions. To assert our status, richness, power, etc.

Questions:

1. Is flexing ‘bad’?
2. Why flex?
3. What would a world without flexing be?
4. Is flexing ‘good’?

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Seeing beautiful design awakens me, invigorates me, and gives me new hope towards the future. I have a reason to keep on living, to keep witnessing beautiful designs but also to have the motivation to create more of my own beautiful designs!

For car design, McLaren and Lamborghini.

Expression = ex+press the artistic power from within yourself outwards.

I’d prefer the term “outpression”— pressing outwards (from inside yourself) your creative and artistic power and force.

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In American and modern culture, it is all about consumerism, materialism, and obsession with accumulating more — more money, more possessions, fancier cars, fancier possessions and object/tools, more land, more homes, more everything.

Now a simple question —

Is this bad?

My thoughts:

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Free photography tips on Eric Kim NEWSLETTER

An infinite amount of ways you can approach photography:

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How I choose photos I like:

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A maxim from our buddy Nietzsche.

The basic idea:

All wounds you receive in your life stimulate your recuperative properties in your body.

Thus in life, realize that all the pain, difficulty and suffering you experience in life is actually beneficial to you. The only “bad” thing that happens to us is if we die. Everything else is upside!

PHILOSOPHY BY KIM >

In striving to come up with a good definition of street photography, it seems the most simple is the best:

Any photo you shoot in public is a street photograph.

Photo+graph= light drawing.

Street photography as light street drawings. It means you’re using a camera (light capturing device) to make sketches of stuff you see in public places, cities, urban spaces, streets.

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A thought:

Is it possible we can direct our own self-evolution within a single lifetime? [our lifetime]

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HENRI NECK STRAP MARK III available in Mahogany Brown [Amazon] or Phantom Black [HAPTIC SHOP].

Learn more >

Where does our personal strength and energy come from?

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Create your own ‘stories’, by just using your own website/blog to document your everyday experiences.

Blogging as a tool to reflect on your experiences, to digest them, and to derive more joy from them!

Thus blogging is a process of:

1. Memory assimilation
2. Personal growth and evolution
3. Reflection/meditation
4. Augmented intelligence

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In praise of blurry photos, out-of-focus photos, and photos which are ‘imperfect’. Perhaps they better document our memories, emotions, and feelings of a scene — imperfect, gritty, full of movement, and emotional?

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What is the practical parts of striving towards knowledge and philosophy? Should it be used as an aid to improve our lives, or to discover knowledge beyond ourselves — knowledge which not benefit ourselves, but maybe future generations of humanity?

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Strive to make beautiful products, beautiful websites, beautiful art works, beautiful photos, beautiful forms, shapes, music, and ideas. Transfigure the world with your artistic vision!

This is the impetus behind HAPTIC, ARS, this blog, and everything I do.

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It seems that 90%+ of the online economy comes from advertising (Google/Facebook owns the majority). This basically means:

Offer a free service to the user, and derive income from advertising.

Now, I personally have an aversion to advertising. I hate watching TV ads, seeing ads in magazines, or having ‘popup ads’ or banner advertising online.

However– is advertising ‘bad’? What does ‘advertising’ even mean? Some thoughts:

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A thought from our buddy Nietzsche [Twilight of the Idols]:

Live your life (today) as you would desire to live again forever.

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You make the rules. The photo or image isn’t sacred.

Feel free to remix, modify, or alter the image however you desire.

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To play is to be human.

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A thought:

Too much focus on being overly frugal and economical is bad.

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What triggers you to make photos?

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Currently the RICOH GR III is the best ‘standalone’ digital camera on the market. Superior to all competitors, including Leica Q2.

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A thought —

How do we actually “motivate” ourselves in life? Where does the power and energy of motivation come from?

This is also tied to ideas on free will.

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Perhaps a principle to life and our personal evolution and thriving:

Never stop sharing.

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The problem with technology now:

Technology is too focused on data, ‘efficiency’, ‘optimization’, and all these nerdy things.

What should technology be doing for us? Making us MORE ARTISTIC, more curious, and more child-like.

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After mucking around with the new macOS Catalina beta on my laptop [and corrupting my hard-drive upon installing a new Beta Update], I did a fresh new install of the OS.

It is great. I feel lighter, more free, and more pumped to create new things. There was great joy in re-installing files and applications I needed. Also, I only re-installed the essential apps, files, and folders. Thus a lot of my old ‘legacy’ apps [that I no longer used]. are no longer on my hard-drive. This means more hard drive space, and my laptop runs faster, and more lean.

Which made me wonder–

Perhaps in life, we should regularly do a fresh new ‘reformatting’ of our mind, possessions, and life in general.

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