This is getting out of hand:

What does it mean to be happy, and how to become happy?

First of all, what is happiness? Personally speaking, I think happiness is a situation in which you have great physical and physiological strength, elevated mood, lofty thoughts, no second-guessing or doubting yourself, extreme pride in one’s self, lofty visions, and great appetites and ambition. Also, great nutritive health, lots of meat high in cholesterol such as beef liver, beef heart, beef intestines, beef ribs, beef brisket etc.

The artistic and creative component

Also, when are people happiest? When they are creating. When they are learning, playing, manipulating things, and changing and affecting things. For example, when I observe Seneca, he is happiest when he experiences new things, sees new things, recognizes old things, learns new ways to communicate, plays with the physics of water, learns how to roll up and down automatic windows in the car, open and close the glass sunroof, learns the understanding of bluetooth, and makes beats in GarageBand. Also drawing, and learning how to read.

For myself, I am the happiest when I am dancing and engaging in great conversation with Cindy, when I am training Seneca, when I am at the gym attempting to hit new personal records, when I am writing, blogging, vloggimg, making photos, selecting photos, teaching traveling etc.

Why be happy?

A practical thought; why be happy?

What are the positive outcomes of being happy, and how and who does it benefit?

First of all, I could certainly say that nobody wants to be miserable or depressed. But is happiness the opposite of depression? No. It is something else. My philosophical thought or practical thought of depression is that depression is a physiological disorder, that one is not “mentally” depressed, but physiologically depressed. What does this mean? Let us assume that you are locked in a cube with no natural light, and no outside stimulation, and given enough food to survive. What would happen to your physiological state of being? Certainly you would atrophy.

Let us consider modern day man. What is a day in the life of the modern-day man? Let us say that he commutes to work, he wakes up, has coffee, jumps in the car, and has to deal with the hateful hour to hour and a half drive to the office. At the office he has to deal with petty office politics, hateful emails, and boring meetings. The most creative thing he might do is create some sort of PowerPoint presentation. He has to stress out about his mortgage, his kids, other financial difficulties, and the stress and drama of trying to get that promotion. He then has to jump back into his car, deal with an even worse commute home, maybe an hour 45 minutes, listening to the same old podcast, the same old advertisements. He then goes home, might have enough time to microwave himself something, and “catch up on his shows“. He then stays up too late, dicking around on the Internet, sleeps a little bit too late, and then repeats the cycle all over again. I do not wish this type of existence even on my worst enemy.

What is your destiny?

I do not believe in destiny from a hocus-pocus perspective. I think of destiny in terms of destination. Where do you want to go? Where do you see yourself in the future? What were you destined for?

For myself, although I just see myself like a normal mere human being, I have so much insane pride and lofty visions of myself that I believe myself to become the next great philosopher, the next great thinker, a name that hopefully even 300 years from now, people will know. ERIC KIM as being a combination of philosopher, artist, entrepreneur, photographer, blogger, vlogger, thinker, innovator, etc.

I want to become the next Steve Jobs, the next Elon Musk, the next Kanye West, the next Jeff Bezos, etc.

Have insanely lofty visions for yourself

We are all human beings. Truth be told, genetically speaking, there is nothing that unique or remarkable about any of us. Let us consider the genius of Kanye West, and his insane ambition, and let us consider that he has only a 5 foot 7 man. Also, Elon Musk is just one human being, Steve Jobs was only one human being, and Jeff Bezos was also just one human being. Although Steve Jobs seems like mostly an absentee father, he still did have a family, wife and kids, and I think Kanye West might have four kids now.

I believe the path to the greatest happiness in life involves having the highest visions for yourself, and the highest ambitions for yourself. I don’t think this is the money making thing, or purchasing part thing. It goes beyond that. It goes towards creating, innovating, and innovating something new.

For example, desires. A big way we could innovate is to create new desires for ourselves. For example, rather than desiring to buy that thing, better to desire to become insanely strong. For example, I would much be happier being able to rack pull 800 pounds, than to own and drive that new Lamborghini. In fact, my new ambition is to make my body become the Lamborghini, and even more epic and greater than the Lamborghini. For example, when I grunt, scream, and become an animal and beast at the gym, hypelifting, hyping myself up, I want to roar louder than the exhaust pipes of the new Lamborghini, or any V12 engine. or, personally speaking, I would be much more happy and proud being able to deadlift 502 kilograms (over 1220 pounds), than be a billionaire.

In fact, if I were a billionaire, I would positively not want to own a car. Why? According to my friend Kevin, even having the full Tesla auto pilot function is not 100% secure or safe. He told me that he doesn’t feel comfortable using his Tesla model 3 autopilot when his family is in the car. Even when he is by himself, he says it is terrifying. Instead, I much prefer the idea that I could just Uber anywhere and everywhere, and just take a nap while my Uber driver takes me to my destinations safely. In fact, it is the new modern day flex to not own a car. Really really really really rich people don’t own cars.

Also another big thing that I think people get suckered by, even us millennials is the notion of home ownership. I think home ownership makes sense if you have a big ass family all living under the same roof, and everyone chips in. For example, currently living at Cindy’s mom‘s house, in her massive Southern California home, with myself, Cindy, Seneca, my brother and sister-in-law and their two kids. This makes sense because being able to live in a massive house compound with many people is economically efficient. However, the notion of a nuclear family just owning their own home is I think an insane idea. Not wise. Even if I were a trillionaire, I would not wish homeownership on my worst enemy, all the headaches that come with homeownership, Trying to fix broken toilets, trips to Home Depot, etc. Even if you were rich enough to hire the worlds most capable contractor, you still gotta call them up, or message them, schedule times to fix things, etc.

Out of all of my really rich and older friends, who are insanely successful, they all just live in condos now, because there is a lot less they need to maintain. Even when I was living in Providence Rhode Island, in a minimalistic studio apartment, I loved it because we had maintenance stuff on hand more or less 24 hours a day, and there was a little or nothing we had to maintain. To me that was the ultimate frictionless living.

Can money make you happier?

The funny thing about money is that it is a via negativa thing, that is, money can make you happier if you use it as a hedge and a tool to not have to do the things you hate.
For example, I hate doing maintenance stuff. And therefore, it seems the most intelligent thing to do is to use money as a tool to not have to do maintenance related things.

Or, let us think of money as “fuck off” money. As Dr. Dre said. What does that mean? That you have enough money to just fuck off and go off the grid and have to do nothing and not have to worry about money, in order to do things you care about, which might not have any immediate monetary value.

Once again, the best way to think of money is as a war chest, as personal insurance for yourself, or creating your own VC, or venture-capital fund for yourself. Innovation is expensive, and yields many failures. But if you have a flush enough war chest, you can engage in super insanely epic innovation, which requires a really really long time, mini field experiments, etc. For example one thing that I learned from Mr. Dyson is that I think he had to create at least 1000 or 10,000 prototypes, it might’ve took him 10 years before he was able to successfully make a bagless vacuum. Now, Cindy and I bought a brand new refurbished vacuum cordless from Dyson, and I think I love it more than I love my iPhone.

Innovation is then the secret to happiness?

Innovations at the gym for myself include doing a very very heavy “squat walk“, and also a very very heavy rack pull instead of deadlift. In terms of my gym innovations, I have Monkifit gym in Phnom Penh Cambodia to thank. Why? When you go abroad, or somewhere that is not your own home country, it gives you a framework to think differently. This is why I think traveling and living abroad or even living nomadically is good for anybody who is passionate about innovation. Even Steve Jobs, his aesthetic visions for Apple products, the iPhone iPad etc. or come from his love of Kyoto, and sublimes zen aesthetics. Apple would have not been the Apple we know today if it weren’t Steve Jobs strange ascetic lifestyle experiments, walking around barefoot, eating nothing but fruit, not taking showers, doing weird meditation retreats in India, etc.

Therefore, think of yourself as an innovator. And it is your passion to innovate, not just purchase or consume. To create, to create new ideas, new concepts, new philosophies, to innovate and pioneer new techniques and approaches of doing things, this is your Archimedes lever and your way you can move the world.

ERIC

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Invest in your happiness

Where will life take you?

1. Conquer your fears in Street Photography in Boston, on the East Coast — March 25th, 2023
2. Become the uber innovator in Berkeley, the bay area, April 15th, 2023
3. Zen out in the insanely epic mountainside of Hadong, South Korea June 19-23rd, 2023. Register intent here.

ERIC KIM ADVENTURES

How to meander on happiness

1. A simple thought, is it physiologically possible to feel depressed when you’re attempting a new one rep max rack pull?
2. Ask Why? about happiness to ZEN OF ERIC KIM CHAT BOT
3. Define happiness for yourself, and do a Vlog on it, and just upload to YouTube.
4. Write a blog post on your own personal definition of happiness, and your own thoughts on it.

Happiness as a means, not the final destination

I think I’m the only happy person I know. Maybe me and Seneca.

I think the common mistake that people make is that they think that happiness is the end goal. This is not true. Happiness is simply only a tool and a means toward something greater, towards artistic creation, innovation, entrepreneurship, etc.

Also, let us consider philosophy simply as a mental framework to challenge things, and to think more critically.

Innovate on!
ERIC

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Share these happy thoughts with a friend!

ERIC KIM HAPPY NEWS

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The best life and lifestyle has the least amount of friction.

Epic gainzz!

Epic gains!!

The other day I just did a very heavy rack pull, 635 pounds, which is six plates on each side, and the 25 on each side. The day after, I could feel it in my hips, my back around my butt area, and also my waist. And my upper back, and my biceps.

Why don’t more people do rack pulls? 

First of all, I have never witnessed anyone attempting a one rep max rack pull, that is, attempting to rack pull a very very heavy weight, for just a single repetition, near or at your maximum strength.

One theory I have on why more people do not do rack pulls is that it is not a competitive lift, it is not like a standardized lift which is done at weightlifting competitions. Therefore, powerlifters will probably not be very interested in that, if they compete.

Second, maybe people think that it is not an effective exercise for building muscle, or that it might not be a full body exercise. On the contrary, when I do very very heavy rack pulls, I could feel it in my whole body, just like a deadlift.

Third, perhaps people are afraid of hurting themselves? However I find it to be much more anatomically natural than unnaturally lifting a heavy weight or a barbell all the way on the floor. For myself, being taller at 5 foot 11, doing a deadlift off the floor feels insanely unnatural. I felt much more natural when I did a hex bar/trap bar deadlift with the elevated handles.

Maybe people think it is not difficult enough, and do not attempt it. Yet, assuming you’re not using straps, wrist straps or hand straps, and you are just using a normal grip or mixed grip with chalk, to simply even lift up the weight and have a strong enough grip is quite the challenge.

For example, I have been attempting to rock pool 635 pounds for quite a while now, and have been unsuccessful for about three weeks. After much diligent practice, I finally got it up. Therefore, in the early days my grip strength or my hand strength simply wasn’t enough, or my whole bodily strength wasn’t enough. I recommend you to just try it, put on seven plates on each side, and see if you can simply lift it off the rack.

Podcast

Video

Master the streets:

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101

1. How to Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography
2. INSANELY AUDACIOUS AND BOLD
3. 5 Simple Street Photography Techniques
4. STREET PHOTOGRAPHER.
5. The Street Photographer Ideal
6. 50 Street Photography Tips, Techniques and Ideas
7. Street Photography Values
8. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY DOESN’T NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE IN IT.
9. Why Street Photography is So Great
10. WHY BECOME A STREET PHOTOGRAPHER?
11. Society Photography, Not “Street” Photography
12. How to Street Photography
13. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY OPTIONALITY.
14. 10 Street Photography Tips
15. The Street Photographer as the Apex Photographer
16. Street Photography & Adrenaline
17. STREETTOGS STARTING GUIDE
18. 50 Street Photography Tips by ERIC KIM
19. What I Wish I Knew If I Started Street Photography All Over Again
20. Photograph like it’s not a big deal
21. Suburb Street Photography
22. What is Our Personal Motivation Behind Street Photography?
23. WHY I’M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
24. Personal Street Photography
25. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY AS A PRACTICE.
26. Pandemic Street Photography
27. AIRPORT STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
28. How to Shoot Street Photography Right Now
29. Towards a More Independent Street Photography Approach
30. How Street Photography Improves Your Life
31. How to Tell Stories in Your Street Photos
32. Face Street Photography
33. How to Start Shooting Street Photography
34. How to Shoot Street Photography During a Pandemic
35. 7 Street Photography Assignment Ideas

Only in America

Downtown LA in COLOR

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STARTER KIT

Master street photography with STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STARTER KIT.

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STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101

If you’re new to street photography, start here:

• The Ultimate Street Photography Tutorial
• Street Photography 101 Tutorial
• 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography
• How to Shoot Street Photography

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Brave New Street Photography

• 10 Lessons I’ve Learned from Street Photography
• SKIN IN THE GAME: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY ETHICS
• The Beauty of Mundane Happenings
• Humans and Environments
• Define Street Photography for Yourself
• Street Photography of People You Know
• Street Photography Composition Ideas
• How to Shoot Political Photography
• Social Photography
• Street Photography Lifestyle
• Why Street Photography is So Fun
• Street Photography for Mental Health
• How to Become a Street Photography Sharpshooter
• How to Shoot Kid Street Photography
• STREET PHOTO MANUAL
• Street Photography is an Approach, a Technique, and an Ethos

Street Photographs

1. How to Shoot Street Photography with Dads and Kids
2. HOW I BECAME SUCH A GREAT STREET PHOTOGRAPHER
3. Use Quarantine as an Opportunity to Pick up Film Photography
4. Hong Kong Street Photography by ERIC KIM

Street Photography Philosophy

• Brave New Street Photographer
• How to Talk to Strangers
• How to Shoot More Dynamic Street Photographs
• WHY I LOVE ARCHITECTURE AND STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
• Why Street Photography Brings Me So Much Joy
• How to Shoot Street Photography Video
• How to Shoot Street Photography in the Brave New COVID World
• The Future for Street Photography
• ALL STREET PHOTOGRAPHS ARE GOOD PHOTOGRAPHS.
• AMERICA by KIM
• Street Photography in a Non-Travel World?
• How to Shoot Street Photography During COVID-19
• You’ve Never Shot Photography Until You’ve Shot Street Photography
• Xenophilia: Love of Strangers
• My Street Photography Philosophy
• Why Street Photography is Important for Society
• HOW STREET PHOTOGRAPHY CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
• STREET PHOTOGRAPHY IS ABOUT LOVING ALL PEOPLE
• Real Life People vs Abstract People
• Is it OK to Piss Off or Annoy People in Photography?
• ANTI PURISM IN STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
• Street Photography of People You Know
• Street Photography is Courage
• MY STREET PHOTOGRAPHY PHILOSOPHY
• Street Photography Motivation from ERIC KIM
• I AM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
• WHY TALK TO STRANGERS?
• Why Street Photography is Supreme
• How to Make Great Street Photos
• Street Photography Ideas by ERIC KIM
• Why Street Photography?
• The Street Photographer’s Soul
• How to Become a Fearless Street Photographer
• Black and White or Color for Travel Street Photography?
• Street Photographers are Adrenaline Junkies
• How to Master Street Photography
• Almost Anything and Everything is Street Photography
• Advice for Aspiring Street Photographers
• Street Photography Sociology
• Why There’s No Right or Wrong Way to Shoot Street Photography
• The Street Photographer as a Soldier-Artist
• Why Street Photography is the Best Photography
• Street Photography is a Way of Life
• How to Conquer Anxiety
• Street Photography is Art with People

Street Photography Articles

• How to Edit and Sequence a Photography Project
• Practical Street Photography Tips
• 5 Simple Street Photography Assignments
• Street Photography Composition Ideas
• 10 Advanced Street Photography Tips and Techniques
• Daredevil Photography
• Lingering Technique: How to Work the Scene in Street Photography
• Why Photograph People?
• No Guilt in Street Photography
• Street Photography is Hard.
• Street Photography Inspiration
• 5 Simple Tips How to Shoot Better Street Photos
• 10 Super Simple Street Photography Tips
• How to Shoot Head-On in Street Photography
• The Decapitation Technique in Street Photography
• Be Brazen in Street Photography
• How to Shoot Better Street Photographs
• Drive-By Technique in Street Photography
• How to Shoot a Wedding Like a Street Photographer
• Street Photography is 80% Risk Taking!
• 10 Simple Street Photography Principles
• 5 Fundamental Street Photography Principles
• 10 Street Photography Assignment Ideas
• How to Tell Stories in Street Photography

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Street Photography Techniques

• How to Shoot Head-On Street Photography
• Street Photography Composition Tips
• In Praise of Street Vlogging
• How to Shoot Video Street Photography
• Street Photography Technique: The Stalker Technique
• Photography Technique: Take Photos While Walking!
• New Tokyo GoPro Fusion POV Street Photography YouTube Videos
• ERIC KIM Street Photography Tips and Technique
• The 360 Degree Technique in Street Photography
• How to Work the Scene in Street Photography
• How to Shoot Layers and the Bookend Technique in Street Photography
• Street Photography Technique: GET CLOSE & FILL THE FRAME + GOLDEN DIAGONAL COMPOSITION
• Street Photography Techniques: The 3D Scan/360 Degree Technique (Shooting Head-on) and Holding Your Camera High in the Air and Point Downwards (and Use Your LCD Screen to Frame the Scene)
• The Walking Alongside Someone and Shooting Until They Notice You Street Photography Technique
• SUPER INNOVATIVE NEW GOPRO STREET PHOTOGRAPHY POV EXPERIENCE: Cutoff Technique, Shooting Head-on with Flash, and Slow-Motion on RICOH GR II at 28mm
• How to Shoot a Street Portrait: Tips, Technique, and GoPRO POV Tutorial
• Street Photography Technique/Composition: Leading Lines and Crouching Down Low
• How to Shoot Layers in Street Photography: GoPRO POV Video Composition Tutorial
• How to Shoot Street Photography with a 24mm Lens
• The Cutoff Technique in Street Photography
• THE CUTOFF TECHNIQUE IN STREET PHOTOGRAPHY: GOPRO POV KYOTO ERIC KIM

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JUST SHOOT IT. HENRI NECK STRAP by ERIC KIM

See HENRI NECK STRAP on AMAZON >

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Street Photography Ideas

• Street Photography is Like Fishing
• Why Do We Feel Nervous Shooting Street Photography?
• Street Photography Philosophy
• Everyday Street Photography
• Why Street Photography?
• Why You Must Follow Your Own Voice in Street Photography
• How to Overcome Guilt in Street Photography
• 5 Dynamic Off-Center Street Photography Compositions
• 5 Night Street Photography Composition Tips
• How to Talk to Strangers
• How to Overcome Fear in Street Photography
• Street Photography Empowerment
• Eric Kim’s Top 30 Street Photography Tips
• How to Shoot Street Photography on a 35mm Lens
• 7 Tips How to Conquer Your Fears of Shooting Street Photography
• Street Photography Lifestyle
• How to Use Tactful Flattery in Street Photography
• How to Conquer Social Anxiety With Street Photography
• Street Photography Secrets Debunked
• 10 Dynamic Street Photography Tips
• The Benefits of Shooting Street Photography
• The Street Photography Manifesto
• My Experience Shooting Digital Medium Format in Street Photography
• Why Do You Feel Guilty Shooting Street Photography?
• Improvise in Street Photography
• Ethics in Street Photography

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Street Photography Composition Techniques

• 10 Inspirational Sergio Larrain Compositions
• 5 Henri Cartier-Bresson Photography Composition Lessons
• Street Photography Technique: Overlap
• Street Photography Composition Lesson: Chunking
• The Fishing Technique in Street Photography

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STREET NOTES.

Push yourself out of your comfort zone with STREET NOTES: Mobile Edition.

STREET NOTES PAPER EDITION ON AMAZON >

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LEARN FROM THE MASTERS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

Timeless wisdom from the masters of street photography.

Learn more about MASTERS >

Buy MASTERS on Amazon >

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FUNDAMENTALS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

• The Psychology of Street Photography
• Fundamentals to Street Photography
• How to Conquer Fear in Street Photography
• Street Photography Secrets
• NEO STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
• Street Photography Lenses
• Street Photography Settings
• Street Photography Techniques
• Street Photography Ideas
• CLOSER.
• CLEAN BACKGROUND

Street Photography Inspiration

• How to Enter the Street Photography Zone
• Simple Street Photography Tips
• How to Defuse Confrontations in Street Photography 
• How to Make Controversial Street Photographs
• Street Photography Project Ideas
• How to Make Good Street Photos
• Is Defining “STREET PHOTOGRAPHY” a Good Thing?
• STREET PHOTOGRAPHY “RULES” TO BREAK
• Walking Meditation in Street Photography
• 10 COMMANDMENTS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
• Street Photography is Improvisation
• In Praise of Randomness in Street Photography
• How to Become a Fearless Photographer
• How to Make Better Street Photographs
• 12 ERIC KIM Street Photography Assignments
• Meaningful Street Photography
• 25 Street Photography Tips by ERIC KIM

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Beginner Street Photography Articles

Get started in street photography:

Definitions in Street Photography

• Visual Sociology Street Photography
• Why Street Photography?
• What is Street Photography?
• Why Shoot Street Photography?
• The History of Street Photography

How to Shoot Street Photography

• How to Shoot Street Photography
• Street Portraits 101 by ERIC KIM
• The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Street Photography
• 70 Street Photography Tips for Beginners
• 15 Street Photography Techniques and Tips
• A Letter to My 18 Year Old Self: If I Started Street Photography All Over Again

Street Photography Equipment

• What is the Best Camera for Street Photography?
• What is the Best Lens for Street Photography?
• What to Consider When Buying a Camera

See all equipment articles >

How to Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography

• How to Conquer Your Fears in Life
• Shoot What You’re Afraid Of
• How to Channel Your Fear into Bravery

See all articles to conquer your fears >

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Intermediate Street Photography Articles

Take your street photography to the next level:

• How to Become a Stoic Street Photographer
• The 10 Principles of Good Street Photography
• 7 Tips How to Capture “The Decisive Moment” in Street Photography
• The Importance of Social Skills in Street Photography
• The Street Photography Code of Ethics
• “Taking” vs “Making” Photos in Street Photography
• Follow Your Gut in Street Photography
• 10 Reasons Why You Should Never Chimp While Shooting Street Photography

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Advanced Street Photography Articles

Find deeper meaning in your street photography:

• How to Master Street Photography
• How to Be a Zen Street Photographer
• Personal Street Photography
• The “Bookend” Technique in Street Photography
• Street Photography is Self-Therapy
• Zen in the Art of Street Photography
• Taoism and Street Photography
• How to Find Your Style in Street Photography
• Follow Your Gut in Street Photography

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Street Photography Tips & Technique

Learn how to shoot on the streets:

• 70 Street Photography Tips for Beginners
• 15 Street Photography Techniques and Tips
• Flash Street Photography Guide
• Take More Risks
• Don’t Think About Composition When You’re Shooting Street Photography
• 7 Tips How to Capture “The Decisive Moment” in Street Photography
• 7 Tips How to Make a Great Street Photograph
• Tokyo Street Photography Contact Sheets
• Video: Why it is Important to “Work the Scene” in Street Photography
• Shoot Less, Better
• Make Shitty Photos
• Shoot Effortlessly
• 10 Tips for Candid Street Photography
• 103 Lessons I’ve Learned From Street Photography

See all street photography tips and techniques >

Street Photography Guides

In-depth guides on street photography:

• How to Shoot Candid Street Photography
• How to Shoot Street Portraits with Permission
• How to Shoot Black and White Street Photography
• How to Shoot Color Street Photography
• How to Shoot Street Portraits with Permission
• How to Shoot Layers in Street Photography
• How to Shoot Urban Landscapes

Street Photography Equipment

The best equipment for street photography:

• What is the Best Camera for Street Photography?
• What is the Best Lens for Street Photography?
• Why I Love Cameras with Non-Interchangeable Lenses
• The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide for Cameras in Street Photography
• What to Consider When Buying a Camera for Street Photography
• In Street Photography, The Smaller the Camera, the Better
• Why Sharpness is Overrated in Street Photography
• How to Shoot Street Photography on a DSLR

See all equipment articles >

Street Photography Editing and Workflow

• Video: Introduction to Editing, Processing, and Workflow in Lightroom
• How to Edit (Choose Your Best Photos) in Street Photography
• How Studying Contact Sheets Can Make You a Better Street Photographer
• Debunking the “Myth of the Decisive Moment”

How to Start a Street Photography Project

• Free E-Book: The Street Photography Project Manual
• How to Start Your Own Street Photography Project
• How to Come Up With a Personal Photography Project Idea

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Learn From the Masters of Street Photography

“He without a past has no future.”

Start here:

1. Why Study the Masters of Photography?
2. Great Female Master Photographers
3. Cheat Sheet of the Masters of Photography
4. 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography
5. Beginner’s Guide to the Masters of Street Photography
6. Download All Articles >

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The Masters of Photography

Classics never die:

• Alfred Stieglitz
• Alec Soth
• Alex Webb
• Alexey Brodovitch
• Anders Petersen
• Andre Kertesz
• Ansel Adams
• Araki
• Blake Andrews
• Bruce Davidson
• Bruce Gilden
• Constantine Manos
• Daido Moriyama
• Dan Winters
• David Alan Harvey
• David Hurn
• Diane Arbus
• Dorothea Lange
• Elliott Erwitt
• Eugene Atget
• Eugene Smith
• Fan Ho
• Garry Winogrand
• Gordon Parks
• Helen Levitt
• Henri Cartier-Bresson
• Irving Penn
• Jacob Aue Sobol
• Jeff Mermelstein
• Joel Meyerowitz
• Joel Sternfeld
• Josef Koudelka / Part 2
• Josh White
• Lee Friedlander
• Lisette Model
• Magnum Contact Sheets
• Magnum Photographers
• Mark Cohen
• Martin Parr
• Martine Franck
• Mary Ellen Mark
• Rene Burri
• Richard Avedon
• Richard Kalvar
• Robert Capa
• Robert Frank
• Saul Leiter
• Sergio Larrain
• Sebastião Salgado
• Shomei Tomatsu
• Stephen Shore
• The History of Street Photography
• Todd Hido
• Tony Ray-Jones
• Trent Parke
• Vivian Maier
• Walker Evans
• Weegee
• William Eggleston
• William Klein
• Zoe Strauss

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Free Downloads

• Eric Kim Lightroom Presets
• Street Photography Presentations

See all free downloads >

Free Street Photography Books

Distilled information on street photography:

• STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MANUAL by ERIC KIM
• The Art of Street Photography
• 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography
• Street Photography Contact Sheets
• Street Photography 101
• Street Photography 102
• Film Street Photography Manual
• The Street Photography Composition Manual
• The Street Portrait Manual
• 31 Days to Overcome Your Fear in Street Photography
• Zen in the Art of Street Photography

For more resources on photography, Start Here >

We are the new Spartans. That means, we are more indifferent to success or failure, we are more interested in courage and the attempt.

Video

An innovative thought that I had this morning is that if you think about it, there is a good hybrid mix and cross pollination between Street photography and being Spartan. That is, I believe street photography to be the most courageous form and approach of photography out there, maybe even more courageous than war photography, because in war photography or conflict photography or photojournalism, do you got a press badge. But in street photography, you don’t.

In street photography, you have no “reason“ or ultimate authority. What drives you instead is your own personal interest, guts, and ambition.

It is all about the attempt, and your own personal courage

Better to ask for permission and get rejected, than not to even ask.

In weightlifting, better to attempt an insanely audacious weight, and fail, instead of attempting something lesser, and succeeding.

Also I think there is a good crossover between weightlifting and courage, audacity in Street photography. That is, the stronger I get in the gym, and the more hypelifting I practice, the more courage I actually gain in street photography. Nowadays, I am far less fearful in the context of street photography now than I was in the past. Why? My personal theory is that with weightlifting, hypelifting, powerlifting, etc., it boosts your testosterone, your courage, your muscle, and helps you conquer the fear of failure, and also makes you more risk loving. Once you’re able to rack pull over six plates, and you find out that everything‘s OK, if you find out that you could really do anything.

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Courage in street photography

Seek danger. That means in the context of street photography, try to put yourself into more situations or scenarios which require you to exhibit your courage.

For example, I’ve discovered in the context of weightlifting, I am not interested in attempting any sort of weightlifting style exercise in which I am 100% certain I will succeed. In fact, I am actually more interested when at the back of my head, there is a potential for failure. Why? Danger, risk, and adventure are all intertwined. If you already know you’re going to succeed at something 100%, before doing it, I have zero interest in doing it.

So maybe in Street Photography, the reason why it is so fun and interesting is because you never know what’s going to happen. Also, when you interact and engage with a person, when there is a risk of something going south, that is what makes it fun and interesting.

Therefore as a philosophical twist, maybe the only way to keep street photography fun and interesting for us is to keep seeking danger, social risk-taking, and uncomfortable situations.

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Pragmatic ways to become more courageous in street photography

1. Intentionally try to get rejected: The assignment is approach the most unfriendly looking people, and ask to make a portrait of them. Do you have to keep asking until you get 10 people to intentionally reject you. The reason why this is such a powerful and effective approach is that once you get rejected at least 10 times, you actually find out that it wasn’t as bad as scary as you thought it would be. Also, often people who you think would reject you, actually end up saying OK. This is a good way to rewire your brain.
2. Learn to love risk: What is the best way to seek happiness? Love risk and danger. What is the secret to the happiest life? The life with the most danger and risk. That is seek a life and existence in which you expose yourself to the maximum amount of danger and risk, without losing a limb or dying.

So where is the best place to shoot street photography?

Go to where the people are! It depends on your environment and where you live. For example, if you’re in orange county, just go to the Irvine spectrum, where you have lots of people walking around, and lots of foot traffic. It looks like if you’re in the suburbs, the best place to go to is the mall.

It is a good idea to go to downtown areas if people are actually walking around.

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Let’s get our adrenaline up!

Pump up your courage to the next level at an upcoming ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE:

1. BOSTON: ERIC KIM CONQUER YOUR FEARS IN STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP 2023 (March 25th, 2023 (Saturday)) — Conquer paralysis by analysis, and conquer your fears in Street Photography.
2. April 15th, 2023 (Saturday): BERKELEY INSANE INNOVATION WORKSHOP — Learn to radically think outside the box, to channel innovation in your favor.
3. June 19-23rd, HADONG SOUTH KOREA ZEN PHOTO RETREAT // Stay updated here.

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What do I want for Christmas this year?

Maybe as a minimalistic experience and thought process for the next year, best to tell people not to get you anything this year, and in respect, you also don’t give anyone anything this year.

Nice idea for a gift is give somebody a hand written card, telling them what you appreciate about them. Also a good hybrid approach is you could just write it out on a piece of paper, shoot a photo of it on your iPhone, and just text it to them.

What if I want to buy myself something?

Just buy yourself a Ricoh GR 3X, and/or an iPad Pro.

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The future of street photography?

Now that COVID-19 has calm down a lot, and people are starting to travel again, I think it is a bright time and future for Street Photography. The iPhone Pro is excellent, and is a very capable tool for street photography. I still prefer a Ricoh GR IIIX over an iPhone, because the ergonomically are at least 10,000 times better.

But ultimately, anything that you shoot is good, and any tool that you use in Street Photography is also good. When in doubt just shoot it.

Street Photography 101 >

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Street Resources

1. 100 lessons from the masters of street photography eBook — DROPBOX DL
2. Street Portrait Manual

More books

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Next steps

1. Start your own photography and Street Photography blog, and start uploading photos to it. Just use bluehost.com and install wordpress.org
2. Start vlogging your own thoughts on street photography and upload to YouTube
3. If you want critical feedback on your photos, upload to arsbeta.com

Street gods

If you have a friend either interested in Street Photography, or wanting to up their game, forward this to them!

ERIC KIM NEWS

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All is street!

ERIC

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My homage to the Garry Winogrand book:

We are the new Spartans. That means, we are more indifferent to success or failure, we are more interested in courage and the attempt.

An innovative thought that I had this morning is that if you think about it, there is a good hybrid mix and cross pollination between Street photography and being Spartan. That is, I believe street photography to be the most courageous form and approach of photography out there, maybe even more courageous than war photography, because in war photography or conflict photography or photojournalism, do you got a press badge. But in street photography, you don’t.

In street photography, you have no “reason“ or ultimate authority. What drives you instead is your own personal interest, guts, and ambition.

It is all about the attempt, and your own personal courage

Better to ask for permission and get rejected, than not to even ask.

In weightlifting, better to attempt an insanely audacious weight, and fail, instead of attempting something lesser, and succeeding.

Also I think there is a good crossover between weightlifting and courage, audacity in Street photography. That is, the stronger I get in the gym, and the more hypelifting I practice, the more courage I actually gain in street photography. Nowadays, I am far less fearful in the context of street photography now than I was in the past. Why? My personal theory is that with weightlifting, hypelifting, powerlifting, etc., it boosts your testosterone, your courage, your muscle, and helps you conquer the fear of failure, and also makes you more risk loving. Once you’re able to rack pull over six plates, and you find out that everything‘s OK, if you find out that you could really do anything.

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Courage in street photography

Seek danger. That means in the context of street photography, try to put yourself into more situations or scenarios which require you to exhibit your courage.

For example, I’ve discovered in the context of weightlifting, I am not interested in attempting any sort of weightlifting style exercise in which I am 100% certain I will succeed. In fact, I am actually more interested when at the back of my head, there is a potential for failure. Why? Danger, risk, and adventure are all intertwined. If you already know you’re going to succeed at something 100%, before doing it, I have zero interest in doing it.

So maybe in Street Photography, the reason why it is so fun and interesting is because you never know what’s going to happen. Also, when you interact and engage with a person, when there is a risk of something going south, that is what makes it fun and interesting.

Therefore as a philosophical twist, maybe the only way to keep street photography fun and interesting for us is to keep seeking danger, social risk-taking, and uncomfortable situations.

---

Pragmatic ways to become more courageous in street photography

1. Intentionally try to get rejected: The assignment is approach the most unfriendly looking people, and ask to make a portrait of them. Do you have to keep asking until you get 10 people to intentionally reject you. The reason why this is such a powerful and effective approach is that once you get rejected at least 10 times, you actually find out that it wasn’t as bad as scary as you thought it would be. Also, often people who you think would reject you, actually end up saying OK. This is a good way to rewire your brain.
2. Learn to love risk: What is the best way to seek happiness? Love risk and danger. What is the secret to the happiest life? The life with the most danger and risk. That is seek a life and existence in which you expose yourself to the maximum amount of danger and risk, without losing a limb or dying.

So where is the best place to shoot street photography?

And go to where the people are! It depends on your environment and where you live. For example, if you’re in orange county, just go to the Irvine spectrum, where you have lots of people walking around, and lots of foot traffic. It looks like if you’re in the suburbs, the best place to go to is the mall.

It is a good idea to go to downtown areas if people are actually walking around.

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VIDEO

The spartan way:

We are the new street photographers. What does this mean, and how can we expand this notion?

First of all, break out of all boundaries and genres. The uber street photographer knows no boundaries or limits. Also, the real street photographer disdains to be defined. Even Garry Winogrand hated being called a “street photographer”— he just told other people, “just call me a zoo photographer instead!” (note his “Animals” book in which he shot in (Street Photography of animals and humans at the zoo).

For ourselves, I like the idea that we can expand the notion and the approach of street photography, to apply to other things. For example, I also believe that we are the new Spartans, and Street Photography is an interesting applied methodology to the way we live our lives. That is, we don’t need much, and we prefer ascetic values and ascetic approaches.

Photography is training

What is training? Askesis — we prepare for battle and combat through training.

In the context of street photography, what does this mean? This means that we love challenge in danger. This is the root of our passion for stupid Harvey, the fact that it does require courage, danger, and fear.

I think in order to be happy, one requires both danger and challenge. For example, the only type of weight lifting at the gym which interest me is both challenging, and “dangerous“. For example, very very heavy squat walk, and rack pull. Hypelifting — any type of weightlifting which requires you to hype yourself up before doing it.

Also, I might have been the first to have thought of this, which is that in order to have zen, you need adrenaline.