Hiking with Vibram 5 Fingers (EL-X) and hiking with Seneca (baby front carrier, ergo baby carrier) and backpack is sublime.
The other day I went hiking with Cindy (a pretty big loop, around 2 hours each way, 4 hours in total), I think it was a total of 10 miles.
Hiking was an insanely great experience. Why? Some theories:
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John Wick — fresh new story. Batman; we keep recycling the same old story, and just re-articulate it. John Wick is more interesting and fun, because it is totally a ‘carte blanche’ story, so more opportunities for innovation in the story line. I actually *like* the sequels, as it builds upon a totally new storyline and universe, and *builds upon* this brand new John Wick universe.
Also, John Wick is more ‘realistic’ in some sense. Blood-thirsty revenge, and killing people is no concern. Whereas Batman is too moralized, John Wick seems like a more interesting or ‘relatable’ person.
For example, in the first John Wick film, perhaps at least 300 people are killed in the first 30 minutes. With Batman, none.
Also as much as I loved the new BATMAN film, it seems that the new Batman is more anaemic, less ‘buff’, and not as physically strong or imposing as even the Christian Bale Batman.
Also, John Wick is great because Chad S (Keanu’s former stuntman) is both stunt man *AND* director– one of the most unique combinations.
Also, Batman has too much “daddy issues†and inner conflict and drama. John Wick doesn’t — he just wants bloodthirsty revenge, then survival, then revenge (again).
Assuming that writing is simply an act of making notes for yourself, perhaps photography is also the same– making photos for your self.
(more…)A great combo. Just steak, eggs, nonstick frying pan, salt and pepper.
For me, making beats, music is insanely fun.
Essentially all I do is open up GarageBand when I’m in the mood, or need music to accompany my slideshows, and I love to ‘vibe out’ to my own beats, and I like the zone it puts me in.
And the big upside:
Because I do not consider myself a ‘musician’ or a ‘producer’, there is no need or pressure to make music the ‘real’ way.
Takeaway:
Don’t consider yourself *something*, and then you will have fewer ‘rules’ and boundaries in which to abide by.
Thus, more artistic and creative productivity, more having fun, and greater joy in life.
Be topless as much as humanly possible.
More effective than ‘calorie counting’ or other nonsensical ideas.
The general idea:
If you spend as much time during the day topless, you get a better sense of your body composition (your muscle mass, your body fat percentage, etc).
If you don’t like the way you look, or if you feel you got too much body fat, or not enough muscle, it gives you the motivation to be insanely strict with yourself (fast during the day, and cut out all starches, carbs, sugars, etc).
Don’t worry so much on being ‘happy’. Instead, great sleep, great vigor and energy through the day.
The uber-rich; don’t own a car, or even drive your own car. Just Uber or taxi everywhere– the true sign of wealth. Faaaar cheaper and more effective than a Tesla autopilot.
When you’re getting Uber’d somewhere, you can (safely) take a nap!
One of the most difficult things to spot and shoot in street photography:
Surrealism.
What is surrealism? When something looks like something else.
For example I was at the outdoor mall the other day, and I saw this:
Essentially at first, I saw the scene and I thought:
“WTF” is going on?
It looked like the girl and the guy merged into one.
You can shoot street photography, layers, etc anywhere. At the mall, at the outdoor mall, in the indoor mall, in the suburbs, in ‘boring’ places, etc:
Think fill the frame.
Thus whenever you acquiesce to make others ‘happy’, you only got yourself and lack of self confidence and willpower (and the will to be an ‘asshole’) to blame.
When shooting photos of Seneca, I’ve discovered:
There are certain photos which bring me deep pleasure (super low-key, as dark as possible), and photos which bring others pleasure (him doing ‘cute’ stuff).
But ultimately, it is the photos which please me which brings me the greatest joy. Thus the takeaway:
More focus on making photos which please *YOU*.
Also a thought on the new DONDA2 album from Kanye:
I think he really made the album to please himself. And it is great.
My wife, my kid, photography, blogging, ideas, philosophy, art, aesthetics, ethics, sociology, life, music.
What we desire.
We don’t like static things. The problem is even if you get a Tesla model S plaid, the speed doesn’t get faster over time.
We disdain the static. We prefer things that change, grow, evolve, and get better over time through effort and training.
Perhaps this is why I love powerlifting so much, to see my personal records grow over time. Also, the reason why people like to modify their cars, because with the new modifications, the car will go faster.
Imagine a crypto currency, or crypto technology in which more people use it, the overall system gets faster.
You have the artistic choice to be anything you want.
Whether you decide to follow your emotions, or to abstain from acting upon them — Stoicism as an aesthetic thing.
Vengeance, justice, why? Towards what ends?
What is critical thinking? To be able to wisely judge information, knowledge, and commonly held wisdom.
Probably the most important skill.
Situational difficulty is good, as it challenges us, trains us, and helps advance us.
Desirable difficulties, the more difficult, the better.
Do you see your kid as a burden, or your pride and glory you desire to train, grow, advance and evolve upwards?
The power is in my thighs!
iPhone SE, MacBook Air, Ricoh GR II, III, IIIX.
For video, GoPro.
Cheapest Tesla Model 3.
What we hunger for.
Perhaps the best way to consume media (films, tv shows, cinema, podcast, music, photos, art, etc) is to walk around while consuming it?
Would John Wick or Bruce Wayne/Batman drive a Tesla? I doubt it.
I thrive most with extreme heat and extreme sunlight?
Ideally, both. In praise of film noir, Batman, Sin City, etc.
Cinema not as story-telling, but something else?
More skill, restraint in silence, than speaking your mind.
Just like Batman.
What if forcing yourself *NOT* to push yourself took more courage, intelligence, and wisdom?
“I am the shadows” (The new BATMAN)
In praise of film noir:
Darker, more tragic is better.
Turn yourself into your own Batman.
Films shouldn’t be upbeat and happy, but rather, more tragic, dark, deep, and melancholic.
A thought for future movies:
Make the super low-resolution, low quality available for free, and make the super high-definition version expensive.
The new iPhone SE is surprisingly good for videos. And photos. Why? The power in the new A-processor, and also the new computational photography advancements in the processor.
Therefore, in photography, or at least phone cameras, think less about the camera, lens, and hardware itself, think more about the processor, and the computational photography abilities.
For example, Google pixel actually has a superior camera to the iPhone pro, because of all the great computational photography that Google has, especially considering that Google recruits the best computational, computer vision scientist from UC Berkeley and the Bay Area. For example, my friend Todd Hata, now only shoots videos for his YouTube channel and TikTok on his Google pixel pro.
To the most robust website or blog, have as fewest plug-ins as possible. Whenever possible, uninstall and delete plug-ins.
The same goes with computer applications, or phone apps. Uninstall and get rid of as many as possible.
Currently the best camera of all time. Superior to any Leica M or Q camera, any Fujifilm, iPhone, digital medium format, etc.
(more…)You don’t need to defend yourself.
Live your life in such a way which allows you to shoot 1,000 photos a day — a sign that you are living a great and interesting life.
You don’t want to show and present yourself clearly, better to distort yourself (metaphorically and literally).
Anti romanticism of the past. The past was *WORSE* than it is today! Today (and the future) will be, and *is* superior to the past!
A camera (more similar to GoPro) which captures your POV (point of view).
A thought with an iPhone camera app:
An app, once you launch it, it automatically takes a photo (quick photo).
Also similar to GoPro:
It is always recording or shooting photos, so you always catch *the moment*.
A camera optimized at capturing ‘the decisive moment’ as the future camera.
Or … the primary focus for some individuals to shoot cinema (‘Hollywood in your hand’– a great tagline for the new “Content Creator Camera Edition” from GoPro. Some individuals who will want to shoot their own web series, their own Netflix series (5K) [Lumix S1H], or their own YouTube series, or even shoot films for Hollywood!
Or even how micro 43rds is still a robust platform for video (Panasonic keep making those new GH-cameras, like the new GH6).
I still prefer a GoPro mounted to my head (head strap), or my chest (chest strap), or even to my backpack (front facing GoPro mount). Or just having a GoPro in my pocket.
Then a simple thought:
A bifurcation between personal photography (still visual art), and video/cinema/film for entertainment.
Bitcoin as appreciating and increasing in value over time, just like Tesla stock.
However if you actually buy a real Tesla, the value will depreciate overtime. Same goes with any car. Never buy a car for new, only used, because if you buy used at the bottom of the depreciation chart, and if you ever want to sell it again, you don’t lose money.
