ERIC KIM

What is it that we desire? Popular acclaim. It seems the common prejudice is the more, the better. for example, if you have an event, it is deemed more successful as the more people who attended it. Also the popularity of a video, in terms of how many views he gets, is considered the ultimate badge of worth.

But is this true? I think not. if we think that popularity, the numbers were the Apex importance, then McDonald’s would be the worlds best “restaurant“, that Starbucks would be the worlds best coffee, and whatever product has the most five star reviews on Amazon would be the best product (often not the case). Or whatever pop song is trending right now is the best music.

The rare for the rare. The more rare the better. For example, better to be the one guy who owns the Porsche GT 3 than be the same guy who has a Tesla model 3. And certainly better to think differently from the masses, and to own your own table of values, than follow the common prejudice that the more money you have, the more successful you are.

In the past, travel almost became too easy. When I was in college, traveling abroad was really difficult, especially before smart phones.

Now with the global pandemic, and the never ending stream of Covid variant, it seems that the future is going to be more difficult for travel, than easier.

What does this mean for us travelers and adventurers? It means that travel will truly become a privilege for the brave.

Whenever I think about my personal happiness, health and well-being, it seems that the more time I spend outdoors, that is simply time outside the house, the better.

Why is this? I have some theories. One theory is that to be human is to walk. The more we walk, the more human we are. Even though Silicon Valley mentality now is the most virtuous human is the most productive human, that spends most of their time in front of the laptop.

Why do we have eyes? Why do we have two eyes? Why do we have depth perception? Why are we bipeds? It seems that all of this is in order to transverse difficult terrain, walking much, and seeing far.

Thus a human being which does not fulfill their natural faculties, seems to fall into physiological degeneracy. Very much like when dogs are no longer able to hunt, they become passive inferior versions of themselves.

We love dynamic environments

Why is it that we love movies films and TV shows? My theory is that it is because most of modern living is very boring. Our environments are static, and don’t change much. Whereas if you think about epic movies or films, the protagonist and hero often goes on insane and interesting journeys, something that we modern humans desire to do.

Why not obey your wise animal instincts, moment by moment?

Having the ability to study philosophy, think about philosophy, and any philosophical matters is a true luxury. When you no longer need to worry about basic financial things, let us think about Maslow‘s hierarchy of needs. The top is self actualization, and then beyond self actualization is going beyond the self, thinking of yourself as a philosophical tool in instrument, no longer concerned with your self-preservation or ego.

Human, all too human once said Nietzsche.

A thought: in life, why does everyone want to become more human, that is become more like everyone else, the masses? Perhaps it is better to become more inhumane, or less human?

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Being frugal is the new luxury.

When you’re rich enough that you no longer desire or need to buy the most expensive stuff, this is true luxury. when you got nothing left to prove to anybody, not even yourself.

When you have the option, deciding to choose the cheaper option, as a pure aesthetic choice. Also, being frugal is often much more simple in life. For example, the simplicity of find groceries at ALDI, instead of Whole Foods (too many products).

Choosing simple.

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The barbell theory to life, avoid the middle. For example, with cars don’t buy a V6 engine, either get a 4 cylinder or a V-8.

With investments, don’t do the boring middle risk funds. Rather, either keep boring cash which is super safe, or extremely speculative cryptocurrency investments.

Also with friends and the company you keep, avoid the middle. Avoid your lukewarm friends, and keep your hard-core friends.

It seems right now, it is the worst time to buy a brand new car or a used car. The used car market is absurdly high.

With new cars, it seems that the only reason people are buying new cars right now is that people are bored at home, and they just want something to spend their money on, to give themselves a little bit more excitement in life (this is what they expect, yet it never really happens).

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Just finished watching the last duel, the new film from ridley Scott. some thoughts:

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In other words, take more risks in photography, shoot more ‘random’ photos … and endlessly experiment.

We have been given the ‘one photo a day, for a year’ challenge. But this seems too basic.

How about what if we 1000x ourselves, and think about quantity. And see–

If we strive to make 1,000 photos a day (small JPEG, on RICOH GR III), what good or great photos can you make?

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It seems people always say the cliche: “Quality over quantity”. But what if quantity were just as important as ‘quality’?

A practical thought when it comes to gear and equipment. Also with clothes and other things!

An observation:

Things which I don’t like about how parents treat or raise kids … I see this same critique in adults.

For example, I don’t like it when kids have too many toys (they get bored too easily, and it just clutters up the home). Yet, the same toy analogy applies to adults. Men with too many toys, this to me is also un-aesthetic.

So the simple idea:

With child-rearing matters, or looking at adults… just don’t do and emulate that which you don’t like or critique.

Or in other words,

When you see a parent raising a child in a certain way you don’t like, rather than just criticizing them … take a mental note and end up *NOT* doing that to your kid.

For example, I hate it when kids are just pacified with their iPhones or iPads. I will never get Seneca an iPhone or iPad. If he ever wants one, I will encourage him to get a job to buy one himself.

The same goes with birthday presents. It is a bit bizarre that kids get ‘something for nothing’. Perhaps on birthdays, use that chance to not get them stuff, but buy them experiences. And the day that it is the birthday of your kid, best to celebrate the mother instead (who had to labor in order to get the child into the world, which is the *true* labor).

What makes photography so fun and interesting to me:

Constantly trying to figure out for myself– what makes a good photo.

Also, always trying to keep photography fun and entertaining to myself by discovering *NEW* compositions I might have never attempted before, or knew which were possible!

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What is my lust and my passion? The quest for ‘optimal simplicity‘, in terms of living/lifestyle, daily routines, photographic workflow, creative workflow, design, clothing, cars — I want it all.

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Beyond 10xing yourself. 1000x as more ambitious.

Can you become 1000 times more productive? Can you shoot 1000 photos a day? Can you try to do 1000 reps or some thing? How can you become 1000 times more effective? Or increase your wealth by 1000 fold, what kind of high risk high reward investment speculation is that?

Silicon Valley is Slave Valley

If you’re highly paid in Silicon Valley, it is like the Golden handcuffs version 2.0. High salaries breed complacency.

And it doesn’t matter if you’re rich, or make a lot of money. You’re just a rich slave.

Would you rather be a rich Persian slave, dripping in gold, or an ascetic spartan 300 soldier, and free?

Better to live like a nomadic warrior than be a settled farmer.

Travel Notes mobile.

In modern-day consumerism, we are presented with an array of choices, what to buy, and what not to buy. Yet the problem is there is an illusion of choice: we think we are unique by buying certain brands, when in fact the reality is that all these brands are owned by a few parent companies.

For example, did you know that Porsche, Bugatti, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini are all owned by Volkswagen?

Or do you know that Rolls-Royce is owned by BMW?

Or do you know that the gap clothing company owns banana republic, Old Navy, and Athleta?

Or that the Louis Vuitton LVMH brand owns practically all the luxury goods?

Or that Lexus is just an expensive Toyota, Infiniti is just a expensive Nissan. Acura is just an expensive Honda.

If we consider minimalism as a new elitism, then it seems that the goal is to own as few goods as humanly possible, yet of the highest expense, material and quality.

Dear friend, an interesting turbo thought: the word for work, Ergon, is the same word as battle as in war.

Which makes me think, maybe that when we think about our photographic work and life, we should think about war.

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The only ‘bad’ which exists is which pertains to cowardice.

In life, think–

When did I truly desire to do x, y, z … but it is cowardice that stood in my way?

Perhaps the only time we should atone and feel regret is when it comes to cowardice. But when it comes to matters of exhaustion, weakness of willpower (which is often physiological exhaustion), or non-desire, feel no regret.

Once again:

With your true desires, let us strive to never exhibit cowardice!

ERIC

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I think one of the main ways we are suckered by modern day consumerism is the notion that we must invest in high-quality goods, which are very durable.

But in actuality, I believe it is better to have lighter, more natural, and superior tools, at the expense of durability.

For example, it seems that durability is a German notion. What is the American notion? That which is sexier, and more new.

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Maybe in order to innovate more, we should become more spendthrift

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Strive to keep losing weight, and subtracting weight.

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A funny thing I learned about fashion: a lot of people try to force themselves to wear certain fashions, rather than thinking that the fashion should actually fit them.

Thus, fashion is like a Procrustean bed, that is, we see what fashions are trending and popular, and we try to change ourselves to fit the fashion, rather than the other way around.

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Every day you die, and you wake up, anew.

This day, today is carte Blanche. How will you plan, attack and conquer today?

ERIC

In beyond good and evil by Nietzsche, he says all living beings desire to discharge their strength.

To me this is a very interesting idea, because this challenges what we typically think of standard physiology.

For example, we are taught that as your workout, and after your work out you become stronger. But what if, the correct order is that we must simply work out in order to get rid of our excess stream. Thus perhaps we get stronger simply as we keep blowing off our excess steam and power?

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Perhaps this is the road to the maximal productivity, and the best life.

Work for the sake of it (arbeit) is a slave notion.

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A thought: rather than thinking of just getting one or the other, for example gasoline versus electric, why not have both? For example, maybe plug in hybrid cars are the best cars, because they harness the best of both worlds? The convenience of gasoline, and the speed of refilling, with also the upside of being able to plug in your car for free at these EV charging stations?

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A concept I have, which pertains to finances, and life in general: have extreme buffer.

For example, if you’re about to miss an exit on the freeway, allow yourself to extreme buffer to just miss it. Better to lose a minute of your life, than lose your life in one minute.

Or when it comes to your finances and bank account, better to have extreme financial buffer, then cut it too close to line. The way I think about it is live your life like you’re a billionaire, but like you’re a spartan 300 soldier.

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Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been into cars. For example when I was 15 years old, I bought my first used car, and for me it was a symbol of freedom and self independence. I could go anywhere I wanted, and I was able to modify my own car with great pride, in the tiny 1.6 L engine, five speed manual transmission, with no tachometer. The extreme pride I had and being able to shift my car simply by hearing the engine.

Fast forward into the present day. I actually really enjoy racing films. The speed the drama, and Ford versus Ferrari is a great underdog story. As an American, I love it.

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A simple way to increase your chance of making interesting photos. Typically, when you’re afraid of something, it is because you actually want to photograph it. Thus, when you’re afraid, click the shutter. Or, you could always ask for permission.

One of the biggest reasons I love the Ricoh GR 3 so much is this: I no longer think about cameras, which allows me to just focus on my photography.

What do camera companies want? For you to be perpetually dissatisfied with your camera gear, to keep buying new camera upgrades, and lenses, and other equipment. but this is a huge waste of time. Rather, the most productive think you can do as a Photographer is just focus on making new photos.

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I thought: I think there is a difference between what is the best, and what you like.

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In order to become more productive, remove distractions.

Also one of my practices is every day, trying to uninstall at least one app from my phone, or uninstall one app from my laptop.

Also, rather than installing new software to become more productive, figure out what kind of superfluous off or you can uninstall in order to become more productive.

If you focus on your health, everything will follow.

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It seems that a lot of people regret things. They regret their actions, they regret not having done things, etc.

But what is regret anyways? A theory: regret is some sort of strange self revenge.

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Your appetite for risk is what makes you great.

Not even whether you win or lose, or if you’re right and wrong. No. The level of risk you’re willing to stomach, and attempt.

What is the true courage, especially when it comes to fashion matters? I said it is having the courage to be seen as lame. All great fashion innovators are the ones who intentionally do what is not considered cool, but with great confidence.

Or in other words, true courage is having the courage to stand out, even at the expense of being laughed at and ridiculed.

What is anti-courage? Following trends, because you want to be seen as cool.

For example, dad sneakers were always seen as lame. But Kanye West made them cool. Why? He thought to himself, why is dad sneakers such a bad thing? Why is being dad such an uncool thing? Maybe being a dad can be a cool thing.

The equipment I am currently using:

1. RICOH GR III in small JPEG, High contrast black-and-white mode, with highlight exposure metering. ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP MARK II.
2. ERIC KIM WALLET with transcend SD card, with 64 GB.
3. For my travel street photography backpack, think tank backpack.
4. For clothing, black merino wool outlier.NYC T-shirt, black merino wool leggings, black merino wool shorts. L run shark water shoes slippers. Ex officio black boxer briefs. In short, all black merino wool everything.
5. 13’’ MacBook Pro Touch Bar, space gray, maxed out refurbished from 2017. My next laptop will be a MacBook Air.
6. iPhone 11 Pro, refurbished, space gray, with no case. I prefer the iPhone mini, and my next phone will be an iPhone mini, of course with no case. Living life on the edge!
7. No watch, no socks.
8. No car. I don’t currently own a car, just currently borrowing Cindy‘s mom‘s car.
9. 80% my cryptocurrency is Chainlink, 10% digibyte, 1 bitcoin, and I’m starting to accumulate Ethereum.

Our design philosophy for things, tools, and equipment. Optimize for as small as possible.

For example, when you’re traveling, use or purchase the smallest bag as possible. With file sizes, as small as possible. Even in photography, the smallest JPEG size as possible. The best camera isn’t the one with the most megapixels, but actually, the one with the least megapixels possible.

The same reason why the Tesla model Y is superior than the Tesla model X, and the same reason the Tesla model three is superior than the Tesla model S.

A simple way to practice photography composition: eliminate anything that is white or bright from the frame, when you are framing with your LCD screen. For example, strive to make your photos as dark as possible. Avoid anything that distracts from your frame.

Composition is a matter of elimination, not addition. The best way to compose a photo is to get rid of distractions. Same thing with productivity philosophy, the best way to be productive isn’t to force yourself to be more productive, but to just eliminate distractions.

Same thing with Health, the best way to become less fat isn’t to work out more, but just to illuminate things that make you fat. For example, eliminating sugar carbs, starch, alcohol, and anything sweet. Even 0 cal sweeteners. even “natural“ sweeteners. No honey, no agave, no Stevia, none of that nonsense.

Sweet is bad. Bitter is better.

Same goes with design philosophy, to design a thing better, rather than adding superfluous elements, figure out what to subtract. For example, the best Kanye West Yeezy shoe is probably the new foam runner, because it illuminates the necessary use of socks, and shoelaces. Or think about the Tesla model 3 is superior than any BMW or Mercedes car, because it has stripped away all these unnecessary superfluous design elements. I kind of get the notion or the sense that the reason why BMW and Mercedes keeps suddenly changing the way that the rear bumper looks, it’s not because it is better, but to promote more sales.

Our new design philosophy and aspiration: hyperlight. Even though it’s not always wise, as an aesthetic notion, hyper light is best.

The best design is that which is insanely light. The lighter, the better. Never upgrade or change your things unless you find an option which is lighter.

For example, iPhone mini is supreme, better than iPhone Pro. Same goes with laptops, MacBook Air is better than any MacBook Pro.

With shoes, the lightest shoe possible.

Even with headphones, optimize for the lightest headphone possible. Maybe this is how the normal AirPods is actually superior than the AirPods Pro, because the normal AirPods are lighter.

Also with cars, the lightest car is the best car. The most fun to drive, even though it may not be the “supreme” or the fastest. For example, the Tesla model S plaid is the most supreme car but probably not the most fun to drive. Probably more fun to drive a Mazda Miata, manual transmission of course.

Also when it comes to traveling, don’t optimize for the best set up, but the lightest.

HYPERLIGHT as our new ideal.

The supreme happiness and joy: having extreme pride in your own creations, your own designs, your own innovations.

My pride in HAPTIC INDUSTRIES. ERIC KIM PRODUCTS.

For example, I have zero interest in any luxury designs, which are not mine. I deserve to build it all myself, design it all myself, and create it all myself.

For example with shoes, my extreme joy in discovering the L run shark shoes, water slippers. 1 billion times better than any Nike I’ve ever bought. And I discovered this through my own industrious experimentation, and design philosophy, that which is supreme lightness is supreme.