In Praise of Repetition

“Life is about reps” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

In modern times, to repeat oneself is seen as bad. But in truth, isn’t life about repetition?

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Why Street Photography?

Why street photography? Some reasons:

Insanely fun: I keep finding street photography fun, challenging, and interesting. There is no finality to it; I keep changing as a street photographer over time, I keep accumulating experiences, I keep traveling, and I keep making new photos!
Thrilling: Street photography for adrenaline junkies. The thrill and rush of shooting street photography. The rush associated with shooting, sometimes “getting caught”, or the social high talking with your subjects.
Art: Ultimately to me, the point of life is to make art. Street photography is art with people. As long as you live, never stop making art!
Street photography as optimism in life: Street photography as one of the best tools to conquer depression. To travel, find a new reason to live, interact with people, and to strengthen your body, mind, and physiological functions!

Street photography 101

CONQUER YOUR FEARS AND MEET NEW PEERS at ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE >

If youâ€™re new to street photography, start here:

Master Street Photography

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STARTER KIT: Everything You Need to Master Street Photography.

Never Stop Shooting

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For more free resources, presets, and PDF visualizations on street photography, join my free ERIC KIM NEWSLETTER to stay inspired and empowered.

Also join ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE if you want to take your street photography to the next level and conquer your fears and meet new peers.

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Street Photography Philosophy

Street Photography Articles

Street Photography Techniques

JUST SHOOT IT. HENRI NECK STRAP by ERIC KIM

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Street Photography Ideas

Street Photography Composition Techniques

STREET NOTES.

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

STREET NOTES PAPER EDITION ON AMAZON >

LEARN FROM THE MASTERS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

Timeless wisdom from the masters of street photography.

Learn more about MASTERS >

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FUNDAMENTALS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

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Street Photography Inspiration

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Beginner Street Photography Articles

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Get started in street photography:

Definitions in Street Photography

How to Shoot Street Photography

Street Photography Equipment

See all equipment articles >

How to Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography

See all articles to conquer your fears >

Intermediate Street Photography Articles

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Take your street photography to the next level:

Advanced Street Photography Articles

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Find deeper meaning in your street photography:

Street Photography Tips & Technique

Learn how to shoot on the streets:

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Street Photography Guides

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In-depth guides on street photography:

Street Photography Equipment

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The best equipment for street photography:

See all equipment articles >

Street Photography Editing and Workflow

How to Start a Street Photography Project

Learn From the Masters of Street Photography

“He without a past has no future.”

Start here:

The Masters of Photography

Prague, 1968. Josef Koudelka / Magnum Photos

Classics never die:

Free Downloads

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Free Street Photography Books

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Distilled information on street photography:

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Why Do We Get Bored?

Why do we get bored? Because lack of challenge, difficulty, risk, randomness, or chaos!

Solution:

Add more difficulty in our lives: Powerlifting style, increase one-rep max for deadlift.
Take more risks, particularly social risks (or entrepreneurial risks).
Inject more randomness, chaos, and uncertainty into our everyday lives: Less algorithm-generated, more randomness in human interactions. We can also ‘disrupt’ our everyday habits in small ways; take a new route home, get home without using Google Maps, trying new foods, eating at new places, and experimenting with new routines.
Travel to difficult places: For example, traveling to Havana for a week (no wifi).
Most challenging and fun is to create! Create blog posts, photos, videos, beats, and share/publish them to your own website/blog.

The Philosophy of Wabi Sabi Aesthetics

The basic notion of wabi-sabi in Japanese aesthetics:

Over time, the more you use something, the more “worn in” it becomes, and the more beautiful it becomes!

The tricky thing:

Most technological things become WORSE as time goes on. Generally speaking, only the organic actually “improves” over time.

For example:

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MAX OUT

It seems to me, the best way to live life is to attempt to MAX OUT. In weight-lifting, strive towards the powerlifting “one rep max” style, and keep attempting MORE until you MAX OUT, and fail.

In business, work, and life– keep seeing how far you can push the envelope.

A life where you are constantly maxing out will mean a lot of failure. But it will also mean a life which is more interesting, more forbidden, more dangerous, and more epic.

MAX OUT — don’t be the last out!
ERIC

Philosophy by KIM >

Why I Love Composition

Composition is something I am insanely passionate about. Why? Let me share:

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How to Review, Edit, and Select Your Photos after a Street Photography Travel Trip

I just got back from Mexico City, and am currently reviewing my photos (two weeks of shooting everyday).

Some ideas and tips:

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What Are You Trying to Message in Your Photography?

No photograph is inert. No photograph is objective. All photographs are subjective to you, and every photo you shoot (and end up sharing) has a certain message.

So the question to you, my dear friend is this:

What messages are you trying to relay to your viewers?

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Satisfy Your Will

When I pursue and follow and listen to my will, I’m happy! When I act contrary to my will, or feel as if I’m not able to act upon my will, I feel unhappy.

Thus happiness is created from us exercising our will, our willpower and our desires! And the more conscious we are of a gain in our power, the happier we are!

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Advertise Yourself

In today’s world, if you desire success, best to advertise yourself, your character, your ideas, your skills, and your soul over other people, other companies, and other products!

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Pain and Pleasure

We need both pain AND pleasure to accomplish grand things in life!

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Shoot 36 Photos of the Same Scene

A simple street photography assignment:

When you see something interesting, shoot at least 36 photos of it (same number as you would a roll of film!)

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Lessons on Value

Why do I like good value?

When I get something which I perceive is good valueâ€” I feel more clever, smart, and innovative! To be able to figure out a more cost-effective solution for not much money.

Thus perhaps value is a system of problem-solving, and the desire to flex your own individual â€œsmartnessâ€, â€œclevernessâ€, or ingenuity?

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Ghost in the Shell Anime (1995) Cinematography, Composition, Philosophy Review

â€œWhere shall I go? The net is vast and infinite.â€

One of my favorite films of all time:

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A Life of Maximal Personal Independence

Why have philosophers always recommended a life of maximal frugality and economy? Not frugality for the sake of frugality, but a life of the maximal personal independence.

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You’re Constantly in a State of Becoming in Photography

My thought:

There is no “finality” for you as a photographer or artist. Instead, better to consider that you’re always in a state of becoming as a photographer and visual-artist.

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Who is the best person to trust? Trust yourself. Trust your gut. Trust your personal taste in aesthetics. Trust your own moral judgement, your own ethics, without worrying that someone is “looking over your shoulder” or “watching your every action”.

No heaven or hell. No (conscious) afterlife. Every decision you take and make is a mini-experiment. You learn via “trial and error” with real decision-making what is “good” or “bad” for you (useful/harmful).

Ignore metrics, numbers, followers, likes, and money.

Your true judge is only you.
ERIC

No More Weighing Yourself

The danger of metrics and measuring/weighing yourself:

The ability to LOSE COURAGE and LOSE FAITH in yourself after measuring yourself to arbitrary numbers.

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Why I Hate Sitting

In praise of standing, walking, and dancing:

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Anti-Herd, PRO-INDIVIDUAL

A realization about myself:

I am an elitist. I don’t want to be one of the herd.

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Build the Body, Build the Mind

A thought:

To become the apex version of ourselves, we should strive to maximally build both our body AND mind.

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How to Curate Your Street Photography Portfolio

To curate your photos:

Display and show/select the photos you CARE about!

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The Street Photographer’s Soul

The soul of the street photographer:

Ever curious
Ever ambitious
Ever hungry for more!

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CONQUER COMPOSITION

Free photography tips on ERIC KIM NEWSLETTER >

Dear friend,

I am fresh off a plane (after being in Mexico City for two weeks, and in Cuba for a week) and back home in (cold) Providence, Rhode Island.

I wanted to use this opportunity to essay some thoughts on composition, street photography, and art.

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Chicago CONQUER COMPOSITION Street Photography Workshop (April 25-26, 2020)

Dear friend,

If you desire to CONQUER COMPOSITION and take your street photography to epic new heights, I invite you to my new Chicago CONQUER COMPOSITION Workshop (April 25-26th, 2020).

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What Do You Desire to Become?

The turbo thought for today:

What do you desire to become, and why?

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Anti-Definition

Perhaps the best way to distinguish yourself or define yourself:

Define yourself via what you DON’T do, what you DONT believe in, and what you are anti (against).

Don’t Strive to Make Good Photos

A big thing that has helped re-motivate my photography:

Don’t care whether you make “good” or “bad” photos.

Better yet: don’t strive to make good photos. Just shoot for fun!

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DIGITAL POWER.

The power of digital is highly underrated.

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The Eternal Creative Loop

Keep doing something and never get bored of it!

No fatigue, no boredom — only fun, excitement! The same or similar workflow — yet the process is always interesting, fun, and exciting.

No need for new technologies — simply new ideas, new rhythms, and new flows!

For example:

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What Do I Want from Technology?

I’ve been obsessed with technology ever since I was a kid. But the question:

What do I really want from technology?

Well — I want a lot of things. Let me try to outline some of my thoughts:

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How to Retire

I’m currently 31 years old, and effectively I feel retired. What does it mean to be retired, and how to retire?

I cannot speak for you, but let me simply draw upon my experiences and thoughts:

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Give Me a Laptop and I Shall Move the World!

With my hands, with my laptop; I can impact change and move the world!

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Stratified Society

Is a stratified society necessary for the few (artist-philosophers) to thrive?

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PHOTOGRAPH FOR FUN!

Often we take photography too seriously.

Why not just photograph for fun?

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Do You Love or Hate Reality?

Do you love or hate reality? Do you prefer “idealism” (false reality), or do you love reality in all its tragedy and cruel comedy?

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Practical Street Photography Tips

New street photo ideas:

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Mexico City is Paradise!

Mexico City: one of the best cities for living, street photography, travel, food, coffee, chocolate, meat, dessert, fancy restaurants, street food/tacos, affordable, bread, and more.

What else do you need?

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The Future is Photography Blogging

Why I love blogging:

Everything is constantly in flux, and constantly changing, evolving, and becoming different.
There is never finality.
Through blogging, you can better digest your experiences, and “meta-think” (by writing things down, you can think).
We love sharing our photos and ideas; blogging as the perfect platform.

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The Journey is Never Over

In life, the journey is never over. Never stop exploring, never stop thinking, and never stop doing!

The Quest for Zen Flow in Street Photography

What is our true goal on street photography? For me, it is to enter the zen-like state of “flow” (zen zone) of becoming one with your camera. Losing sense of time, self, and space. To shoot with zero hesitation. To be so closely attuned to the world around you with great sensitivity, and to have immaculate timing positioning and shooting ability.

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Action is the Best Pleasure

There is no greater joy than acting; to act, to do, to engage in action!

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Obstacles as Self-imposed Goals

A life with arbitrary goals and challenging makes life far more fun, interesting, and insanely enjoyable!

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Be Different

Something I’ve discovered about myself: my extreme joy in being different.

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Typical or Non-Typical?

One thought on success:

If you desire to succeed, become as NON-TYPICAL (atypical) as possible!

CREATE!

The principle of life, art, and the best way to live life:

Create!

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TASTE.

Ultimately, it is all a matter of taste.

This pertains to our artistic tastes, our taste for food and drink, our taste for literature, our taste for music, our taste for aesthetics; of essentially everything.

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On the Brian, Body and Mind

The strange thing:

We somehow think that the brain/mind can exist independent of the body.

This is where these silly notions of ‘uploading your consciousness’ to the cloud makes no sense. A mind cannot exist without a body. Perhaps the mind IS the body?

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Outline Photography Composition

OUTLINES: what makes an effective photography composition:

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TRANSCENDENCE.

The Desire to Transcend Ourselves

Why do we feel the need to ‘improve’ our selves?

What does it even mean to ‘improve’ a human?

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Street Photography Technique: The Stalker Technique

The basic notion:

Walk Beside and Alongside the Person while Photographing Them.

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Via Negativa Productivity

A thought if you want to become more productive:

Figure out what to SUBTRACT in order to FOCUS MORE, and to produce more.

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I’m Maximally Happy, Now What?

Never stop augmenting your physical and mental strength:

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Street Photography for a More Interesting Life

Street photography as a road to live a more interesting life:

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Maximize Your Physical Vigor

When do you feel maximal physical vigorâ€¦ And when?

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5 Photography Motivation Tips

Dear streettogs,

Happy Monday! Every start of the week is a good one. Why?

Think about all the great photos you have YET made.

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PHOTO MOTIVATION

What seems most difficult for us photographers?

Discovering the motivation to make new photos.

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Care over Fame

A lot of people were once famous, but we no longer care for them.

Thus perhaps the goal isn’t to become “famous”, but to have others CARE for us, and CARE about us?

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Keep Moving

I don’t think there is an ultimate purpose in life, but life is certainly more fun and interesting as long as you keep moving: keep walking, keep exploring, keep traveling, keep shooting photos, keep writing, keep thinking, keep lifting, and keep risking more!

How to Become a Fearless Street Photographer

The goal:

Not to become a ‘good’ street photographer, but to become a FEARLESS street photographer.

Pratical ideas:

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My Vision: Every Photographer to Thrive to Their Personal Maximum

My life-long vision:

That every photographer and individual can thrive to their personal maximum, regardless of their socio-economic class.

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Horizontal vs Vertical Photos

Something I think about a lot:

When should we shoot vertical and when should we shoot horizontal? And what visual-psychological effects do either have?

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Color vs Black and White Street Photography

To color or black and white street photography?

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Better Bad Photos than No Photos

What holds us back in photography? Our obsession with trying to make “good” photos.

Instead, my suggestion:

It is better for you to shoot a lot of “bad” photos than to shoot no photos!

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The More Obscure and Unclear, the Better.

A new and change/evolution in my visual aesthetics:

I prefer photos that are more obscure than photos which are too clear.

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Why You Must Make Your Own Website

I am convinced. One of the most important pillars to success is to build our own website. Let me explain:

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FORM YOURSELF.

We delight much in shapes and forms. In photography, we delight in forming our photographs; to form reality into photographs which we consider beautiful.

We also desire beautiful forms by purchasing it. We purchase beautiful formed cars, clothes, accessories, tools, devices, homes, etc in order to augment ourselves. But what if a better goal was to form ourselves; to form our mind (continually develop our mind), and also to constantly form our body (building muscle mass through resistance training, and reducing bodyfat through intermittent fasting and abstinence from sugars and starches).

The goal then is:

First form ourselves (our body and mind), then as an artist we use our will to form to create art-works which bring us delight!

ERIC

Hopeless Photography

What is the point of photographing a thing, a place, or a project if someone has already done it before, and you perceive that you can never make a project as good as it?

My suggestion: do it regardless!

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Black and White or Color for Travel Street Photography?

Always the tricky thing:

Should I shoot monochrome or color when I’m shooting travel street photography?

Practical thoughts after shooting Havana, Cuba for a week (having never been there before).

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Havana Cuba Street Photography

My favorite photos from my Havana week-long trip. Shot on RICOH GR III x ERIC KIM NECK STRAP:

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