ERIC KIM
PHOTO

Often we take photography too seriously. Why not just photograph for fun?

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

New street photo ideas:

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?

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, …

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

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. …

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

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

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

One thought on success: If you desire to succeed, become as NON-TYPICAL (atypical) as possible!

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

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 …

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 …

OUTLINES: what makes an effective photography composition:

The Desire to Transcend Ourselves Why do we feel the need to ‘improve’ our selves? What does it even mean to ‘improve’ a human?

The basic notion: Walk Beside and Alongside the Person while Photographing Them.

A thought if you want to become more productive: Figure out what to SUBTRACT in order to FOCUS MORE, and to produce more.

Never stop augmenting your physical and mental strength:

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

When do you feel maximal physical vigor… And when?

Dear streettogs, Happy Monday! Every start of the week is a good one. Why? Think about all the great photos you have YET made.

What seems most difficult for us photographers? Discovering the motivation to make new photos.

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?

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 …

The goal: Not to become a ‘good’ street photographer, but to become a FEARLESS street photographer. Pratical ideas:

My life-long vision: That every photographer and individual can thrive to their personal maximum, regardless of their socio-economic class.

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?

To color or black and white street photography?

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!

A new and change/evolution in my visual aesthetics: I prefer photos that are more obscure than photos which are too clear.

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

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 …

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? …

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).

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

For myself, it seems the primary benefit of traveling, living nomadically, or being abroad is this: Fewer distractions from back home. More focus on myself, my thoughts, and my creative work and ideas.

Active nihilism: the notion that despite the fact that life has no ultimate meaning, you still are active! You still do things, you still think, you still make art, and you still create. Why? …

To extract more joy, wonder, and adventure and excitement in life, see every opportunity of your life and day as a photo opportunity!

After a week in Cuba my thoughts on capitalism vs socialism: Capitalism is superior to socialism/communism. My thoughts:

Ever since we were children, we were taught that “reading is good”. Also, that there were “good books” and “bad books”. But very rarely do we ask: “What’s the purpose of reading?” My thoughts …

The principle problem of Americans: our inability to deal with “free time”. Our fear of free time, an open schedule, and a calendar without appointments.

My real experiences:

A realization: I think much better when I spend long periods of time offline.

My first trip in Cuba. Free PDF download here:

Currently here in Havana, Cuba. Some thoughts after being offline for about a week:

As photographer-artists, it all comes down to aesthetics (the philosophy of beauty):

The goal of our consumerism: to become more beautiful.

Living philosophy: Life is more fun when you set arbitrary challenges and goals for yourself and you exert much strength and effort to achieve them! What do you do once you hit the goals? …

A thought: perhaps for optimal health, motivation and inspiration, happiness and joy in life we need both hot AND cold. And perhaps the play between both is what gives birth to creative activity and …

“The good is in the absence of the bad.” – St. Augustine A thought in photography: Perhaps it is more effective to ditch/delete/remove our “bad” photos, than worry too much about figuring out what …

Photos from Kyoto— the most aesthetically beautiful and sublime place on the planet:

Once upon a time in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino— a classic.

We are so insanely futuristic; why are we still producing, purchasing, and driving gasoline cars?

My thought: Much of how we live our lives SHOULD be directed by our own personal ego, aesthetics, vanity, and pride.

What I’ve been making photos of:

Do you have the great satisfaction or dissatisfaction from life/existence?

Practical photo thoughts: Start an ‘everyday’ photo project using your “standalone digital camera”. Keep your iPhone or smartphone in your backpack or bag, and keep your camera always with you. Anything you might shoot …

A big thought: Use the New Year as an opportunity to truly reflect, meditate, and understand WHY you make photos. There isn’t any “right” or “wrong” answers. And also realize, this is dynamic— your …

Dear friends, The New Year is just around the corner, and I wanted to use this opportunity to share some practical New Year’s Photo Resolutions you can apply! For all of this year, only …

What do we want from photography, technology, blogging, etc? To augment our modes of creative expression.

I got the gouda – no shoota I don’t got a car still go hella far I got the guac; I’m from Cali I got the racks and I pay all my tax (early!) …

My personal photography odyssey (thus far):

Badder is better. My thought: Better to do something “bad” (poorly) than to not do it at all. The way to achieve more, do more, and brave more in life.

Photography: chronicle your own (epic) life story.