ERIC KIM
PHOTO

A thought: The biggest benefit of blogging — it gives you a chance to think, flesh out your thoughts. Essentially blogging is augmented thinking.

Focus on physical and mental self-development, and track your physical and mental gains.

The most empowering feeling in the world: To attempt something truly epic, and then fail– and realizing that the failure wasn’t so bad or scary!

When it comes to physical fitness, we talk much about “recovery”–the days you don’t lift in order to become stronger. My thought: instead of calling it “recovery”, better to call it “augmentation”.

A thought: Perhaps when we are always trying to “over-optimize” and “improve”, we are actually becoming LESS productive, MORE distracted, and less effective.

The goal is to make beautiful photos. But why? And what constitutes a ‘beautiful’ photo? Let us essay some of these ideas:

The purpose of photography: To express our joy of being alive and of society and reality. Also, for us to spark joy into the lives of others — those who look at our photos …

Build your body, build your mind, and build your own empire.

My buddy Jeffrey Lam is currently working on this notion of ‘existential health’, which is basically this: Wondering the philosophical underpinnings of health. For example when a doctor sees a patient, the doctor will …

The biggest benefit of technology, blogs, and websites: You can always adjust your portfolio of images. Adding and removing whenever you feel like it!

Ideas for your street photography:

There is nothing more interesting than human life, human sociology, human politics, human ethics/morals, artwork (related to humans). Humans are the ultimate ruler of what is beautiful or ugly.

What if hope is holding us back?

Necessity is the mother and the source of all innovation. When we need to innovate, we will discover new innovations. We don’t need to force innovations — seeking to innovate for the sake of …

For too long philosophers, thinkers, and common people have believed the body and soul (spirit) to be separate. But what if the body and soul were one in the same? Two sides of the …

What hinders us? Striving to be “good”at something. But instead, I believe we should strive to be GENUINE— authentic, real, naked, exposed, transparent, and courageous to own your own opinion, thoughts, and beliefs!

Something I’ve been thinking about a lot: Which individuals are remembered in history, and who isn’t remembered?

My great joys in life: Making photos, and philosophizing about photography.

In praise of making photos for yourself:

Choose fun:

Currently really into shooting 60 FPS videos on RICOH GR III, then using Giphy Capture on the Mac to covert the images into GIF’s.

Deepen understanding, wisdom, knowledge, art, aesthetics and philosophy and share this knowledge and wisdom with others.

The famous quote from Archimedes. Basic idea: Determine which city or location is optimal for your personal creativity, self-development, thriving, and strength — and stay there and leverage your strengths to maximize your impact …

Thanksgiving passed, but this is what I am grateful for: Health Cindy Friends and family RICOH GR III Powerlifting and gym Philosophy, photography and art Zen focus and strength Minimal and simple living My …

When in doubt, best to procrastinate, wait, hold back, and decide later.

The most beautiful strap on planet earth: MUSE. Order Now >

Don’t strive to ADD superfluous technology to your life. Instead, strive to REMOVE technology from your life. Keep subtracting until you only have the bare essentials necessary to your personal artistic and creative thriving.

In terms of aesthetic, my favorite are abstract, simple, and open-ended images:

This holiday season invest in experiences for yourself, your family, and others.

This is the simple assignment: Focus on photographing triangles, by shooting multiple-subject photos (three subjects), or just by connecting visual elements. Then upload your best photos to arsbeta.com

Fewer choices .. more happiness, focus, and productivity? Minimal clothing choices: Less stress how to dress yourself everyday. Easier to get out of the house. Minimal photo choices (one camera, one lens): More focus …

Sleep: the ultimate performance-enhancing drug!

Discover MUSE — the supreme strap.

If your desire is to become the apex artist, you must CHANNEL your ego, and press your ego into your service, instead of striving to destroy your ego.

Good failure: The type of failure which REMOVES fear from your life and attempts. For example:

It seems one of the American dreams is to cultivate uniqueness. This is what fuels a lot of our consumerism: The desire to purchase something which exhibits our personal vanity of our own personal …

ARS is the online photography feedback platform on the planet which can actually help you IMPROVE your photography!

We all want to improve our lives. But in order for what? Testing these turbo thoughts with ZEN OF ERIC:

What is consumerism, and is it really as “bad” as people make it out to be?

Why is photography so fun?

Practical ideas:

Today’s turbo thought: To be human is to MOVE!

No judgements. No hesitation. No self-critique or self-judgement. Pure unadulterated joy in photography.

Black and white— classic, timeless, and personal:

The great joy of life: Knowing that trillions of new fun, exciting, and great adventures and experiences await you!

It seems the reason why we want wealth and riches is to live a peaceful life. But what if living a frugal and simple life were a more effective strategy?

W. Eugene Smith was probably the greatest humanistic photographer thus far:

Singapore photos:

Fujifilm makes great cameras— probably some of the best “bang for the buck”cameras. Imagine Fujifilm cameras being like a Lexus— truly nothing wrong with it! Great performance, good aesthetics, and a solid price point.

A thought inspired by Cindy: What if we should direct all of our powers to elevate ourselves?

A realization about photography: It doesn’t matter how “good” or “bad” you are in photography. The point is to share YOUR personal perspective!

Perhaps the optimal human state is maximizing your “flow state” everyday, all day, for the most of everyday. Some practical ideas: Don’t do anything you don’t care for, or what you’re not passionate about. …

Happiness isn’t the end goal (contra Aristotle):

First basic idea: The best way to measure ‘success’ as an entrepreneur is on pure survival.

Is frugality a virtue? Is frugality something to be desired? What is frugality for? For whom? Why be frugal? These are some questions I will attempt to answer:

Whenever I have followed my passion in life, I have succeeded in life. And so can you.

A thought: I am hyper-healthy I am hyper-strong I have much wealth I have succeeded in all of my life goals The question is: Now what?

Don’t live life like Russian roulette. Texting and driving 99% safe… 1% death.

Photographic nihilism means: What is the point of making photos? They are insignificant anyways. Nihilism: the (loser) philosophy that ‘nothing has meaning, thus I shall do nothing’ (Arthur Schopenhauer’s philosophy). Unfortunately this type of …

Success as a photographer means to never stop shooting new photos! If we use this as our definition for photography and art, then perhaps Henri Cartier-Bresson wasn’t a successful photographer (he gave up photography), …

When I start blogging, I have no idea how it will end Similar thinking: treat blogging as “live-streaming”your mind! With all your “flaws”and “bad” grammar. More important for it to be your own personal …

Andre Lhote— the teacher of Henri Cartier-Bresson:

The eternal return — what would you want to practice forever, for fun?

My only definition of failure: Being a coward in [x]. What is success? Courage. Acting courageously, and not obtaining your desired consequences isn’t “failure”. It is just practical information you can use to tinker, …

My definition of financial independence: To no longer be a slave to money as a way to self-value yourself, your worth, or your progress in life.

An ethical thought: When it comes to interacting with others — there are times in which your “selfless” actions are actually very self-interested. And other times when your “selfish” actions are actually quite selfless …

Street photography gives me a reason to live! To thrive! To explore, to make art, and to share.