ERIC KIM ₿

Why Instagram is bad for your self-esteem, your creativity, your mental well-being-being, your focus, and generally — bad for humanity.

My thoughts:

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A thought:

Now that all cameras are good, and that the iPhone Pro (the ultimate equalizer in photography) has arrived — what is the best way to differentiate yourself as a photographer?

Some ideas:

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“In art, the best is good enough.”

Voltaire

We are finally at the point in which iPhone Pro is truly good enough for photography: good enough to be your solo camera, your solo photo selector, your sole photo processor, and your creative “all in one”solution.

What we desire for in life which drives our will to power, riches, fame, and influence — the desire for more strength. Physical and physiological strength-health, strength to pursue great aims, strength to create great and powerful art, and the strength to control other people, spaces, and ourselves.

I consider the iPhone Pro x RICOH GR III as the best camera setup. iPhone Pro for everyday photography, and RICOH GR III if you need more power.

iPhone Pro like a quick-draw pistol, RICOH GR III as the heavy artillery (thinking John Wick).

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Just tested the new AirPods Pro, and I really don’t like them. Why? Not because the technology isn’t good (the technology is great), but more of the philosophical, psychological, and practical implications of them.

Let me explain:

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TRAVEL NOTES thought:

Do you employ traveling as a means to spend MORE time with yourself, or to distract yourself from yourself?

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Anything you can do to streamline and simplify your life is good!

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Let us consider that photography is the ultimate democratic form of art-creation. Then this means that photography is the ultimate visual art.

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Currently living in a ‘tiny apartment’ (less than 350 square feet), and I love it. Why? Let me share:

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What are the practical and philosophical implications once photography and art-creation has been democratized for the masses?

It means that art-creation becomes a meritocracy, which means — your rank as a photographer-artist is based on your skill, effort, and merit, not how rich you are, or your access to tools and privilege.

What I just realized:

The reason why many individuals and individuals in the art world don’t like photography is because it disrupts art: art production, art publishing, and art in general!

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I’m still amazed by the new iPhone Pro image quality (with the new beta OS). It has arrived — it’s truly “good enough”for photography, and can become your sole camera!

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Today’s modern gold: the ability to NOT get distracted. Some practical ideas to help you never get distracted (by crap you don’t care for):

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My thought:

Google Pixel will never be as good as iPhone, here’s why:

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A fun and random idea:

Could you shoot a billion photos before you die?

How to do this:

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What if creativity (propensity to create) and motivation were more physiological than mental?

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A thought:

When we desire x, y, z, do we want it for what it is, or what it symbolizes?

For example:

1. Do we want that car for what it is, or what it symbolizes? For instance I want the Lamborghini for what it symbolizes: audacity, sexiness, and power. I don’t think I actually want to own the car itself.
2. Much of fashion and luxury is about the notion of elegance, beauty, and grace. We think that by purchasing these things we become more beautiful, graceful, and worthy.
3. When we want to buy that new camera, what we really want is to feel more inspired, creative and happy. But will buying that new camera really have that effect?

I’ve never bought an iPhone in my life, and I never thought the iPhone was “good enough”in my eyes to become my primary computer, or even my primary camera.

But after a week of testing, I can say: the iPhone has arrived.

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My thought:

Life is far too long to be bored. Why live your life being bored, enslaved, or chained down — even for a minute?

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Inspired by Nassim Taleb: the basic idea is this:

Instead of trying to figure out what drugs, supplements, and things to ADD to your life, experiment by subtracting and pruning away toxic things, in order to become healthier, happier, and stronger.

For example for me:

1. No lactose, cheese, dairy, butter: These all taste phenomenal to me, but my Asian stomach can not handle or process it. I’m much stronger and my digestion is far better after cutting it all.
2. No alcohol: I get easy hangovers. Just cutting alcohol has helped my mind stay strong, focused, and of course — no lost productivity because of headaches related to alcohol.
3. No drugs (cocaine, weed, LSD, shrooms, ecstasy, etc): No moralistic problems with it, the biggest problem is I’m just super suspicious of the negative long term impacts it can have on my brain, neuro chemical, and hormonal signaling.
4. No email, social media, news, blogs, newspapers, TV, Netflix shows: These things all seem to rewire my brain in strange and distracting ways. Difficulty to focus. Also, more feelings of anxiety associated with these types of media and communication.
5. No gluten, bread, rice, starch, carbs, sugar, corn-related products, etc: I’ve been able to be pure keto (lots of fatty meats, eggs, and bitter herbs) with no mental, physical, or emotional downside. In fact, I feel stronger, keener, sharper, more awake, confident, and brazen. Also my body fat percentage has gone down (less fat adipose tissue) which is great for my personal physique. Furthermore less carbs and starch means I can eat more eggs and meat (more protein for muscle building and brain recovery).

In life, to increase happiness, health, and strength, keep experimenting with subtraction in order to become more powerful!

Pragmatic and practical strategies in order to recover from modern life:

1. Eat much meat
2. Detox from coffee and caffeine
3. Lift weights
4. Walk 5+ miles a day
5. Sleep 8-12 hours a night
6. No social media, no news, no Netflix, no email, no phone
7. Intense massage
8. Acupuncture
9. Long hikes in the woods, total panoramic immersion in nature
10. Ice baths or ice showers
11. Hot sauna
12. Dancing at the club or any dancing establishment
13. Fresh air
14. Much sunlight
15. No video games
16. Detox from alcohol and weed

MAKE yourself GREAT State your worth, steer your course, do it first.

Proclaim your greatness far and wide, stateless, you’re a different case.

Never stay still, keep rolling your stone of life. Prometheus unbound, keep your liver hungry for more!

ERIC

Living life on the edge, pushing your limits, living extreme as far more interesting, fun, enjoyable and rewarding in life.

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You are never destroyed by anyone else but yourself: the great optimistic and empowering thought in life and existence.

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I’m a mean, keen, perpetual photographic machine!

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In praise of Vegas:

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Something fun I’m experimenting with:

Importing photos I shoot on my RICOH GR III to iPhone via the SD card lightning adapter, selecting my favorite photos, and uploading them directly to my blog from iPhone.

It’s essentially the same as iPad, except iPhone has the benefit of being even smaller and more compact.

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iPhone Pro as the most interesting camera right now:

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Investing in experiences in life as the best “bang for the buck”— not things, possessions, and ephemeral objects.

Why I believe Apple is leading the way in photography, arts creation, culture, and society:

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A thought:

What if much of our impulse to make art, photographs, etc is related to our hormones?

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What is one of the best computer hacks you can integrate? Uninstall Chrome and start using Safari instead. Why? Some reasons:

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“The people highest up have the lowest self-esteem.”

Kanye West

“Checking Instagram comments to crowd-source my self-esteem.”

Kanye West

I am an unusually high amount of self-esteem. Where did I get it? How can I increase my self-esteem, and why is this essential?

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You can evolve into a higher form (in your own lifetime)!

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An interesting shift we are undergoing in society:

With meritocracy, American capitalist/socialist values— this notion of “democratic luxury” is being made.

Let me explain:

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Don’t let fear hold you back. Aren’t you curious what your limits are?

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A realization about motivation:

When we feel “motivated”, it is an after-the-fact sensation. We must first MOVE and ACT, then consequently we will feel motivated.

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The worst type of scholar is to become a commentator. To comment on something takes no real “skin in the game”. Your opinion of your comment is subjective, and based on the knowledge of others, therefore you are protected from being critiqued on your own commentary.

Perhaps a more noble and bold pursuit is this:

Instead of just commenting on the knowledge of others, we should go out and create our own new rules, laws, and ideas for others.

Let me explain:

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Simplifying or cutting or destroying is also a creative act.

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How to design a better UI/UX for iPhone Pro:

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I’m insanely happy right now. Let me share how and why:

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Listen on ERIC KIM PODCAST

Thoughts on the desire for a “perfect” and “ultimate” productivity device:

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My current thoughts:

For street photography the optimal cameras include RICOH GR III or iPhone Pro/11.

Let me explain:

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A stronger ego is the best ego.

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Currently playing with the new iPhone Pro and here are my thoughts:

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A concept I’ve not heard yet— a “digital hunter gatherer”. We already have this notion of a “digital nomad”— but why not the hunter gatherer lifestyle?

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An interesting life experiment today, which is the happiest day I’ve ever had:

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The secret to creating great individuals, who achieve great things:

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An effective lesson from my buddy Horace (Ars Poetica, On the Art of Poetry) is this:

In order to succeed, both entertain while educating the other.

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A thought:

Perhaps when we are “unhappy” it isn’t a sign of our mental well-being, it is a sign of our physiological (physical) well-being.

Therefore is our goal is to become “happier”, perhaps the goal should be to maximize our physiological strength, vigor, energy, and life!

Now, how to do this? Some ideas:

1. Vigorous massage: Just go to a cheap Chinese or Thai owned massage place (I’ve been able to find some places in Southern California for $20 an hour), and ask them to massage you “very hard”. There are theories that when you get a vigorous massage, it kickstarts your body’s “mitochondrial biogenesis” process which essentially means your body starts producing more little mini energy power plants (mitochondria).
2. Force yourself to sleep before 9-10pm, and wake up naturally without an alarm clock. In periods of extreme exhaustion, I can even sleep up to 11-14 hours in a single night. If you have insomnia, do extreme weight lifting during the day (or HIIT/crossfit). And also drink coffee/caffeine in the morning. No screens after 6pm. No Netflix, movies, video games, or other things which stimulate you. Just read paper books, go on a long walk at night, and have a nice dinner with a loved one (or yourself). Also have a high fat and meat heavy meal at night in order to fall asleep better (pork belly, beef belly). If you still cannot sleep, take a small dose of melatonin (minimum effective dose).
3. Experiment with acupuncture: There isn’t a “real” science behind it, but it seems effective. My theory is that the needles are like “micro trauma” into your muscles which stimulate your body’s “hormesis” response (like cold water therapy, weight lifting, or drinking bitter coffee/tea).
4. Stand and walk all day: No sitting allowed. I’m a huge fan of standing desks. Or the ghetto “squatting desk” (put your laptop on top of a chair or couch, and simply do a full “ass to grass” squat while working on your laptop). When your legs get tired, get up and walk around, or walk around the block. The goal is to NOT sit at any moment during the day. Only way to rest your legs is to squat, lie down on your back and take a nap, or just walk around. I am quite convinced that 99% of our modern ailments (back pain, etc) are caused by sitting (how come nobody has invented a “standing car” yet? I even prefer to stand in the metro or bus, in order to exercise my legs.

A realization what we really want to achieve as photographers:

To capture raw, unfiltered, genuine, and “real” emotions from other humans (and ourselves).

For example:

1. In street photography, we want to capture “authentic” moments, emotions, etc. This is why we generally like “unposed” photos; we believe we can capture more authentic emotions this way.
2. In portrait photography we want to capture the “authentic” soul of the subject, or we desire to capture an emotion or feeling we believe to be their “real” self. Or we photograph others in order to photograph ourselves and our own vision of humanity (Richard Avedon).
3. Even when we are photographing landscapes, things, objects, shapes and forms, there is something about our perspective and soul which we desire to communicate with others. You’re never photographing a thing or place; you’re photographing your own soul, perspective, and self.

What is worse for you:

1. Eating 2,000 calories a day of Twinkies everyday for a week?
2. Eating 2,000 calories of fatty sirloin steak everyday for a week?

Obviously eating 2,000 of calories a day of Twinkies will be worse. Why? Let me explain:

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Why are we so hungry to discover the ‘best’ approach?

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Practical ideas:

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Making more potent art, drinking more potent coffee, making yourself more potent in life?

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RICOH GR III as currently the best camera on the market, and the best camera made (thus far).

Why? Let me explain:

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Why I prefer more minimalist aesthetics in photography:

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Extreme minimalism and extreme simplicity as the driver of innovation, growth, and strength?

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Our bloodline of photographers is to constantly be making new photos — making new photos as we breathe, as our heart beats, or how our eyes see and perceive!

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A Balanced Life isn’t the Best Life

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Portland great for:

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Perhaps what we are seeking from life is more life. To live more, to experience more, to create more, to consume more, to recycle more, to become more powerful, to synthesize more, and to become more!

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A realization:

When we try to trap ourselves within a certain genre of photography, we become prisoners. Better to unchain yourself from photographic concepts, and simply allow yourself to photograph anything AND everything!

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The three vices of modern media. This is why I don’t watch, follow, or read the news, social media, blogs, websites, magazines, etc.

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A thought while at Powell’s bookstore:

There are SO MANY books out there. To make another book doesn’t seem to help much with the glut of information out there.

Also, most published books can probably be published as blog posts (or could be 99% shorter).

So what if instead of aspiring to make more books, we can aspire to make more blogs or blog posts?

Upwards, to the heights and beyond / Staunch in your goals, embrace ideas from the whole world. Fly higher, disdain the plane. Train yourself to thrive with challenge — this is the secret to fun. Shun the basic and easy, and craft your own virtues for yourself. You’re beyond the hand you’ve been dealt.

Appropriate reality to the max. Stay hard in your life’s task like the hammer. Stay strong and keep pounding, and stay bright like flint. Your life is one— this is your only stint.

Animate yourself, animate your soul. Never stop making and breaking, and shaking the status quo.

You know much— have much trust in yourself. You’re the wisest in the room. Artistic explosions like sonic booms!

Hustle with guile— and crank up the dial to 11. Rise beyond the leavened bread. Write your own book— you’re read.

ERIC