It seems that success as a photographer in today’s brave new world of photography is 90% dependent on marketing skill, and only 10% photographic skill. It seems this is the truth.
Now, how are you to succeed and stand-out? Here are some practical ideas I’ve learned through my decade+ experience in photography, marketing, philosophy, and life:
(more…)
I deem JOSEF KOUDELKA as one of the greatest photographers of all time. Why? Let me share.
(more…)
To make great photos, strive to make strong and simple compositions.
(more…)
With enough of your personal willpower, you can achieve, do, become, or create anything.
But the practical question:
Read MOREHow do we “gain” more willpower? How can we strengthen our willpower?
To me, entrepreneurship is applied philosophy to reality. To become an entrepreneur takes 10000x more guts than to be a thinker and philosopher. Why? As an entrepreneur you are tied to reality (skin in the game, via Nassim Taleb). You’re a modern day hero. You’re taking on personal sacrifices and risks to better humanity and the collective.
Where should the profit motive fit?
(more…)
I love monochrome. Here are some practical tips to help you elevate your monochrome vision:
(more…)
I have a bold new vision of the future:
A world in which we derive happiness and meaning from creating and producing things (artwork), instead of striving to buy, possess, or consume.
In photography, using a wide-angle lens and getting very close will make better photos:
(more…)
Kind of random — but after years of experimenting with different headphones (noise cancelling, over-head, in-ear, bluetooth, wireless, wired, etc), I have decided:
(more…)In-ear monitor ‘earbuds’ are the best headphones.
To me true happiness is the feeling of hyper-abundance, the feeling of hyper-activity, supple movement, and the deification of existence.
Happiness as overflowing creative and physiological power. The ability and the desire to create. The faith in oneself — the faith that you are capable of great things, and you have the power to even attempt these great things.
Happiness as having total freedom — freedom over your time, thinking, and schedule.
Happiness as hope, excitement, and optimism towards the future. To also employ your day to the fullest, to supersede your self-perceived limits, and to sense positive progress in your life.
Entrepreneurial concepts to help increase your likelihood of success:
(more…)A question in entrepreneurship:
Is hustling hard sufficient unto success?
Which means — can you succeed in business or in life via your pure determination, willpower, and effort? Or do you need “luckâ€(the right opportunities in life, money, power, influences, network)?
(more…)
What is art? Art is something that a human being creates.
Anything you create is an “art-work”.
Now perhaps the more practical question is this:
Is art a legitimate art-form? And is it on the same plane as painting or other forms of artwork?
I claim it is. Why? Let me explain:
(more…)
A thought on art:
(more…)Perhaps we should strive to make beautiful things which we like to look at.
I am one of the most creatively productive people I know. Here are some practical thoughts and tips on how to create more:
(more…)
What are the best camera straps for you? An overview of all HAPTIC STRAPS:
(more…)A new way to think about motivation:
(more…)To “motivate” yourself means to literally MOVE yourself!
What makes a beautiful photo? How do we better increase our chances of making a beautiful photo? What type of camera do we need, and so forth?
(more…)
To become more successful in life, give more and receive (take less).
(more…)
A thought when listening to some hip hop music and looking through my photos:
I strive to make a visual soundtrack.
My photos are a reflection of me. My photos are imbued with my soul.
(more…)
The beauty of monochrome, blur, grit, and surreal/abstract photography — that it looks different from reality?
(more…)
A thought on entrepreneurship and life:
(more…)Don’t be led by trying to make money. Instead, work on challenging, interesting, and difficult problems which interest you and which are fun for you!
A thought:
You don’t need anyone’s permission to do anything.
Perhaps the best life is a life in which you don’t need anyone’s permission to achieve or accomplish anything? A life which you don’t need the judgement of others in order to validate yourself. A life where you can depend 100% on yourself, to achieve your own dreams.
(more…)
Study compositions from other great photographers you admire, break them down, and aspire to take your own compositions to the next level!
Some inspiration from Garry Winogrand:
(more…)
You ever have someone tell you:
“Put away the camera, just enjoy this moment!â€
But what if to photograph something WAS to experience it deeper, richer, fuller, with more gratitude and joy?
(more…)
A pre-requisite in life:
Like yourself.
If you don’t like yourself, how do you expect others to like you?
(more…)
Why do you do photography? Why do you make images? Why do you engage with the visual world? What do you want your viewers to get from your images?
This is the start of visual philosophy/photography philosophy (I call it ‘photolosophy‘).
(more…)
Composition is endlessly fascinating, has a trillion permutations, and has no right or wrong.
(more…)
One of my favorite photo books — part of our ongoing HAPTIC PHOTO BOOK CLUB (Summer):
(more…)
Hey streettogs, super pumped to share that me and Cindy will start a summer book club around photography books.
Check the HAPTIC shop for special summer discounts, as well as the blog for more articles and insights about photo books and publishing! To celebrate our love of books and printing, all print and mobile books in the HAPTIC shop will have new flash sales every week throughout the summer while supplies last.
BASED ON A TRUE STORY by David Alan Harvey — a beautiful book concept that teaches us:
There are so many new, innovative ways we can produce books and interact with!
Ideas from the book:
The primary question of visual philosophy:
(more…)What is the worth of an image. And why are visual art works important?
The bitter in life is better than the sweet.
Bitter coffee as superior to sweet coffee.
Bitter experiences toughen you.
Of course, we should still strive towards the “bitter-sweetâ€â€” we need BOTH the bitter and the sweet in life in order to thrive, discover more gratitude in life, and have more power.
(more…)
There are many types of photography out there. And honestly, there isn’t a “superior†genre out there.
Better yet — perhaps we shouldn’t separate photography into different types? However at the same time, studying different photography genres is a good way to discover NEW forms or types of photography you might not yet know you’re interested in.
(more…)
These are the photography quotes I believe to be the most true, based on my personal life experiences:
(more…)
To read a photo means to interpret the photo, analyze it, dissect it, strive to understand it, and to derive meaning from it.
(more…)
Ambition — your life purpose risen. Break out of your mental cell and prison.
Are your thoughts stuck or risen?
Follow your strength and charisma Laud yourself and like you through and through.
Being true is understated, confused, and underrated. Being true is to just follow your own gut— to disregard fame, wealth, and avoid prostrating yourself to others, one knee knelt.
Tighten your belt, grit your teeth. Your future is waiting, will you seize it (great reach!)
If you’re new to photography (or you want a refresh), this article is for you:
(more…)
You are a creator, innovator, and artist. Now we got that out of the way, what are some practical tactics and tips to empower you to be creative everyday?
(more…)
If you’re creative everyday (meaning, you create things everyday), you’re happier, more empowered, optimistic, and enthusiastic about life!
I’ve written much on why blog, how to start and setup your own blog, but not much on how to blog. This will be a distillation of everything I’ve learned thus far from blogging (from age 15 to age 31)— 16+ years!
(more…)
Entrepreneurship: the art of taking “calculated risks” in order to create what you desire to see manifested in the world.
Why become an entrepreneur? Because you hate the way that the world currently looks, and you desire to change it!
(more…)
Only own what you’d always carry or use.Â
A thought:
(more…)What if you always carried all of your possessions with you? Would this make us more selective on what to buy? Would this be more effective for us in terms of maximizing the possessions we already own?
In art, there is no right or wrong. There is simply ‘authentic’ and ‘inauthentic’.
What you are striving towards as an artist is this:
(more…)For you to pursue your own artistic vision, and being steadfast/strong enough to prevent others from watering down your artistic vision.
Is All Conventional Wisdom Bad?
Have I ever learned anything from anyone else (in real life) or from books which had practical utility in my life, without me following my gut and self-experimenting?
Conventional wisdom has never helped me. However on the other hand, listening to and acting upon/experimenting on unconventional wisdom has seemed to pay off.
(more…)There is obviously much to critique in the world. But rather than complaining what we hate in the world (the ‘commentator’ mentality, which actually doesn’t take much personal courage), perhaps we should strive to actually BECOME the change which we wish to see in the world!
(more…)
To become the most powerful digital entrepreneur, you must own the means of production!
(more…)
When contemplating anything in life, always ask to yourself:
(more…)For what end do I desire to do [x, y, z]?
I was reading an interesting interview with JAY Z, and discovered something super fascinating to me. The basic idea is that the reason why a lot of people in the hood wore baggy pants and puffy jackets were to conceal drugs and weapons. And Timberland work boots because they would be hustling on the streets of New York late until the night during the winter — so the purpose was to stay warm.
Which gave me a thought:
(more…)Do all fashion or design trends begin from the functional purpose first?
