ARS; the best (recent) innovation for photographers seeking true feedback/critique on their photographs:
All Movement is Good.
Motivation literally means “to move”. We need to move and act to do anything; we need to move our fingers to type, we need to move our feet to shoot photos, we need to move our bodies to get from point A to point B, and we need to move heavy weights off from the ground to build our muscles and strength.
Art is Luxury
It seems the best place to get visual inspiration for me as of late is luxury goods:
Steer Your Course in Life
You cannot predict or determine with 100% the outcome of your life, but you can steer your course in life.
Steering a ship
If you’re the captain of a ship, you can steer the direction of the ship but you cannot control externals (the condition of the sea, whether there are pirates in the sea, or the weather conditions). It is your duty as a captain to be brave, to exercise your best judgement, and for you to steer boldly in a certain direction.
When you’re steering your ship of life in a certain direction, you cannot control whether you will be hit with turbulent waves. However you can direct the general course (direction of your ship).
I feel we can use a similar metaphor in life:
You can generally steer your direction in life, but you cannot predict or determine the outcome.
Thus it seems the optimal strategy in life is to steer as wisely, boldly, and bravely in life — and leave the rest to fate. Think of the saying:
Throw your spear, and leave the rest to Zeus!
ERIC
5 Simple Photography Assignments
How to Grow and Evolve as a Photographer
To grow as a photographer is to constantly shoot more, get more feedback on your photos (arsbeta.com), and to integrate the feedback of yourself and others into your future images.
Never Stop Streaming
I think one of the greatest notions which have entered our psyche is the notion of ‘streaming’.
What is the Optimal Way to Live Your Life?
Some recent thoughts on life:
Photography Exercises
Simple photography exercises to get you going!
Photo Fitness
A thought:
Focus on your physical and photographic (art) fitness in order to become a more productive photographer and visual artist.
Why It is Essential That You Changeup Your Style and Approach
For too long there has been a bias towards consistency. But I believe consistency is for suckers.
Gear Adaptation Syndrome
Practical thoughts on gear and how easily we adapt to it:
How to Give and Receive Meaningful Feedback on Your Photos
To get honest feedback and constructive critique on your photos is impossible on Facebook and Instagram. That is why we created arsbeta.com in order for you to receive and give meaningful feedback on photos:
Why I Love Porsche Design
Porsche as the best designed sports car (inspiration from my buddy Don).
Focus on Maximizing Your Own Strengths
Disregard your “weaknesses”; simply focus on maximizing your own potential strengths, maximizing your own power output, and unashamedly maximizing you.
15 Everyday Photography Tips
I often like to photograph things because things look different photographed!
Don’t Worry About Making Good Photos, Just Focus on Shooting a Lot!
A recent realization:
Don’t worry about making “good” photos. Just focus on shooting a lot (every day, and process photos every day).
Perhaps this can help bring you more joy in photography and life?
5 Practical Photography Tips
Some practical photo tips off the dome (originally sent to my newsletter):
ARS Coin: A New Economy for Photographers
I am proud to announce that today we announce ARS Beta Version III with the brand-new and revolutionary ARS Coin feature.
10 Photo Tips
Practical photo tips for you:
How to Become Your Own Motivator or Hype Man
I’m very self-motivated. How did I become this way? Some thoughts:
Motivating Force
What is your personal motivating force in life? Let this propel you forward!
Visual Innovation
New eyes for new photos.
The New Photo Economy
Something exciting is brewing at ARSBETA.COM ; keep your eyes glued.
Prevent Burnout by Change
Changing, it rests.
Heraclitus
I think “burnout” is often boredom mixed with physical exhaustion mixed with working on things you don’t care about.
Photograph and Document Your Own Life
No need to travel or escape yourself. Simply photograph and document your own life.
The New Photography Culture
What would an “ideal†photography culture look like? Some of my personal thoughts:
Beyond Perfection
Once you have perfect, then what?
Visual Insatiability
What motivates us to keep making photos?
My theory:
We are never visually satisfied.
This is a good thing!
Gratitude
I think you really love a place if you’re as happy coming as you are leaving.
Meaningful Productivity
The goal isn’t to be productive for the sake of being productive. The goal is to become MORE PRODUCTIVE on things which you really care about!
All Photography is Good
It rests by changing.
Heraclitus
I believe all change is good. And not only that, but it seems that change is where we find new sources of inspiration.
Paint With Your Camera
Paint with your camera. Find colorful textures and things which inspire you. Process your photos with additional contrast, tweak the colors, and paint photos which make you happy!
10 Practical and Simple Photography Tips
Practical and simple photography tips to get you motivated to shoot more!
The Thought of Owning Something is Better than Actually Owning It.
After buying all the stuff I’ve wanted in my life I’ve discovered that the cost of ownership (maintenance, stress) outweighs the joy of actually owning something.
The Joy of Making Photo Galleries
I’ve been making more photo galleries on this blog (via WordPress) and I feel like a new creative door has been opened to me.
Enjoy All Elements of Your Life
A thought:
What if in life you enjoyed all elements of it– the good, the bad, the difficult, and the easy?
How to Make Photography More Fun for Yourself
I’m having so much fun in my photography as of late, and I wanna share some tips with you (hopefully these can help you enjoy photography more!)
I See Faces
With abstract photography or art; I think the secret is looking for faces in things (eyes, heads, etc).
Photograph What You Love
To find inspiration to make photos, don’t worry about whether the photo will be “good” or not. Simply photograph what makes you happy, what makes you smile; what you love and care about!
Composition is All About Proportion
A realization:
Composition (and all design in general) is based on proportions.
New Mexico City Videos Batch 5
Lots of new action on ERIC KIM YOUTUBE:
Go Further!
Aren’t you curious what your limit is? Aren’t you curious how far you can fly?
Why Be Happy?
I’m happy, and I strive to maintain my personal happiness.
But why is happiness important? What functional purpose does it serve? And in what ways is happiness overrated, or underrated?
5 Streettog Tips
Some practical street photography tips:
Motivation
Motivation literally means to move. Thus it seems quite simple:
To be more “motivated” in life, move more!
Fortune Favors Brave Streettogs
The more bold or brazen you are, the more likely you are to make strong/interesting photos!
To Make More Photos, Live More!
The happy, active photographer as the most productive and inspired:
ERIC KIM Consulting
If you’re looking to find more personal meaning from your photography or to take your photography to the next level, commission ERIC KIM Consulting to gain personal feedback on your photos, mentorship, and direction for your photography.
What is “Mood�
Fleshing out some personal thoughts:
What exactly is “mood� Why does it shift? Why are we sometimes in a “good†mood, versus a “bad†mood? Is mood a physiological thing? Is there an “ideal†mood to be in?
The Joy of Shooting 4:3 Aspect Ratio
For my whole photographic life, I’ve always stuck to shooting a 3:2 aspect ratio (the standard 35mm aspect ratio). But one day, I accidentally switched my Lumix G9 (Micro 43rds camera) into the native 4:3 format. And I’ve been shooting with 4:3rds aspect ratio, and have been having a ton of fun! Some of my thoughts:
Photography is Your Art!
In life, to ‘prioritize’ literally means to put 1 thing in front of everything else. You cannot ‘prioritize’ more than 1 thing (that is why the notion of ‘prioritie(s)‘ makes no sense).
If your main artistic outlet is photography — why don’t you make it tantamountly important in your life?
Why Travel, Pack, and Live Light?
A reminder to self:
Always optimize for ultra-lightweight.
Anything that Makes You Creatively Productive is Good.
A thought:
Don’t worry so much about your personal ‘happiness.’ Instead, better to focus on your creative productivity.
10 Street Photography Tips
Practical tips to get you going!
Unlimited Artistic Potential
The only thing holding you back is you:
Why I’m So Happy
Joyful bliss:
The Best or Nothing
A unique approach to life:
7 Photography Inspiration Tips
Personal tips:
The Insatiable Desire to Make New Photos
As photographers, we have it in our DNA to desire to create new photos, for all of eternity!
What is Happiness in Photography?
Personal thoughts on happiness and photography:
My Personal Virtues
Virtues that I care about in my own life:
Contrast
Photography is only possible with contrast: contrasting subject matter, contrast with light vs dark, and contrasting elements.
My Favorite Travel Street Photography Equipment
What I’m currently living with on the road and traveling with:
Super Photography
My ideal of the photographer:
To delight in your own self-development in your photographic artistry– independent from the opinion of others.
New Mexico City Videos and Vlogs (Batch 4)
Fresh new batch of videos out of my favorite city in the world– Mexico City:
My Top 7 Photography Productivity Hacks
My practical tips on how to become a more productive photographer:
Why Become a Photography Blogger?
There are a trillion and one reasons to become a photography blogger. Let me outline some of my personal reasons why become a photography blogger:
How to Get More YouTube Subscribers
Practical thoughts and ideas:
To Be Happier, Live a More Dangerous Life!
Perhaps the cause of our ills in life is that our lives are TOO predictable, safe, and comfortable.