How to make better photos on RICOH GR II:

Discover your limits:

Why don’t we give enough credence and credit to ourselves, and our own will-power?

Google Pixel 3 camera (and all the computational photography involved) is phenomenal.

In some ways, the phone is the ultimate camera. Some tips to make better photos on your phone:

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Gifts are essential to humankind, ever since ancient Greek culture (Homer’s Illiad and Odyssey). As photographers, gifts are lovely! But what are the best “bang for the buck” gifts that money can buy?

Dear friend–

What if we lived a life in which we didn’t believe we had any limits? What if we lived a life in which we kept pushing ourselves further– and devoted our entire life to discover how far we could go?

To become more idealistic in life is simple:

Cut away negative ideas, people, and fear-inducing distractions.

Dear friend,

Practical idea:

In your photography, art, and life– think decades (the long game).

You’re the most important to impress:

Simple yet effective composition ideas for you:

I’m not a master photographer (yet). These are some lessons on how you can become a master photographer:

Grain and grit makes photos more beautiful:

Dear friend,

An idea:

The future of photography is software, not hardware.

Don’t Seek Happiness, Seek Challenge:

Giorgio de Chirico: probably one of the most underrated and underrepresented painters and artists of all time.

Your life is short. Why waste any of it, not producing things which are meaningful to you?

Comfort is the road to death:

What makes a great photograph? Some thoughts on the work of Richard Avedon:

Some ideas on how you can stand out as a photographer and cultivate your own photography style:

Dear friend,

A basic idea:

Life is all courage.

The secret to success: hustle hard.

The photos you shoot aren’t of others; they’re of you.

To promote my upcoming travel street photography experiences, I want to share some practical street photography tips (when you shoot while abroad):

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What is true productivity?

I’m back in the suburbs of LA, and shooting again with my (broken) RICOH GR II, and I am amazed — there is so much beauty in the world!!! The thing is — you can only discover this beauty if you look very closely.

The simplest camera is the best camera:

Traveling will help you discover new truths to live a happier life:

Dear friend,

I just got back to the “boring” suburbs of Orange County, and am super inspired again in my photography. Let me share some thoughts with you.

We cannot breathe and live without inspiration.

Why I love black and white photography:

If you are looking for a fun activity, photography projects can be for you:

Mario Giacomelli: One of the masters of monochrome:

If art didn’t exist, would you desire to still live?

Perhaps the point of photography is to make strong single images.

A simple guide to black and white photography:

Photography is the dance between light and dark:

John Wick: I can’t believe I haven’t seen this film until now! Probably one of the best action movies I’ve ever watched. I love the action, cinematography, color palettes, and of course– the ultimate badass Keanu Reeves:

Never stop shooting:

Simple tips:

What makes photography fun? Our opportunity to interact with the real world!

A shortcut to accelerate your street photography learning:

Play the long game.

Dear friend,

Basic concept in street photography:

When you see an interesting scene, don’t just take 1-2 photos and run away. Instead, keep “working the scene” (shooting the scene from different angles, and distances), and linger around, and keep shooting photos!

I am super pumped to share my epic upcoming week-long Hanoi to Sapa Street Photography Travel Experience (April 24-29, 2019). Don’t miss your chance to embark on an adventure of a lifetime:

If you desire to make immortal photos, photograph people.

Practical ideas:

The great thing about electric viewfinders: you see augmented reality!

Dear friend,

Basic idea:

Let us seek to thrive in life, not merely survive.

Shoot yourself:

Dear friend,

Practical entrepreneurial idea:

Focus on doing what only you can do!

More analyses of W Eugene Smith and Josef Koudelka:

Don’t be afraid of controversy or ruffling the feathers of others. Pursue your own artistic vision, with no compromise — seek to satisfy yourself.

My theory:

Extreme working out and fasting during the day, and extreme feasting and rest in the evening.

Dear friend,

Practical idea:

To live a more fulfilling and interesting life, seek to love risk!

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Practical tips I wish someone told me if I started traveling all over again:

Wandering; this is the source of innovation, newness, and perhaps what it means to be human?

This means: never blame another man for our faults. Also, attributing 100% of own success to our own efforts.

Analysis of some great compositions:

Dear friend,

Basic idea:

Let us seek to simplify our photography and our lives.

Simplify your photographic compositions to make better compositions:

There are no rules in photography; all is permitted.

Dear friend,

Basic idea:

There is no such thing as good or bad photography; all photography is good photography.

Simple is better:

Dear friend,

A practical thought:

What is ‘true‘ productivity? And how can we achieve it?

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