
-

STREET NOTES KINDLE EDITION
Hot off the digital press, we have now made our popular STREET NOTES available for your Amazon Kindle.
-

Don’t Be a Romantic

Kyoto. Cindy, 2017 Don’t be a romantic for the past. Wishing things to never change. Fearing death. Feeling nostalgia for your childhood, or the “good old daysâ€.
-

The Photographer’s Manifesto

Kyoto. Cindy, 2017 Dear photographer,
This letter of encouragement and empowerment is for you.
-

An Intimate Interview with Eric Kim by Arek Rataj

Photo by Cindy Nguyen. Uji, Kyoto 2017 Arek Rataj reached out to me with an insightful interview project called “You can shoot. Can you talk?†My interview with Arek will be released in APF Magazine in the future. Arek kindly allowed me to share the responses here. The photos in this interview are curated by Cindy Nguyen aka HAPTIC.
-

Why You Must Be a “Personality†in Order to Succeed

ERICKIM x ERICKIMSTRAP x RICOH GR II Dear friend, if you want to succeed and thrive as an entrepreneur in today’s competitive climate, you GOTTA be a PERSONALITY.
-

Street Photography Secrets

Mumbai, 2011 Secrets which I wish someone told me about street photography, if I started all over again:
-

What if We Didn’t Share Our Opinion?

What if we didn’t always feel the need to put in our “2 centsâ€, or feel the need to share our opinion?
-

Why Does Image Quality Matter?

Uji sunset, 2017. Why aren’t so obsessed with “image qualityâ€â€” and what does it even mean?
-

Live Light

Live light,
Live lightlyCut anything that holds you back
That prevents you from living rightly. -

Interview with Arek Rataj: Signs of Beauty and Transcendence
Arek Rataj reached out to me with an insightful interview project called “You can shoot. Can you talk?” This series of interviews and book will be released APF Magazine in the future. I stumbled upon the beautiful work of Arek and wanted to feature him here and his own responses to some of the interview questions. This poetic feature was organized by Cindy Nguyen aka HAPTIC.
(more…) -

The Death of the Photographic Middle-Class

I see the future of photography being the following: either you’re an amateur shooting for free, or you’re a high-end photographer catering to rich clients.
-

PHOTOGRAPHY ECONOMICS 101: What Is The Value of a Picture?

Uji. Kyoto, 2017. Dear friend,
In today’s world an overwhelming stream of images and social media, what is the value of a picture?
-

THRIVE OR DIE.

Girl laughing with blue sunglasss. Kyoto, 2017. Charles Darwin was all about this idea of “survival of the fittestâ€â€” and the sense I got from the book was this:
All organisms are fighting one another, in the brutal struggle for survival.
I felt like Darwin made the case that “survival†was the most important thing.
My idea:Focus on thriving, not survival. I will call this new concept: “thrivivalâ€.
-

Your Photographic Labor is Not Free

CAMERA MONEY USD by ANNETTE KIM Dear photographer,
Your labor is not free. Your time, life, and energy and resources are not free.
Then, why do you give up your precious labor for free?
-

How to Respect Yourself

How to respect yourself?
Well to start off, pay attention to your own health
Your mental and physical
Your visual and lyrical -

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOURSELF!

Reflection of Cindy in Ukata in our Ryokan in Uji, Kyoto 2017 Never underestimate
Yourself
or
Your inner-wealth -

Why You Should Never Compare Yourself to Any Other Photographer

Cindy picture of ERIC sleeping in Ryokan. Uji, Kyoto 2017 Photography ain’t a zero-sum game or competition. Meaning, there are no “winners†or “losers†in photography.
-

In Praise or Visual Experimentation in Photography

Uji sunset, 2017. I’ve been having fun shooting RAW + JPEG on RICOH GR II, with ERIC KIM PRESETS.
-

Conquer Your Fears and Meet New Peers in NYC, Berlin, Prague, Amsterdam & London

Dear friend,
I am excited to announce my new workshops schedule for the rest of 2017 — a series of ‘Conquer Your Fear in Street Photography’ workshops in Europe as well as an additional encore workshop in NYC.
-

Why You Should Make Your Own Photography Blog

Cindy stretching and self portrait of ERIC in Uji Ryokan. 2017 Dear friend,
In today’s world with free social media– why make your own (gasp) paid photography blog?
-

How to Make More Dynamic Picture Compositions

Cindy diagonal composition with arms. Ricoh GR II with 28mm and flash, and ERIC KIM COLOR PRESET. Practical tips and insights how to make more dynamic, or “edgy†photography compositions.
-

Don’t Hesitate; Just Create!

Don’t hesitate
Just create!
Don’t waste
Your creative insight
Just make lots of shit; spirited haste. -

The Spirit of Becoming a Photographer

Ryokan with Cindy. Uji, Kyoto 2017
The spirit of becoming is
to know that your art and photography doesn’t have an ultimate destination.
It is to know, that everyday, and with each picture you make… you are in a “state of becoming.†-

Shift the Paradigm

Berkeley, 2015 #cindyproject There is a concept called a “paradigm shift†— when we totally shift reality and perception.
-

FEARLESS PHOTOGRAPHY

STREET PORTRAIT. Newport Beach, 2017 Dear friend,
FEAR is the golden bricks, which hold you underwater– which prevent you from flying to your own creative heaven.
-

Universal Basic Income

Uji. Kyoto, 2017 Dear friend,
I’m been contemplating a lot on this concept of ‘universal basic income’ — whether it would be good for humanity, or horrible for humanity.
-

MEMENTO MORI: Interview with ANNETTE KIM

COMMISSION ANNETTE KIM: annettekimart@gmail.com
Interview with ANNETTE KIM on CREATIVE EVERYDAY and MEMENTO MORI ARTWEAR.
-

How Dare You Not Photograph Like Me!

Never allow anyone else (including ERIC KIM) force you to shoot photographs against how you like to shoot.
-

Why I Like to Take Selfies

Kyoto selfie. Processed with VSCO with a6 preset I think selfies are the best pictures you can take. Why?
-

Buy Experiences, Not Stuff

Family selfie in Kyoto. Processed with VSCO with a6 preset Dear friend,
I want to give you some practical ideas on “buying happinessâ€â€”via buying experiences, not gear and stuff.
-

Don’t Seek the Best; Seek the Least Friction

Ha Long Bay, 2017 #cindyproject Dear friend, in my quest to live happier, with less stress, and with more meaning— I think I’ve come across an idea which can help you.
-

NEO STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

Man with face mask and billboard, shot with flash on RICOH GR II. Kyoto, 2017. Dear friend,
I propose this new school of thought called “NEO STREET PHOTOGRAPHYâ€â€” “NEO†meaning “new.â€
-

HAPTICLABS Kyoto Visual Diary III

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset Dear friend,
Super excited to share that HAPTICLABS Kyoto Office has finished the first draft of CREATIVE EVERYDAY, and have sent it off for a test print.
-

Does Photography Help You Live a More Fulfilling Life?

Color Cindy and Scissors. Saigon, 2017. Dear friend,
Why do you make photos… to make pretty photos to get a lot of likes on the gram, or to find more personal fulfillment, and meaning in your life?
-

Never Deny Your Will to Photograph

Selfie in Kyoto with Necus 6P and HDR+. Processed with VSCO with a6 preset Dear friend,
Never deny your will to photograph.
-

How to Be Excited About Photography Again

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset I have recently been shooting on a phone, and last night, I was so damn excited… shooting night photography with the Google Nexus 6P and HDR+. I felt like a kid again…exploring and experiencing photography for the first time.
-

Why Are We So Obsessed With the “New New Thing�

Man looking at his phone. London, 2014. Portra 400 + flash I’m the first to admit, I’m the biggest sucker to GAS (gear acquisition syndrome).
-

Kyoto Life Update: CREATIVE EVERYDAY, New Workshops, and Phone Photography

Cover for upcoming CREATIVE EVERYDAY book by HAPTICPRESS Dear friend, it’s been a while!
I’m currently writing these words from our AirBnB in Kyoto, ready for the upcoming Kyoto Zen Photo Experience (Sept 9-10).
-

Which Photos Should I Keep or Ditch?

Kyoto, 2017. Google Nexus 6P and HDR+. Processed with VSCO with a6 preset The hardest thing about being a modern photographer: deciding which photos to keep or ditch.
-

How to Believe in Yourself

Portrait by Benjamin Thompson // Leica MP + Henri Neck Strap + SF 24D flash + Leica 35mm f/2 Summicron ASPH lens Self-doubt and not believing in yourself… is what holds you back. How can you overcome self-doubt, and begin to believe in yourself?
-

NYC CONQUER YOUR FEARS STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP / October 14-15, 2017

Laughing lady. NYC, 2016 Due to overwhelming demand for the NYC workshops (both sold out), Cindy and I have decided to add an ENCORE CONQUER YOUR FEARS WORKSHOP (October 14-15, Saturday/Sunday, 2017) to give you the opportunity to take your street photography to the next level.
-

Review: Google HDR+ For Phone Cameras and Photography

HDR+. Phenomenal detail. I am testing the OnePlus 5 with the default camera and the Google Camera with HDR+ and I am blown away by the superiority of HDR+.





















































