ERIC KIM ₿

Dear friend, let us thank God we’re alive.

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“The beginning is the end.” – Heraclitus

I started as a beginner photographer, gained experience, and now I’m going in reverse— trying to become a beginner photographer again.

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I like Henri Cartier-Bresson. But who was he inspired by?

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Your most valuable tool in photography: your eyes.

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Dear friend,

I think one thing a lot of us are chasing — to evoke more of the impulse to photograph.

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If you’ve never been to New York City for street photography, you must go.

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We cannot change reality, but we can change ourselves.

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I’ve always loved car designs, but was never sure why. Now, I think I know why.

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Dear friend,

The world can look like a shitty place. Regardless, how do we stay optimistic, and overcome any sort of pessimism we may face?

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Be adamant about what is important to you.

The word ‘adamant’ comes from this fictional material called ‘adamantine’ — which was seen in ancient times as untamable, and indestructible, and invincible.

That means in life, don’t compromise what is truly important to you. Be flexible to the small details in the life, but don’t betray your true beliefs. But let your morals, ethics, and way of life be untamable, indestructible, and invincible.

Always,
Eric

Learn more: Philosophy >

Dear friend,

The last month I’ve been living in Saigon in airplane mode, and I feel like I’m on a whole next-level ZEN mode.

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Dear friend,

I’ve always been a pretty brave person, but even now — I fall victim to anxiety.

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Dear friend,

If you ever get scared by people — this letter is for you.

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Dear friend,

Your ceiling has no limits. Why do you hold yourself back?

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Dear friend,

In life, there is an important difference between “will not” and “cannot”.

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Unfortunately, there is a lot of necessary work we need to do in life in order to stay alive.

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Dear friend,

Some friendly advice: Don’t forget that photography is supposed to be fun — don’t take it too seriously.

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Dear friend,

Practical advice: avoid debt at all costs in your photography.

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A street photographer is a professional flaneur.

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Compromise
The wise
Do it never.
Never stay tethered
To the expectations of others
Maybe, perhaps…even that of your lover.

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CONQUER FEAR
peer
into the depths of your soul
What action do you want to take
Or make
To mold
Your own world?

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WHY NOT? Should be our motto.

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Dear friend,

I’ve been thinking of what it means to be great, or have grandeur.

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We often think that more information is better.

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If you want to grow, you need to prune yourself.

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To me, information is power.

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To celebrate our love of books, we present to you HAPTIC PRESS BOX. The box includes all of our current HAPTIC PRESS books:

• STREET NOTES
• PHOTO JOURNAL
• FILM NOTES
• and the free gift of STREET NOTES MOBILE EDITION

Only a limited number of HAPTIC PRESS BOXES will be available. We print in small artisanal print runs from California, so pick up a box before they run out.

> Purchase your HAPTIC PRESS BOX here.

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Henri Cartier-Bresson invented the concept of “the decisive moment” in photography, but I think it is misunderstood.

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The less real, the greater the worth.

(How artists see The World?, via Nietzsche)

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If I were to have an iPhone Pro, this is what I would like as a photographer.

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One key to success: THINK BIG.

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Dear friend, If you’re a diamond, you can only be cut by other diamonds — aka, materials that are as strong as you (if not stronger than you).

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An idea: buy dual RICOH GR II. Both with ERIC KIM STRAP. Like dual pistols in Goldeneye 007. Or like Jay-Z with twin Bugattis outside the Art Basel. Living life colossal.

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I’m a huge fan of VSCO, and if you use the “free” version of VSCO, I highly recommend signing up for their paid subscription service (VSCO X).

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If you gain too much inspiration from the past, will that mean you will never find your own style?

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KILL EK,
he’s a lying heretic; he no longer prays.

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Inspired by MIS-READING.COM

Work hard, slay, all day.

Everyday treat it like it were new.
Refresh your perspective,
Today, make the new you.

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Photo Entrepeneurship 101

Wayne Gretzky, best hockey player of all time said:

Don’t skate to the puck. Skate to where the puck is going to be.

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Dear friend,

Let’s say you got $1,000 to invest. What should you buy? Stocks, or something else?

Naw cousin, invest that money into yourself.

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Dear friend,

Imma propose a new rule to avoid debt in photography and life: let us call it the “two camera rule.”

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Needless to say, this advice probably won’t help you. But it has helped me.

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With love:

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Why make photos or be a photographer? For me it is to experience the world in a more connected, conscious, and appreciative way.

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As an American, I’ve been taught to become a hoarder.

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Full series: Istanbul Vers la Ville by Pierre Belhassen.

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Dear friend,

If you ever second-guess yourself into paralysis, this letter is for you.

Download PDF >

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PHOTOGRAPHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101 by ERIC KIM

To succeed as a photography entrepreneur, seek to be “meaningfully different” from everyone else out there.

Download PDF >

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When life gives you shit, make lemonade.

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Stream of consciousness idea: to engage your viewer with your photos and art, OBSCURE more of your image.

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The camera is a scissor of reality. You decide what to keep, and what to cut away.

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A stoic philosophy: don’t take your (negative) emotions too seriously.

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Tracing with ISSEY MIYAKE // very inspired by his pleats, curves, and flexible weaved material. Another proof of all the innovation happening in fashion. Oh yeah, I found about ISSEY through the iconic black turtle necks he made for Steve Jobs.

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I was born with a thin skin, and it took me nearly a decade to grow thick skin.

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There is no ultimate “right” or “wrong” way to make photos.

Just shoot however you like to shoot. And don’t superimpose your views on photography to others, or let others superimpose their view on photography upon you.

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Dear friend,

As photographers, let us start saying “pictures” instead of “photos.”

Download PDF >

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YES 

to

playful experiments

to dream, to wonder, to make, to see

an eternal return to the creative everyday.

NO

to

dreadful apparitions of

self doubt, anxiety, the future,

that faint whisper of Fear disguised as Reason.

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Dear friend,

A thought: life is about fun, chaos, and unpredictability.

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Dear friend,

What drives you?

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Life lessons from Saigon:

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Dear friend,

Reporting live from SAIGON, here is your friendly host– ERICKIM.

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Practical camera suggestions from ERICKIM:

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Inspired by Picasso.

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Dear friend, I think that most of us lack confidence in ourselves.

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KEYS TO SUCCESS / PHOTOGRAPHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101 BY ERIC KIM

Ok, we already know the middle class is dying. We are heading to a dystopia society: hyper rich, and the poor.

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Practical advice, I wish someone would have told me if I were 18 years old, entering college today.

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Photography Entrepreneurship 101

Dear friend,

Some real talk.

The world is kind of going to shit. Some ideas in thriving in an uncertain world:

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Queen bee,
Why did you marry me?

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Dance in the streets,
Follow your own rhythm, your own beats.

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