ERIC KIM ₿

Dear friend, I wanted to write you a letter on the benefit of doing — rather than “thinking.”

Don’t theorize

I see a lot of arm-chair philosophers, thinkers, and academics— who simply analyze, theorize, and think. But many of these individuals do not “do.” They don’t take risks. They don’t have skin in the game. They aren’t adventurers, soldiers, or knights — who put their lives on the line. Rather, they are like sports commentators — watching from the sidelines, and jabbering incessant noise.

What is important in life

Life is all about making decisions, and doing. Theories very rarely hold up for a long period of time. 99% of the scientific theories today probably won’t exist 100 years from now — very much how 99% of scientific theories from 100 years ago aren’t applicable today.

Life is all about trial and error. About doing. About figuring things out by yourself. About breaking things, putting things back together, and re-arranging information, atoms, and molecules.

We learn as we do. Every theory I’ve learned in school, I’ve forgotten. But everything I’ve done by myself, I learn.

Should we ever make a theory?

I think it is much better to create theories after you’ve learned by doing something, instead of following a theory to do something.

To create a diagram, consider the following:

1. Learn by trial and error -> Create Theory

vs

1. Learn theory -> Try to put into practice

The second rarely works. The first usually works much better.

Don’t follow the rules

There is still a lot of truth for you to discover in the world. Why waste time learning what others have learned before you? Try your best to ignore advice, lessons, and theories from the past. Rather, test your own assumptions of reality. Figure out what works for you, and what doesn’t work for you.

After you take a lot of risks, partake in trial-and-error, and make mistakes — then try to create you own theories (after the fact). And then after you’ve spent a lot of time tinkering on your own, then try to read theories from others (and contrast your own theories with the theories of others).

The secret is to venerate and respect the past— but not to be a slave to the past. To be inspired by the great thinkers, doers, and philosophers of the past. But not to be chained by them, and follow them blindly.

Always learn by doing

When in doubt, try it for yourself. If you ever smell bullshit, test out your own assumptions. Find out what works for you.

Always,
Eric

Learn more: Philosophy >

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I don’t think I’m a master photographer (yet), but I do think I am a great photographer. How do you make great photos? Some ideas:

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I love things which are timeless.

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There is nothing to fear, but fear itself.

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Some ways I’ve been able to find more happiness in my photography:

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HAPTIC INDUSTRIES: The Creative Place to Be.

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MEMENTO MORI: you might not be alive tomorrow.

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To start, I don’t consider myself a master. But, I have mastered myself, and I have mastered photography for myself.

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Scaling, growth, and life.

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Ok, I’m currently in a super ZEN MODE, let me share you my feelings… and how I got on this golden brick road.

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Dear friend, we often make life more complicated than it needs to be.

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My friend Brian Day, who I consider one of the best contemporary monochrome shooters, introduced me to Gordon Parks while I was living in Michigan. I’ve recently been re-introduced to his work randomly, and I’m super inspired.

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Let’s be real, we all own an iPad, but we don’t really use it for anything useful.

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CLOSER…a concept that can help us in photography and all aspects of life.

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Easiest way to make better photos: photograph your subjects against a clean background.

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“To own nothing is the beginning of happiness” – Diogenes

Freedom is owning nothing.

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Rather than trying to fit into the categories society shows you, why not make your own category?

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Could (or would) an AI (artificial intelligence) shoot the same photo as you?

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Dear friend,

To me, photography is all about a meditation on seeing. Of perceiving the world more wholly, more fully.

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We always make the wrong assumption that by buying new gadgets, phones, and devices— we will somehow “upgrade” our lives.

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GAS: Gear Acquisition Syndrome, a horrible disease that plagues us all.

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Dear friend,

If you’ve ever woken up, and felt, “What is the fucking point of living?” this letter is for you.

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So we established the fact: to be happier is to make more photos.

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Ok, imma essay some ideas on photography and the purpose of life.

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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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