ERIC KIM ₿

Dear friend,

Have you ever felt frustrated in your photography, because there are all these bullshit “rules” you gotta follow?

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If you make photos, you’re an artist.

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Okay, please pardon me friend, but one thing I have is no patience for excuses. Imma rant a bit if you don’t mind. Please close this if you don’t like it.

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Dear friend,

Let’s continue STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MANUAL by talking how by being more aggressive, you can make better photo and connections with your subjects.

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I very much believe in the “beauty of imperfection” — that everything in the world is “imperfect” in one way or another. You will never see a tree in nature which is 100% symmetrical. You will never find a river that is 100% straight. You will never find an organism which is totally symmetrical on the left and right side.

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Dear friend,

Are you complacent in your photography and life? Or will you fight reality, carve out your own reality with your camera knife?

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Why should you invest in ERIC KIM?
Well, he believes in you, playful grin.

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I fudging hate pretentious photography, and pretentious photographers.

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Dear friend,

What does Eric Kim belive in? ZEN CAPITALISM.

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In no particular order, here is who ERIC KIM considers the most “famous” and influential/important street photographers.

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Dear friend, let’s continue our conversation in STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MANUAL, now discussing how you can get into a good street photography flow.

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To continue STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MANUAL, let’s talk some practical tips how to take your street photography composition to the next level:

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For this chapter in STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MANUAL let’s continue our exploration into street photography via risk taking.

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To continue STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MANUAL, I cannot say I’m the best street photographer. Far from it. But I can say, I’m probably the best street photography educator and teacher. I’m also one of the most brave street photographers in the world.

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Dear friend,

Let’s go in a fun street photography adventure: I wanna share some secrets, brutal truths, and honest advice on how to elevate yourself as a street photographer: to take your work to the next level, to conquer your fears, and fulfill your personal maximum.

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Dear friend,

Continuing our series on Photography Entrepreneurship 101, let’s tackle this concept of “scarcity”– how to make yourself more valuable as a photographer and entrepreneur by making yourself more scarce.

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Don’t be afraid. Pierce the shadows. Shoot what you’re afraid of.

As children, are afraid of the shadows. We are afraid of the monsters that might lurk in the dark. We let our imaginations get the worst of us.

What if we learned to pierce the shadows — and shined a spotlight on our fears? We would discover that no ghosts, ghouls, or enemies lie in the shadows. What only lies in the shadows are our own self-constructed fears.

Pierce the shadows with your flashlight of truth. Find out that there is nothing to fear in the dark.

Part of Photography Entrepreneurship 101

Dear friend,

I wanna write you an essay, or an attempt, at understanding this concept of “value”– how you can create value, how you can value yourself, and why value is important in today’s capitalist society.

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Dear friend, ignore your haters.
Rather stay focused on your life goals: focused laser.

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POSITIVITY: subtract the negative energy.

POSITIVITY: who holds you back?
POSITIVITY: is your life on track?

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Why is Cindy DOPE?
Well to start off, she made a digital edition of STREET NOTES.

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Dear friend,

This is gonna be a chance to explain why ERIC KIM is the way he is.

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Dear friend, don’t be meek– you might not know it, but you’re on a winning streak.

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Dear friend,

I think street photography is 80% confidence, and 20% skills. Of course, confidence is also a skill– a skill you can build, develop, and mature.

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To advertise the new STREET NOTES MOBILE EDITION, here are some empowering street photography tactics you can add to your street photography toolbelt:

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By popular demand, we dedicated many hours and cups of coffee to present to you STREET NOTES MOBILE EDITION.

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‘The envious moment is flying now, while we’re speaking’ – Horace

Carpe Diem.

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STREET NOTES:
Your street photos are dope.

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Do you value yourself as a photographer? Do you value your photos? Do you value yourself?

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I don’t know if anyone has written a post on photography lifestyle– in terms of food, exercise, and energy-management.

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Dear friend,

You’re like kinetic energy– infinite untapped energy. Why do you hold yourself back?

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Photography stacks on stacks on stacks
Your shutter goes: clack clack clack clack clack

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The hardest thing as a photographer or artist: how to fight the friction or “resistance” of reality.

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A fun thought from Nietzsche: what if we didn’t simply want to be a human– but something super-human in our lives?

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Dear friend,

A pretty radical idea I have: I don’t think there are any objectively “good” or “bad” photos– it is all interpretation.

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I don’t know the secret to becoming rich, successful, or happy– but I do know that for myself, giving more than I take has helped me tremendously.

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Eric: This essay is by my partner and life, Cindy Nguyen. I reposted this from HAPTICPRESS because I feel that this advice can help all of us — as artists, photographers, and human beings. Enter Cindy:

Cindy Nguyen: As a female immigrant and refugee, I was taught that my labor was cheap.

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You are a visual sociologist with a camera.

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“Tomorrow we’ll sail the wide seas again.” – Horace

I see life as a journey.

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In photography, Apple devices, and more– we all want to be “Pro.” But what if it wasn’t desirable to be a “Pro” and it was better to be an “Amateur” instead?

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There ain’t nothing dirty with money. Money is good, in today’s capitalist world. Money is a tool. Having money isn’t a sin.

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We’re often told as photographers not to work for free. I disagree. I think when we’re starting off, it is a good idea to work for free. Then as you build your skills, start to charge a lot of money.

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Dear friend,

I’m all about empowerment in photography and art. One strategy to become more empowered: focus on subtracting what “disempowers” you in life.

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Dear friend,

A lot of us have little time. What if we were able to be more creative, and be more fulfilled in our photography, in just 5 minutes a day?

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Dear friend,

Practical advice: don’t go into debt for your photography.

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Dear friend,

If you’re not growing in your photography, you’re dying.

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Dear friend,

Practical advice: to be happy and have creative freedom, don’t go into debt for your photography.

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HAPTICPRESS.COM

papers flurry
ideas hurry
the warmth of freshly pressed thoughts
on eggshell leaves.

a touch of the keys
euphoric release
of fragments laced to prose.

published vulnerability
a flicker of humanity.

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This post is written by Cindy aka Haptic:

Serendipitous Encounters: Saigon 2014

In summer of 2014 Eric and I met a group of talented artists in Saigon. We hung out, drank lots of coffee, and talked about creative projects to work on:

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Dear friend,

If you want to make a living from photography, get some extra cash, or share your knowledge I recommend you to teach photography workshops.

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Dear friend,

There is no right or wrong way to edit (I mean post-process) your photos.

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In photography and life, when in doubt, GET CLOSER.

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In today’s brave new world of photography, we are drowning with images.

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Why does ERIC KIM like to spit his truth, and write posts that are sweet with juice?

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HOW TO BECOME A POWERFUL PHOTOGRAPHER

Dear friend,

I want you to gain more POWER in your photography. How, why, and what is power in photography?

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HAPTIC INDUSTRIES: the creative place to be.
A place where we can create together, freely.

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HENRI NECK STRAP
Decisive moments keep falling in my lap

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‘You alone might be fond of yourself and your own works, without a rival.’ – Horace

Don’t compete in your photography. You have no rivals.

Be fond of your own work. Revel in your own ‘defective artistry.’

If you are pleased with your own photos; why do you care what others think of your work?

Always,
Eric

Dear friend,

I have wondered this philosophical idea a lot — whether it is better to be a specialist, or a generalist in our photography.

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FILM NOTES: monochrome paradise
The grain is so exotic, and ever so nice.

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Street photography flow,
Wherever your heart leads you, that is where you must go.

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Is ERIC KIM, real or a fake?
Is he a farce– does he show us his real face?

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Street photo inspiration:

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VIVIAN MAIER,
you’re one of my photo heroes: you shot until the day you retired
Without fame or accolades
Rather you shot to take the pain of everyday life away.

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Dear friend,

Here is a list of my personal favorite photography books which have influenced and inspired me:

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A list of Eric Kim’s favorite and most influential photographers in history, who have influenced him:

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Dear friend,

This book is my attempt at at a mini magnum opus of sorts. It is everything I have learned from photography, that can hopefully get you from 0 to 100% in photography.

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BE STRONG,
ERIC KIM

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Conquer your fears and meet new peers:

• Sept 9-10: Kyoto Zen Workshop – New
• Sept 13-17: Tokyo Street Photography Experience – Sold out (Contact neil.ta@erickimphotography.com for waiting list)
• Oct 4-5: NYC – Conquer Your Fears
• Oct 7-8: NYC – Discover Your Unique Voice

Workshop inquiries: neil.ta@erickimphotography.com

Dear friend,

I’ve been thinking a lot about the philosophy behind compression — to make things into a smaller size.

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Street photography Zen,
Where can I begin, my friend?

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