ERIC KIM ₿

“In writing, do not let a hair’s breadth separate you from the subject. Speak your mind directly; go to it without wandering thoughts.” – Basho

Don’t shoot in a fancy manner.

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Dear friend,

I am currently with Cindy in Hanoi, experiencing our first Thanksgiving away from home.

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Dear friends,

As a gift, download Eric Kim Lightroom Presets 2017 (my newest free collection of Lightroom Presets).

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Cindy and I want to thank you for your support, with this special Holiday Bundle Sale only available for until 8am (Pacific standard time) December 24, 2016. Amazon orders of individual items will still continue to be accepted and shipped as usual. [wpdevart_countdown text_for_day=”Days” text_for_hour=”Hours” text_for_minut=”Minutes” text_for_second=”Seconds” countdown_end_type=”time” end_date=”23-12-2016 23:59″ start_time=”1482488367″ end_time=”0,31,41″ action_end_time=”hide” content_position=”center” top_ditance=”10″ bottom_distance=”10″ ][/wpdevart_countdown]

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I read something interesting recently — the idea that for an organism to prevent dying— it must constantly add complexity and energy to itself.

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Sean Lotman just published the most incredible color street photography book — titled Sunlanders.

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Why do many of us lack inspiration to go out and make photos?

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Dear friend,

I am currently at the Kansai international airport (closest airport to Kyoto), just downed a double-espresso from Tully’s (pretty good), and wanted to use this time before my flight back to Hanoi to reflect on my trip in Kyoto.

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I recently re-read the “Tao Te Ching” and came across a quote that said something like, “If you define yourself, you will never know who you truly are.”

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I just finished a great Kyoto Composition Street Photography workshop with Sean Lotman and Junku Nishimura:

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I consider Sean Lotman the best color street photographer in Japan (if not, my personal favorite contemporary street photographer). He just published “Sunlanders” — like looking at Japan through acid or LSD.

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I recently deleted all the photos on my Instagram, unfollowed everyone, and started from scratch.

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Dear friend,

I love learning, but the problem is that when I learn too much, I can become overwhelmed.

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Dear friend,

I am currently on the shinkansen (rapid bullet train) from Tokyo and Kyoto, and on this 2-hour trip, want to reflect on my experiences shooting, eating, and experiencing Tokyo:

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Out of all the Stoic philosophers in history, Epictetus was certainly one of the brightest ones — as well as the ones that walked the walk (in addition to talking the talk).

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Imagine a man on a farm. He prays for rain, but it never comes.

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Dear friend,

I don’t know what the secret to “happiness” is— but I know that I am the least miserable, least anxious, and least stressed when I am creating.

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Cindy and I would love to announce that for a limited time, we are bundling  our two Haptic Press products:

• “The City of Angels” by Eric Kim, Haptic Press limited edition art portfolio
• Street Notes: A Workbook & Assignments Journal

With your purchase of The City of Angels, you receive a free copy of Street Notes.

Watch our making of video above (all shot with the Ricoh GR in Cindy’s family’s house in California) and read more about The City of Angels.

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I was doing some research on the photographer Irving Penn, and I was drawn to two words that characterized his photography and life: simplicity and persistence.

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Just finished a phenomenal workshop in Tokyo — focused on projects, themes, and finding your own voice:

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A lot of modern wisdom tells us that it is important to compromise— to make everyone happy.

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It is common wisdom that we should work “smarter, not harder.”

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Dear friend,

I’m currently at the Hanoi International airport, ready to go to Japan for two weeks, and wanted to give you a life update:

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The new Leica M-D (the digital rangefinder with no LCD screen) — all hype, or the real deal?

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Whose applause do you crave?

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Check out the best student photos from my recent Conquer Your Fears of Shooting Street Photography Workshop in Singapore:

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One of the best feelings when I’m shooting street photography is getting into the “zone” — the feeling when I am being the most creative, the most concentrated, and hours fly by.

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Publilius Syrus was a former slave— turned playwright and philosopher, who was best known for his “aphorisms” — a collection of self-contained quotes which is full of insight, wisdom, and advice.

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Dear friend,

What is your calling?

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What if you had no fear in your photography?

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Dear friend,

One of the most difficult things in photography is to stay motivated and inspired.

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“A happy man is he who obtains his wishes easily.” – Publilius Syrus

We all need goals or a sense of direction in our photography in life.

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Dear friend,

For me, expectation is what leads me to feeling disappointed and miserable.

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I recently came across this list of 7 aesthetics when it comes to Zen art:

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Are you a street photographer who is looking for a travel experience of a lifetime?

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What if we were okay being uncomfortable?

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One of the philosophers who has influenced my thinking the most is Marcus Aurelius.

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I gave a free street photography workshop in Hanoi, and you can download the presentation for free, or read more to see all the slides:

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If you went to art or photography school, you definitely know about Alfred Stieglitz— the photographer, editor, curator, and promoter of photography.

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For this article, I will give some practical tips I have in shooting candid street photography:

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Many aspiring street photographers often wonder— what is the best lens for street photography?

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There are no more bad cameras for street photography.

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I feel that shooting color street photography is more difficult than shooting in black-and-white.

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There is nothing more classic than black and white street photography.

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We’re all slaves to fear.

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Why is it that we think that buying a new camera will help us become more creative with our photography?

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The individual who has influenced my life the most is Seneca.

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Back by popular demand, the Henri Wrist Strap in back in stock, in a limited edition of 100:

• Purchase the Henri Wrist Strap (Amazon USA) >
• Purchase the Henri Wrist Strap in our Shop (Ships anywhere in the world, USA & International > 

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Dear friend,

One question I think is always good to meditate upon is this: “What do my photos say about me?”

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Dear friend,

I think one of the biggest obstacles we have in street photography is hesitation.

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Dear friend,

After 2 weeks abroad in Australia (Melbourne and Sydney) I am now happily back in Hanoi.

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The individual who has influenced most of my creative thinking is Steve Jobs.

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I’ve shot with tons of different cameras over the years— Leica’s, Fujis, Micro 4/3rd cameras, Ricohs, Smartphones, Canons, DSLR’s, etc. I’ve found that for me, I most prefer cameras with non-interchangeable lenses (lenses that you can’t change).

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I grew up pretty poor. I had a father who was a chronic gambler, a mom (who was pretty much a single mom) who worked menial jobs. I grew up not knowing whether my mom would be able to pay the rent at the end of the month, and if we’d be homeless.

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Dear friend,

I love traveling. Traveling has helped me open my eyes and my perspective to the world. Traveling has helped me make tons of new friends all around the globe, better understand other cultures, and to also give me a chance to reflect on my personal values. If I started traveling all over again, these are the tips I would give myself.

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Dear friend,

For the longest time — I’ve tried to find “happiness” in my life. And I think I’ve found it.

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Ansel Adams is one of the titans of photographic history. When I started as a photographer, I was primarily interested in landscape photography. I studied and consumed the work of Adams.

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