{"id":33024,"date":"2016-10-26T03:27:40","date_gmt":"2016-10-26T10:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?page_id=33024"},"modified":"2016-10-26T03:31:28","modified_gmt":"2016-10-26T10:31:28","slug":"kiss","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/kiss\/","title":{"rendered":"K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple, Stupid)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"eric-kim-street-photography-color-chroma-19\"<\/p>\n

Why is it that we always try to over-complicate things?<\/p>\n

Why do we need to try to add complexity? Why do we make things more difficult than they need to be?<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m very stupid<\/h2>\n

The best acronym that has stuck with me for the last 10 years is: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153KISS\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Keep it simple, stupid). Whenever I try to start doing things which are complex or complicated, I try to hit myself with the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153simple stick.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Why is simplicity so hard?<\/h2>\n

\"eric-kim-street-photography-color-chroma-16\"<\/p>\n

Simplicity is one of the most difficult things to attain in life. To seek simplicity in our daily living, in our thinking, design, photos, creativity, and happiness.<\/p>\n

Simplicity isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just removing the superfluous. Simplicity is tackling the complexity of the world, and trying to distill something to the pure essence.<\/p>\n

It means to constantly challenge our conventions and thinking. To really stare at something, and look deeply. To ask ourselves, how can we maximize our effectiveness, and to reduce waste or excess?<\/p>\n

Simplicity in photography<\/h2>\n

\"Mumbai,<\/p>\n

To make a simple photo doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mean to just have a blank background, and one simple subject.<\/p>\n

A complex photograph can be made simple. For example, a lot of my favorite photos by Alex Webb are pretty complex on the surface\u00e2\u20ac\u201d yet are simple at the end of the day. They are simple, because they focus on a few simple colors, a few simple gestures, and a few simple emotions.<\/p>\n

Even a complicated DSLR can be made simple \u00e2\u20ac\u201d when using it is effortless. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve always been a huge fan of the Canon 5D series \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it seems complicated on the surface, but when you get to know the controls, you can change the settings without thinking. The camera is more simple than you think \u00e2\u20ac\u201d that is why professionals prefer to use it for commercial work (they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to think when shooting).<\/p>\n

Simple yet complex<\/h2>\n
\"Hanoi,
Hanoi, 2016 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Your photography project can be pretty complex on the outside. But you might still have a simple take-away message, morale, or theme in the project.<\/p>\n

Try to think of ways you can balance simplicity and complexity in your photography and life.<\/p>\n

How can we make our photography and lives more simple?<\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

For me, I always try to ask myself: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Why?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I always question why I do something \u00e2\u20ac\u201d which helps me get to the essence of what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m trying to do. Then I try to simplify complex matters, and distill it into a central theme or objective.<\/p>\n

For example, I often wonder why I do what I do. Why do I live? What purpose do I have in the world?<\/p>\n

If I could distill the question of the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153why\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I live \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it is to help others. To serve others. To empower others. Therefore I need to focus just on this. And I try to help others by blogging, writing, making videos, teaching, or giving advice.<\/p>\n

If I try to ask myself, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Why\u00e2\u20ac\u009d do I take photos? It is to find more personal significance and connection with the world. Therefore realizing this \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I know that I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need a complicated camera. I just need the least cumbersome, complicated, and the smallest camera possible.<\/p>\n

Ask yourself the big \u00e2\u20ac\u0153why\u00e2\u20ac\u009d questions in your photography and life \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and the answers and solutions tend to be simple.<\/p>\n

If you want to reduce the complicated to the simple, here are some other thoughts:<\/p>\n

1. What can I remove?<\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think about what you can add. Think about what you can remove or subtract.<\/p>\n

For example, if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re working on a photo series, think about which photos you should remove \u00e2\u20ac\u201d rather what photos to add to the series.<\/p>\n

I am a big fan of the philosophy of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153all killer, no filler.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Only show your best work. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t show the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153filler\u00e2\u20ac\u009d material \u00e2\u20ac\u201d which just adds unnecessary bulk.<\/p>\n

What can you remove in terms of your gear? What cameras, lenses, and equipment do you not really use?<\/p>\n

When it comes to post-processing \u00e2\u20ac\u201d how can you simplify your workflow? What complicated or time-consuming can you stop using?<\/p>\n

What stresses or anxieties can you remove from your life which you find are unnecessary? Which negative people can you remove? What chores can you eliminate which you find to be a hassle?<\/p>\n

When in doubt, subtract.<\/p>\n

2. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seek the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153best\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h2>\n

\"colors-1\"<\/p>\n

Whenever we try to do the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153best\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we tend to over-optimize and to focus too much on efficiency.<\/p>\n

But optimization and efficiency can be disastrous. We over-complicate things. We all know that when we travel, nothing goes according to plan. We need to add flexibility, redundancy, and buffer when traveling (and living our daily lives).<\/p>\n

Furthermore, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seek for the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153best\u00e2\u20ac\u009d camera in your photography. By seeking to have the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153best\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d you will own many different cameras, lenses, and equipment for different scenarios. You will have too much gear, which will complicate your life.<\/p>\n

Instead, settle for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153good enough\u00e2\u20ac\u009d gear. No gear is 100% perfect. Yet you can probably find a camera\/lens which is \u00e2\u20ac\u015380% good enough.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Too much focus on perfection can lead you to do nothing. By seeking to do \u00e2\u20ac\u0153good enough\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d you will take action in your life, and make real changes.<\/p>\n

3. The 80\/20 principle<\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

There is a famous principle called the 80\/20 principle \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the idea is that 80% of your effectiveness in life can be attributed to 20% of your actions.<\/p>\n

Some examples: 80% of your profits come from 20% of your customers. 80% of your happiness in life come from 20% of your friends. 80% of your value is from 20% of your activities.<\/p>\n

Similarly, 20% of the people in your life can create 80% of the stress in your life. 20% of your activities can lead to 80% of your wasted time. 20% of your customers can create 80% of the anxiety in your life.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to be a perfect 80\/20 split. Sometimes it can be 90\/10. 99\/1. Or 60\/40.<\/p>\n

The basic principle is try to figure out how to make yourself more effective. You can do this by focusing on where you can create the most positive impact. This also means subtracting the few people from your life who create the most stress and anxiety. And it means to remove the biggest time-wasting activities from your life, which don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t create much value.<\/p>\n

As a photographer, what 20% of your photos constitute 80% of your creative vision? Maybe you should remove 80% of the photos in your portfolio, and focus only on your 20% best photos.<\/p>\n

Out of all the different genres of photography you shoot, which are you the best at? Perhaps you should just focus on that, and subtract the other genres of photography which can distract you. Maybe this means shooting fewer landscapes, flowers, and family birthday parties\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and more street photos. Or even within street photography, it might mean not being distracted by shooting too many different styles. This might mean focusing on one style of street photography (candid, street portraits, urban landscapes, etc).<\/p>\n

Conclusion: Simplicity is sublime<\/h2>\n

\"eric-kim-street-photography-only-in-america-7-urban<\/p>\n

I look at the design of this blog, and as time goes on, it gets more simple. Yet to make it more simple is difficult. I have to really think of what content is the most valuable, and how to make the most seamless user-experience. Of course it isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t perfect, but everyday I endeavor to make it more simple to use, but more valuable.<\/p>\n

In my photography, I get tempted to make my photos more complex. Yet I realize the true value in my photos are the simple, yet emotionally-complex images.<\/p>\n

When you approach a workflow, lifestyle, or art which is truly simple \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it is sublime. It brings a huge wave of contentment, tranquility, and peace. Not only that, but we can live our entire lives, and not truly find \u00e2\u20ac\u0153simple\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it is something we need to work hard on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

So how can you simplify your photography, life, and relationships? How can you remove from the superfluous or unnecessary from your life, and add to the valuable, meaningful, and purposeful?<\/p>\n

Keep it simple, silly.<\/p>\n

Eric<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Why is it that we always try to over-complicate things? Why do we need to try to add complexity? Why do we make things more difficult than they need to be? I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m very stupid The best acronym that has stuck with me for the last 10 years is: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153KISS\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Keep it simple, stupid). Whenever I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33032,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-33024","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33024\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}