{"id":52080,"date":"2017-06-01T18:38:10","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T01:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?page_id=52080"},"modified":"2017-06-01T18:38:10","modified_gmt":"2017-06-02T01:38:10","slug":"how-to-re-ignite-your-passion-in-photography","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/how-to-re-ignite-your-passion-in-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Re-Ignite Your Passion in Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

I think a lot of us are hungering after passion in our photography and life.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I think I’m a quite passionate person. Let me share my secrets:<\/p>\n

I. Why be passionate?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Okay, sometimes to live is an act of courage.<\/p>\n

Life can be fucking hard. A fucking grind. I remember when I was in college, the thought of getting a job where I worked 40 hours a week, 5 days a week, at a job I hated\u00e2\u20ac\u201d seemed like living hell.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A lot of us are fighting the good fight. Many of us have jobs we hate, just to make a living \u00e2\u20ac\u201d to support our family.<\/p>\n

To me, a life without passion is a life not worth living.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I need a reason to wake up. I need passion, something worth dying for.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For me, I’m willing to die for my writing, my ideas, thoughts, and willing to sacrifice myself for the collective.<\/p>\n

Everything I write is autobiography. It is only my truth. And I think you need passion in life, to find your personal truth in life. Then finding inner Zen, then dedicating your life empower others.<\/p>\n

II. Photograph like a child<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Children are the best photographers. They don’t censor themselves. They photograph whatever they find interesting, unique, or fun.<\/p>\n

To be more passionate, just look at children. Don’t make photos for Instagram, or likes. Make photos to play, to explore, and to express your inner-creative spirit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Don’t photograph like an expert, or even a ‘photographer.’ There are no rules in photography; only guidelines.<\/p>\n

Create your own rules in your photography. And ignore the advice of everyone else (especially ERIC KIM).<\/p>\n

III. Challenge yourself<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you kept making the same photos, you would be very bored.<\/p>\n

Imagine, if you lived for 1,000 years eating the same meal. You would hate your life.<\/p>\n

We need variety and challenge in life– to make life interesting, fun, and exciting.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So if you’ve lost your passion for photography, maybe you gotta switch it up.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
FILM NOTES<\/a> x Leica MP x ERIC KIM STRAP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Buy FILM NOTES<\/a>, and try out shooting film<\/a>. Or if you shoot color<\/a>, try out MONOCHROME<\/a>. Or if you already shoot 35mm film, try medium-format film<\/a>. If you shoot with a DSLR<\/a>, try only shooting with your iPhone or smartphone<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Switch it up, try something new.<\/p>\n

IV. Don’t seek to impress others; only yourself.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Now, I don’t care what others think of my photos. I only care about what I<\/em> think of my own photos.<\/p>\n

I will still ask friends and Cindy for feedback, but I ultimately follow my own gut and intuition for photography.<\/p>\n

So the rule is, look at your own photos and ask:<\/p>\n

\n Do I<\/em> like my own photos?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If the answer is ‘yes’ — you are passionate about your photography.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Homework assignment: Uninstall Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, Flickr, Snapchat from your phone for a month<\/strong>. See if you can make photos just to please yourself.<\/p>\n

STREET NOTES<\/strong><\/a> ASSIGNMENTS<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here are assignments to inspire you from STREET NOTES<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Only shoot 1 square block from your home:<\/strong> Find inspiration in the boring and mundane.<\/li>\n
  2. The 10 No Challenge<\/strong>: Keep asking strangers to make a street portrait<\/a> of them, until you get 10 people to say ‘no.’<\/li>\n
  3. 1,000 Photo Challenge<\/strong>: In one day, shoot 1,000 photos — and choose your 1 favorite photo.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    PHOTO JOURNAL<\/a> ASSIGNMENTS<\/h2>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Inspiration from PHOTO JOURNAL<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. In your Photo Journal, write *why* you make photos — and ask yourself ‘Why’ 3 times.<\/li>\n
    2. If you were to die tonight, what would you photography, and *not* photograph?<\/li>\n
    3. Write what you *already* love about your camera– to avoid becoming a victim of ‘GAS’ (gear acquisition syndrome)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Conclusion<\/h2>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      YOLO<\/a> — you only live once.<\/p>\n

      So why not photograph like you were going to die tonight? Live life with no breaks on the Lamborghini Centenario — shooting at 500 MPH on the German Autobahn.<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Be strong,<\/p>\n

      Eric<\/p>\n

      \n

      Inspiration<\/a><\/h2>\n

      \"Garden<\/p>\n

      Re-inspire yourself to shoot:<\/p>\n