{"id":119350,"date":"2018-11-24T18:32:48","date_gmt":"2018-11-25T02:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=119350"},"modified":"2018-11-24T18:38:58","modified_gmt":"2018-11-25T02:38:58","slug":"how-to-become-a-master-photographer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/24\/how-to-become-a-master-photographer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Master Photographer"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not a master photographer (yet). These are some lessons on how you can become a master photographer:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

PDF DOWNLOAD: how to become a master photographer<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

What is a master?<\/h2>\n

\"Leica<\/p>\n

A master is the opposite of a slave. A master has control over themself. A master dictates their own direction for themselves, and a master judges their photographs for themselves.<\/p>\n

A master puts a very high standard for themselves \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and seeks to make perfect art works.<\/p>\n

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1. 30 years<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

My buddy Heraclitus<\/a> said something interesting about the number 30\u00e2\u20ac\u201c he called it a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153generation\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. Which is interesting \u00e2\u20ac\u201d 30 days in a month. Or we can consider a human an adult once they reach 30 years old.<\/p>\n

So this is my basic idea:<\/p>\n

\n Devote 30 years to your craft.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Assuming that you started your craft at around age 20, by the time you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re 50 years old, you should become a master.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For example in the rap game, the masters I consider are Dr. Dre and JAY Z, who have been rapping and making music for about 30+ years.<\/p>\n

It is my thought that once you devote 30 years to your craft, you build your own style. You create your own vision. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve understood the intricacies of your craft. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve created a culture in yourself, for yourself.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

All the master photographers<\/a> have been shooting for a long time. Of course, the dead ones have all probably shot for 30+ years.<\/p>\n

A tip:<\/p>\n

\n Look at the photos towards the end of a photographer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s life to judge their work.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is my theory:<\/p>\n

\n When a photographer is towards the end of their life, their later works tend to be more authentic \u00e2\u20ac\u201d really for themselves.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For example Richard Avedon<\/a> photographing death. Also he said that his \u00e2\u20ac\u0153In the American West\u00e2\u20ac\u009d was his dearest work, which he wish he could shoot for the rest of his life.<\/p>\n

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2. Fly solo<\/h2>\n

\"RICOH<\/p>\n

\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Eagles don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fly in company \u00e2\u20ac\u201d leave that to the pigeons\u00e2\u20ac\u009d – Fernandinho Galiani\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Collectives and groups don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really last \u00e2\u20ac\u201d individuals do.<\/p>\n

Consider all the great artists of history. They were pillars unto themselves.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The problem with collectives and groups \u00e2\u20ac\u201d sooner or later they all dissolve.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The problem with collectives\u00e2\u20ac\u201d too much energy wasted on internal politics.<\/p>\n

Thus, the solution:<\/p>\n

\n Focus on yourself; be an individual; fly solo.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I think collaborations are good. Yet, no collaboration should be permanent.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Build up yourself. Build up your own platform<\/a>. Delete your Instagram<\/a>, and build your own website-blog<\/a> (WordPress.org).<\/p>\n

Strive to build yourself up for 30 years \u00e2\u20ac\u201d how can you not become a master if you focus on yourself for that long?<\/p>\n

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3. Seek to jump over the past masters<\/h2>\n
\"\"
H\u00c3\u00a0 N\u00e1\u00bb\u2122i. Ricoh GR II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yeezy yeezy yeezy just jumped over jumpman (Michael Jordan)\u00e2\u20ac\u009d – Kanye West\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The past masters of photographers<\/a> weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t demigods. They just worked hard, and shot for a long time.<\/p>\n

To me, the only real way to judge a master:<\/p>\n

\n How much longevity do they, or will they have?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Generally speaking, the longer a photographer lasts, the greater their work.<\/strong> Read Nassim Taleb\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s concept of the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153lindy effect\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for more elaboration on the concept.<\/p>\n

\"Sapa.<\/p>\n

Too often, we seek to get famous fast. Yet the problem is that if we focus on short-term fame, our fire won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t last. Seek to be prolific as a photographer until you die at age 120.<\/p>\n

Look at the past masters for inspiration, but have greater ambitions \u00e2\u20ac\u201d seek to become better than them.<\/p>\n

4. Have massive ambition<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It is my personal ambition to become a better photographer than Henri Cartier-Bresson<\/a>, and to create a longer lasting body of work than him. I also seek to make better photos than Josef Koudelka<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Exiles<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d book (which I consider a masterpiece). Who knows, maybe one day I can shoot even more epic portraits than Richard Avedon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is my thought:<\/p>\n

\n Better to have massive ambitions and fail, than to have moderate ambitions and succeed.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For example, currently it is my ambition to deadlift 500+ pounds. When you set the bar higher, you will achieve more in life.<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. Go legend<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

With your photography, seek to make the most epic photos that anyone has ever seen. This means, this will take time. No need to look at your contemporaries. Focus on yourself<\/a>. Zen focus, zen zone on yourself \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and never stop hustling to take your photography to the next level!<\/p>\n

SHOOT BIG!
\nERIC<\/p>\n

Take your photography to the next level at ERIC KIM WORKSHOP ><\/a><\/p>\n

\n

MASTERS<\/h1>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Learn From the Masters: Mobile Edition<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dear friend, if you haven’t heard the exciting news already– MASTERS is now available as both a digital<\/a> and print edition<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Timeless wisdom from the masters of street photography.<\/p>\n

Buy MASTERS on Amazon ><\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n “He without a past has no future.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Start here:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Why Study the Masters of Photography?<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Great Female Master Photographers<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Cheat Sheet of the Masters of Photography<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Beginner’s Guide to the Masters of Street Photography<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Download All Articles ><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    The Masters of Photography<\/h2>\n
    \"Prague,
    Prague, 1968. Josef Koudelka<\/a> \/ Magnum Photos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Classics never die:<\/p>\n