{"id":122899,"date":"2018-12-19T15:32:38","date_gmt":"2018-12-19T23:32:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=122899"},"modified":"2018-12-19T15:32:46","modified_gmt":"2018-12-19T23:32:46","slug":"photo-thoughts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/19\/photo-thoughts\/","title":{"rendered":"Photo Thoughts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some random thoughts I’m having about photography:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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1. Unconscious Photography<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ultimate state to arrive as a photographer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you’re out shooting, don’t think. Just react, and shoot whatever interests you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Why is consciousness seen as the supreme state?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"RICOH
RICOH GR II x Eric Kim NECK STRAP<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I was reading ‘The Will to Power’ by Nietzsche, and in his book, “Critique of Philosophy”, Nietzsche uncovers the idea that the bias of philosophy is that all philosophers (after Plato) saw consciousness as the supreme state. Almost all modern philosophy states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consciousness, rationality, and using your brain is the supreme state.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Which means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anything irrational, unconscious, sub-conscious, or done from passion or instincts is bad.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Why do we value consciousness so much?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"leica<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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

As humans, we desire control and power. And the thought that we cannot control our own mind and body is scary to us. Thus, we desire to control ourselves, in order to have control over everything and everyone else.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In other words,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before controlling others, we must seek to control ourselves.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

But what if there were limits to our consciousness and rationality? What if there was much deeper and profound wisdom in the instincts, and our sub-conscious or unconscious mind?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gut Wisdom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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“Shoot from the gut, edit [select your photos] with your brain.” – Anders Petersen<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In ancient times, our intellect was thought of being inside our stomach. In-fact, ancient physicians thought that all intelligence came from our stomach (they thought the stomach served the same purpose as the brain). Now in modern times we understand that much intellectual activity comes from our brain. But what if 1,000 years from now, we discover that there is a lot more wisdom in our stomach, legs, and muscles — than just our mere brain?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I agree with Nassim Taleb<\/a> that no matter how smart, wise, or knowledgeable we become as humans– there will always be limits to knowledge! And this is good, because that is what makes the hunt for knowledge so fun:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the next thousands of years, we will constantly uncover new truths, while destroying the old truths.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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2. New knowledge<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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In modern times, with Google and the internet and modern technology, we have the wrong notion that “all the world’s knowledge has already been discovered.” No– this is false. Google doesn’t have all the answers! There is still so much false information and false knowledge on the internet; it is up to you to create new knowledge, and to uncover new truths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why I am so optimistic about photography and art in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photography is still such a new art-form! It has only been around for the last ~200 years. Consider painting, which has been around for thousands<\/em> of years. And there are still new innovations happening in the field of painting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New innovations in photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Paris<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is of my opinion that in photography, it is like the new visual gold rush. We are like the original 49’ers — except, instead of panning for gold, we are panning for new wisdom with visual science, and photographs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider how exciting things are: everyday there is a new digital camera being invented. Consider all this interesting technological advancements with artificial intelligence<\/a> and photography, computational photography<\/a>, and new breakthroughs in digital medium format photography<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fibonacci
Fibonacci Spiral<\/a> on Huawei P20 Pro<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, there are still so many compositions in photography which haven’t yet been discovered yet. It is up to you to discover these new compositions in photography!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I love evolution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"light<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“If you’re not busy being born, you’re busy dying.” – Bob Dylan<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I’m currently listening to Meek Mill’s “Championships” album, and to me, it is a master-piece. Yet, it is so different from old-school hip hop. Yet, I still love it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything is evolving quickly, and I love it. I delight in all change. To me, all change is good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Innovation is difficult<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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“Sometimes you must milk the cow, just to get a little bit of cheese.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

To discover new ideas, wisdom and knowledge is very difficult. You might need to dig up tons of dirt just to find a few ounces of gold. You might need to drill millions of holes just to find one oil well. You have to milk a lot of cows, to produce a little bit of kefir cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n