{"id":28704,"date":"2016-04-22T12:38:23","date_gmt":"2016-04-22T19:38:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=28704"},"modified":"2016-04-22T12:38:23","modified_gmt":"2016-04-22T19:38:23","slug":"shoot-thyself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/22\/shoot-thyself\/","title":{"rendered":"Shoot Thyself"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Prague,
Prague, 2015 #trix1600<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

Let me share some thoughts on the importance of self-discovery in photography with you.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Know thyself<\/h2>\n
\"Paris,
Paris, 2015 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the most wise phrases ever uttered in history was:<\/p>\n

\n Know thyself\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This phrase echoed through the annals of Greek and Roman history, and still resonates with us strongly today.<\/p>\n

For me, I feel that photography is a process of self-discovery. Photography is a tool that helps you better understand yourself, the world around you, and how you fit in society.<\/p>\n

You are unique<\/h2>\n

One of the big problems I had when I started off photography was that I was seeking for inspiration outside<\/em> of myself\u00e2\u20ac\u201d rather than inspiration inside<\/em> of myself.<\/p>\n

Know that you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need any inspiration from other photographers. You already have all these amazing life experiences within you\u00e2\u20ac\u201d photography should be a tool to unlock your hidden potential, and your hidden character within.<\/p>\n

Everyone sees the world differently<\/h2>\n
\"Berkeley,
Berkeley, 2015 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I am very grateful that photography has helped me better understand who I am as a person.<\/p>\n

Growing up, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve always been quite extroverted. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve always loved the company of friends and family around me. I was always the chatter-box, the one who brought friends together to play video games, and the one who sought out social interaction.<\/p>\n

When I was in high school, I was constantly social\u00e2\u20ac\u201d being active in my church, my Boy Scouts troop, sports, as well as my Korean-American community center.<\/p>\n

When I went to college, I started off studying Biology (to become a doctor, like my Grandfather). After a quarter, I hated it\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and went to the course registrar to change my major. Looking through the list of majors, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sociology\u00e2\u20ac\u009d popped up at me. I thought to myself, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I like society and people\u00e2\u20ac\u201d maybe I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll study that.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Around that time, I started to become interested and passionate about photography. Needless to say, sociology + photography = street photography<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

For me, Sociology was fascinating\u00e2\u20ac\u201d the ability to study my fellow human beings. Photography for me is applied sociology\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I use the camera as a research tool (rather than using a pen and pad).<\/p>\n

However when I first started off in street photography, I was \u00e2\u20ac\u0153taught\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (by the random authorities on the internet) that I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t allowed to interact with my subjects\u00e2\u20ac\u201d that my mere presence would \u00e2\u20ac\u0153disturb\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the scene (and therefore make it \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcinauthentic\u00e2\u20ac\u2122).<\/p>\n

However now that I think about it, one of the main things I learned in my Sociology Ethnography course at UCLA was that no matter what\u00e2\u20ac\u201d you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re always going to influence the scene, and you should embrace your presence and influence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Who am I?<\/h2>\n
\"Berkeley,
Berkeley, 2015 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For the first few years, I loved shooting candidly\u00e2\u20ac\u201d but somewhere, deep down inside, I felt that I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t being authentic. I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t shooting a way that was reflective of my own personality.<\/p>\n

I soon started to interact with my subjects, and started to ask for permission (against the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcrules\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 of street photography). I soon found that this was more reflective of my personality. And now, I have discovered that my \u00e2\u20ac\u0153style\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of photography is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street portraiture\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d interacting with strangers, asking them for their life stories, and shooting portraits of them.<\/p>\n

My journey is unique\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and yours is unique as well.<\/p>\n

If you find yourself more introverted and prefer to stay to yourself\u00e2\u20ac\u201d perhaps it is best for you not<\/em> to interact with your subjects.<\/p>\n

If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really like human beings\u00e2\u20ac\u201d perhaps you should shoot more \u00e2\u20ac\u0153urban landscapes.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re a designer, perhaps you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re more interested in composition and nice framing in photography.<\/p>\n

If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re a writer, perhaps photography is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153visual poetry\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for you.<\/p>\n

Nobody else has the answers<\/h2>\n
\"Berkeley,
Berkeley, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nobody has the answers in terms of what is your personal style. You are the only authority on yourself.<\/p>\n

So essentially, photography is a journey to help understand your own heart, your own soul, and how you view the world.<\/p>\n

Your view of the world is unique and precious. Treasure that.<\/p>\n

Your lens is unique<\/h2>\n
\"Berkeley,
Berkeley, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To end this letter, shoot who you are<\/strong>. Photograph in a way that reflects your own personality, and use photography as a tool for self-exploration, self-expression, and self-discovery.<\/p>\n

I still do think it is a good idea to gain inspiration from others to give you that little kick in the ass (sometimes I do). But find photographers who you feel speak to you\u00e2\u20ac\u201d find like-minded photographers, artists, or creatives that you jive-well with.<\/p>\n

Express yourself through your own unique lens of the world.<\/p>\n

Shoot thyself<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Always,
\nEric<\/p>\n

Thursday, April 21, 2016 @ 10:17am \/\/ UC Berkeley<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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