{"id":28732,"date":"2016-04-23T08:24:54","date_gmt":"2016-04-23T15:24:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=28732"},"modified":"2016-04-23T08:25:45","modified_gmt":"2016-04-23T15:25:45","slug":"photography-should-empower-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/23\/photography-should-empower-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Photography Should Empower You"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"image\"
Garden Grove, 2015 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

I wanted to write you a letter on the amazing power of photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201c how it can be used to empower ourselves. I want to make the point that the camera is a tool that helps us become more courageous, more creative, and more interested in the world. We shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be ashamed of our cameras, or the fact that we are photographers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hide your camera<\/h2>\n

\"image.jpeg\"<\/p>\n

One of the big mistakes I think we make is that we try to hide our cameras. Especially in street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201c we wish that we were invisible, and that nobody could see us making photos of them.<\/p>\n

However in reality, I find that the camera is an amazing tool that has opened up so many doors in my life. The camera has helped start conversations with strangers, has given me the courage (and a reason) to talk to strangers, and also has empowered my artistry (I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m one of those people who always wanted to be an artist, but was horrible at drawing).<\/p>\n

We feel disenfranchised<\/h2>\n
\"image\"
Berkeley, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been reading a lot about the sociological and psychological implications of technology. While in the past when computers first came out\u00e2\u20ac\u201c they were seen as tools for human improvement and empowerment. Steve Jobs and many others called the computer as a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bicycle for the mind.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Unfortunately I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t ever hear anyone refer to technology, smartphones, or cameras as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153empowering\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153improving\u00e2\u20ac\u009d them. The main critique is that technology is actually harming us\u00e2\u20ac\u201c by distracting us, by taking us away from the present moment, and also by lusting after newer technology.<\/p>\n

Thank God for photography<\/h2>\n
\"image\"
Seoul, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

How has photography empowered me?<\/p>\n

Well first of all, I am able to create art with my camera. The funny thing is that I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t call myself an \u00e2\u20ac\u0153artist\u00e2\u20ac\u009d per-se; but I do believe that creating photographs with intent, vision, and soul is art. Disregard anyone who tells you otherwise (they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re just dis-empowered artists who you should feel sorry for).<\/p>\n

Photography has helped open the door to make connections with others. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve met some of my best friends through photography, and being able to share my love and passion with them is inspirational.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, my friends have helped improve my vision of the world. Their honest feedback and critique helps me hone my vision as a photographer\u00e2\u20ac\u201c and strive to constantly improve myself and my images.<\/p>\n

Do you own your camera, or does your camera own you?<\/h2>\n
\"image\"
Berkeley, 2015 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As of late, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve just been shooting with a digital compact Ricoh GR II camera. Why? It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s small, compact, and I can easily carry it with me everywhere I go. It is an extension of my mind\u00e2\u20ac\u201c I just keep it in \u00e2\u20ac\u0153P\u00e2\u20ac\u009d mode, ISO 1600, center-point autofocus, and just take photos of anything that interests me. There is no hassle, no bother, or no cumbersome nature to it. The camera is invisible to me, and blends into my everyday life.<\/p>\n

I also have a film Leica MP\u00e2\u20ac\u201c and as much as I love the camera, I sometimes feel like a slave to it. It is pretty heavy, cumbersome to carry with me everywhere I go, and because it is film\u00e2\u20ac\u201c getting the film processed and scanned can be expensive and a hassle. While I love what film photography and shooting with a rangefinder has taught me, I feel like I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m ready to cut the umbilical cord and move onto a new chapter in my life in photography.<\/p>\n

Your camera isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t good enough<\/h2>\n
\"image\"
Oakland, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Your camera isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t good enough\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (says your mind, or random people on the Internet). We all know it, many insecure photographers (myself being one of them in the past) buy and show-off expensive cameras (often with big lenses) to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153prove\u00e2\u20ac\u009d their worth to others. Kind of how men with self-confidence issues buy really big (or fast) cars.<\/p>\n

But is it your camera that isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t good enough, or you that isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t good enough? Do you find yourself wanting a new camera, because you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel \u00e2\u20ac\u0153inspired\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and you think that buying a new camera will empower you? I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sorry, but this (almost) never happens (trust me, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve learned from many years of experience).<\/p>\n

I have found that switching to a smaller and more compact camera has helped make the camera less of a nuisance in my life. That has helped me \u00e2\u20ac\u0153live life\u00e2\u20ac\u009d more, carry my camera around more, and also helped me constantly see the world from a photographer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lens and perspective.<\/p>\n

I see a lot of photographers (with DSLRs and other bigger-cameras) starting to shoot more with their iPhones and smartphones. Sometimes they feel guilty about it. But I say no\u00e2\u20ac\u201c smartphone photography can be one of the most empowering ways (and certain democratic) of capturing the beauty around the world. It is compact, always with you, and the most seamless way to make photos (also easy to share with others online).<\/p>\n

We all have weird love\/hate relationships with our cameras. But just think to yourself, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Is my camera empowering me, or making me feel inadequate?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Photography augments my vision<\/h2>\n

\"image\"<\/p>\n

A lot of technologists talk about \u00e2\u20ac\u0153augmented reality\u00e2\u20ac\u009d nowadays\u00e2\u20ac\u201c imagine a world where we have the Google Contact Lens (TM) where we see a heads-up display over anything we see in the real world. Kind of like the movie \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Minority Report.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

But why seek this new technology\u00e2\u20ac\u201c when we already have the ability to see \u00e2\u20ac\u0153augmented reality\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, with the eyes we already possess?<\/p>\n

There is so much interesting beauty all around us; yet we are always too distracted by our smartphones and music to notice. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve found that the more I turn off my smartphone, keep my smartphone in my backpack (instead of my front pocket), and not<\/em> listen to music\u00e2\u20ac\u201c I am able to see more of the beauty around me. This leads me to appreciating<\/em> the beauty around me, and builds a deep sense of gratitude in my heart.<\/p>\n

I see it all the time when I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m traveling\u00e2\u20ac\u201c tourists who are too busy sharing their memories on Instagram, and not being able to just sit, and appreciate the moment. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not saying you should never share your vacation photos on Instagram; but if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re worrying more about how many \u00e2\u20ac\u0153likes\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or comments you get on a photograph than being in the moment, are you really enjoying yourself? And why are you traveling? To get more social media high-fives, or to really search your soul and reflect on life?<\/p>\n

Visual push-ups<\/h2>\n
\"image\"
Marseille, 2015 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve heard this analogy of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153visual push-ups\u00e2\u20ac\u009d from photographer Jay Maisel. The concept is that if you want to improve your vision in photography, look at a lot of great work. Not only that, but spend as much time as you can really seeing<\/em> the world, and looking<\/em> at the world. Try your best to notice<\/em> interesting things, or beauty in the mundane.<\/p>\n

The more you keep your eyes fit, the stronger a photographer you will become.<\/p>\n

Empower yourself<\/h2>\n
\"image\"
Berkeley, 2015 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So what is photography giving you? Or taking away from you? Use photography (and the camera) as a tool to give you more<\/em> happiness, more<\/em> appreciation, and more<\/em> creativity in your life. If you find yourself miserable in your cubicle, looking at gear review forums or sites, and feeling kind of shitty about your photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201c you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing something wrong.<\/p>\n

Switch gears; look at great art from the past, study the masters of photography, and use photography to excite<\/em> you. Use your commute to work to take photos. Use your lunch break to take photos. Take a few photos after work. Take photos of your friends and loved ones. Take photos inside your home.<\/p>\n

You have no limits, but your own imagination.<\/p>\n

Always,<\/p>\n

Eric<\/p>\n

8:10am, Saturday, April 23, 2016 @ my apartment in Berkeley<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear friend, I wanted to write you a letter on the amazing power of photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201c how it can be used to empower ourselves. I want to make the point that the camera is a tool that helps us become more courageous, more creative, and more interested in the world. We shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be ashamed of our […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-posts"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"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=28732"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28732\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}