As I start a very new exciting and brave new life in 2021, I wanted to use this chance to reflect on my past lessons, journeys and experiences and reflections in order to share them with you. My hope is that you gain some practical insight from what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve learned, and you can use these lessons to your own benefit and continue to pass them on to others!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ERIC
Providence, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
1. For your eyes only<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/81E97A48-6C2E-4870-9AD2-D4C7446D29A0-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C787&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"simple](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/5250716E-4E69-40BE-8859-9B704143DE1A-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/35C8D95D-43F7-47F4-9847-22E435192452-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/00AEA443-4974-4C05-9A9F-D8FAA03D4DB4-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"Hanoi](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/4F368DFF-6F64-44FB-81EB-1409064682BE-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/6A283150-4589-457A-AA51-AF7FDF1BA697-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/F6D742DF-6599-4FC4-8E2D-B47BF4110B42-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/B65924D5-2D20-439E-B44C-29874CC116FC-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DF062774-D5BB-4A85-A6AE-B7D16865C829-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/830E3157-D897-4833-9EE4-549C025FA510-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/D77FCB76-B1DE-4CC0-91EA-E2EF90E71EF4-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C785&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/B428F972-57E7-40A6-BA65-2EB876D303C9.jpeg?resize=1180%2C786&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nTo me, the first logical step is to assume that your photography will be for your eyes only. To think to yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If I were the only human being to enjoy my own photos, would I still do it?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
If the answer is yes, this is a noble pursuit for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The danger lies in trying to make photos to impress others or even worse, to make photos for the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153social media treadmill<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d the Sisyphean pursuit of constantly uploading \u00e2\u20ac\u0153better\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153better\u00e2\u20ac\u009d photos in order to accrue more and more likes on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\nUltimately the lesson is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make photos to delight yourself, your eyes, and your own aesthetic tastes.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
2. Why the streets?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/8173F5F2-3016-477B-9EE2-3520156B6926-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ED099B9C-8177-4890-AA37-4ED1850A0FBE-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/B510DDA5-E4BB-4A43-9B99-9092A24F7B9B-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/0899315B-8F36-486D-A8E1-8D17DA9BEFAF-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/9407409D-3505-4F6C-911E-427E693AC2D7-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/69FBB0DD-B3DB-4BD7-8FAC-7EEFFE9A94FA-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/94700F4C-00AB-4CA5-A07C-86AA59F661DD-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/D359B96A-9F05-48CC-831A-964381BB74B9-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/8BC3AE3D-0565-40B9-A7EE-8AB85D86B64D-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/712BF417-F4F8-4A6F-8A1F-5C085DFCE623-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/A75A39AF-A9C5-496D-A829-096D9409FE6E-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/8F8FAD39-A3E7-4227-B61F-EBFEED42EA03-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/B3C829A4-03A6-4F80-96FD-AE84872A4B3E-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/448803A8-79ED-4A66-921D-0494D8F0A5A0-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/952FEE53-831F-4F5A-8DED-0D5B949A9CAD-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nTo me, I love all forms of photography. But for me, street photography is still the one. Why street? For me, street photography is synonymous with social<\/em> photography. Having studied sociology, street photography is embodied \u00e2\u20ac\u0153visual sociology<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m the most engaged and turned on when I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m out in public, in the streets, and in the city. For me, paradise is paved (Walter Margerison).<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere is no place I like better than the streets. From the bumbling streets of Hanoi, to the romantic streets of Roma Norte in Mexico City, and to the vibrant streets of Cuba or the fashion district (Sante Alley) in Downtown LA. The streets is where I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been able to hone my artistic vision, and the streets is where I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been able to pave my creative vision, and harden\/steel my courage to shoot street photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. The upside of chaos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/419E8147-D340-4797-9652-29679AB708D3-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C785&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/6C857573-7E38-4D40-B83C-7BFEE7593DAA-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C785&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/863CDB8F-F436-4A49-83BB-47C8D9F9EADB-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C798&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/FD0DB726-C36E-43D5-9EEF-396F7CFD9624-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C803&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/0849140F-2A8B-4BCD-8173-CA144979B928-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C785&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve never really liked studio photography or standard portrait photography. Why? Too much control. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like to have too much<\/em> control over lighting, over posing, hair styles, makeup, etc. I prefer the randomness, chaos and chance of being on the streets. With street photography I feel you surrender much to the chaos of the streets and this is great because with this surrender, you open your eyes and heart to so many new epic chances and experiences. When it comes to street photos and the art I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been able to make through street photography \u00e2\u20ac\u201d much of what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve witnessed, seen, and created couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have even come from my imagination. What I witness in the streets is far more fascinating than what I could have done with my own imagination. In other words, reality is more interesting than my own imagination<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Photographic education is highly overrated<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/FFBD1F07-619A-4F85-94DB-2EDC58A53C4F-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/76F2B4F6-A215-40CF-98C1-4A716B933511-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/7A369D51-AB9F-4BCB-B56C-C4018543A263-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/63D48604-7E44-4942-8218-701D24C6DA35-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/B2542B42-9E74-4B5E-8538-A96D1E87452B-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/F3B1CB55-EB58-444B-A320-5EB2FAE4A698-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/0B0BB247-2CAF-4A58-96CD-0BE3C58433CA-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/69A95B97-5810-41C7-941A-005478D7DA2E-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ACC7B48F-48B8-4283-BD17-596269E24724-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/37AC3BFC-14E2-4AD1-AD3A-01C71F9F07CB-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/A972D210-93D6-43FE-BF5A-C7E6FA646FB5-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/8803B783-A432-40DD-ACD5-608A60D1B103-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/36D9138B-DD4A-4D49-BC44-F656B5555D15-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/351EF044-A64B-43E0-89D1-D12A6FC279B7-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/505EF00B-9C45-45D4-A768-22ECB052AC79-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne of my greatest blessings for photography and art is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153via negativa<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d my blessing to have not<\/em> had a standard arts education. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been far more blessed to not<\/em> been suckered and indoctrinated with standard ways of doing things, approaching things, and thinking about things. In this sense, I was able to approach photography \u00e2\u20ac\u0153carte blanche\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (a blank slate, empty sheet of white paper) which provided me far more opportunities than closed doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy this incessant need for us to feel we need a formal education? Most of it is a byproduct of our standardized educational system. We feel the need to externalize our self worth and legitimacy through advanced degrees, fancy institutions and other forms of social legitimacy. But our personal goal here is artistic and creative freedom. Artistic and creative daring. To pave new creative paths. To be more bold in our photography and approach, and to be more widely reckless in our creativity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. What kind of mentors or masters are useful?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/C4BB3347-53DB-4542-96D6-2A8CE8583FD3-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/4A34B31C-28C7-45AF-9D55-E84F678DE8D8-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/F9CE3550-EA96-46CA-A975-5002E5452C05-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/1F2E2635-ACBC-478E-BC57-0130CAE0D7F3-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/D1856308-69BF-4DA8-8DE7-29935BB2E8BF-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/3480D49A-F498-4699-ABC6-91AC215B116D-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/4CB085A2-57C3-4FA2-9700-E43E5EF28DEE-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1779&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CC8408E7-2384-4AF3-90DD-D35E787B3AB2-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1779&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/158CC951-346A-4E51-AAC8-5FD64B929D64-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/BD9CCCAB-9F50-4B4B-A6E3-D58806AC1A58-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C790&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/39274C8F-25A3-456B-986B-99F5D6678C66-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/0F8D383B-88BF-4BD4-94AC-280A800AE5F8-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C790&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/29CEFBD7-EF15-4BCD-A756-7F3DE6442304-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/917AED33-D6D4-419E-B543-F9688DC41B64-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/04806259-C457-462D-B41D-C745F7830737-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C787&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/886DC4AD-6ABF-4A33-852F-8B71DAF9C288-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C787&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/D22D20C4-1CDD-42FD-A873-F89C4DEA5507-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/049A4FD6-E445-4AE5-9848-3C91C2B5B605-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/5CF83B77-7BBF-47A3-B9B8-EF83F59DFEA5-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/79D30C64-F215-4921-A244-A8E904F691E2-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/D6682361-4BD7-4165-B018-564C3A2AECEA-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/C5802EDB-4FDB-4E31-9380-AF61ABA6FBF8-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/33638A4A-EFAA-4B39-B90C-2DEBBD20A372-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/AE5F58F1-F613-4537-9F30-5675DA7A9FB4-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/9693E6BC-19A8-406C-BFD8-9F16413D5CD2-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/1103F9EE-A913-4573-A89B-2614B1B65887-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nHe without a past has no future.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Well the question goes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is it possible for us to become great in photography without some sort of foundational knowledge and background?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
I see learning from the past masters of photography<\/a> like creative espressos or shots of adrenaline\u00e2\u20ac\u201d they reawaken our own enthusiasm for photography, while still giving us some sort of oversight and guidance. But as every Zen practitioner knows \u00e2\u20ac\u201d eventually we must \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kill our masters<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. I think there is even a Buddhist saying:<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you meet the Buddha on the road, you must kill him.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Certainly the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153killing\u00e2\u20ac\u009d here is metaphorical. One doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to forcibly \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kill\u00e2\u20ac\u009d anyone. The general concept and gist is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our masters will help give us some structure and oversight, but like a good bonsai tree we just use them for initial supports. We must eventually outgrow them, and then follow our own growth pattern and chart.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
6. Closer is typically better<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/F5A37714-DCE4-42F9-91B3-92882E502563-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C783&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153If your photos aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t good enough, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not close enough.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d – Robert Capa<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nTypically speaking, there is much wisdom to this Robert Capa<\/a> quote. For me, I see it as both emotional proximity and<\/em> physical proximity. The purpose isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t to be close for close sake\u00e2\u20ac\u201d the purpose is for us to be close in order to better feel the emotions of our subjects and have more \u00e2\u20ac\u0153skin in the game<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Nassim Taleb<\/a>) in street photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n7. Street photography is artwork with human beings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Roof](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/AA84683F-1B94-4335-8E77-4B380E22CF04-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"hands](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/D3C90086-BA16-48A2-8FCF-547388D62EAC-scaled.jpeg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/eye-back-tattoo-eric-kim-photography-hanoi-0011961-scaled-1-1.jpg?resize=1180%2C781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"ERIC](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ERIC-KIM-hanoi.jpg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/20170216-eric-kim-photography-hanoi-0007364-scaled.jpg?resize=1180%2C1781&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/eric-kim-photography-black-and-white-hanoi-0009661-2000x1325-1.jpg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/eric-kim-photography-black-and-white-hanoi-0009548-1-800x530-1.jpg?resize=800%2C530&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/eric-kim-photography-black-and-white-hanoi-0009531-2-800x1208-1.jpg?resize=800%2C1208&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/eric-kim-photography-black-and-white-hanoi-0009497-2-2000x1325-1.jpg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/eric-kim-photography-black-and-white-hanoi-0009461-3-800x1208-1.jpg?resize=800%2C1208&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"Hanoi](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/ERIC-KIM-PHOTOGRAPHY-Black-and-White31-3000x1987.jpg?resize=1180%2C782&ssl=1\")
Hanoi lake<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve come to the realization that street photography is our artwork. Street photography is creating photographic artwork with people in it. Why street photography? Because we delight in people and humans. As a human being, we derive no greater joy besides our fellow joy in our fellow humans. In other words:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To a human being, other humans are king.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
You could give someone all the money, bitcoins, Lamborghinis and garden estate villas in the world but without fellow human beings to enjoy these gifts with, these things are useless. Money is useless without having other human beings, toys are useless without having other human beings to play with, and games are boring when we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have other humans to play with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need a reason to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153justify\u00e2\u20ac\u009d our street photography to anyone else. To simply say that street photography is our artwork \u00e2\u20ac\u201d this is sufficient into itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Street photography gives us great delight, joy, hope and optimism in life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/27DE01E3-6CCA-4485-813F-C09A6470A9D0.jpeg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/42EA1AE2-2E72-450C-8F55-A1793C2272C0.jpeg?ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis is what I love most about street photography:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It gives us deep new hope and joy for the future!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Currently it is difficult to imagine a future. As Cindy says in her \u00e2\u20ac\u0153NONFUTURE<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d film \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the fear that everyone has is that a future will no longer exist. But contrary to popular to belief there will<\/em> be a great(er) future! Thus the best thing we can do is use street photography as an optimistic<\/em> tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThus don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think street photography for the sake of it. The great joy and delight of street photography is that it will give us renewed enthusiasm, love, and excitement for the future!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. Street photography as most fun as a visual compositional game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
To me, the first logical step is to assume that your photography will be for your eyes only. To think to yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If I were the only human being to enjoy my own photos, would I still do it?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
If the answer is yes, this is a noble pursuit for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The danger lies in trying to make photos to impress others or even worse, to make photos for the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153social media treadmill<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d the Sisyphean pursuit of constantly uploading \u00e2\u20ac\u0153better\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153better\u00e2\u20ac\u009d photos in order to accrue more and more likes on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately the lesson is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make photos to delight yourself, your eyes, and your own aesthetic tastes.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
2. Why the streets?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
To me, I love all forms of photography. But for me, street photography is still the one. Why street? For me, street photography is synonymous with social<\/em> photography. Having studied sociology, street photography is embodied \u00e2\u20ac\u0153visual sociology<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m the most engaged and turned on when I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m out in public, in the streets, and in the city. For me, paradise is paved (Walter Margerison).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is no place I like better than the streets. From the bumbling streets of Hanoi, to the romantic streets of Roma Norte in Mexico City, and to the vibrant streets of Cuba or the fashion district (Sante Alley) in Downtown LA. The streets is where I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been able to hone my artistic vision, and the streets is where I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been able to pave my creative vision, and harden\/steel my courage to shoot street photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. The upside of chaos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve never really liked studio photography or standard portrait photography. Why? Too much control. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like to have too much<\/em> control over lighting, over posing, hair styles, makeup, etc. I prefer the randomness, chaos and chance of being on the streets. With street photography I feel you surrender much to the chaos of the streets and this is great because with this surrender, you open your eyes and heart to so many new epic chances and experiences. When it comes to street photos and the art I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been able to make through street photography \u00e2\u20ac\u201d much of what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve witnessed, seen, and created couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have even come from my imagination. What I witness in the streets is far more fascinating than what I could have done with my own imagination. In other words, reality is more interesting than my own imagination<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Photographic education is highly overrated<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
One of my greatest blessings for photography and art is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153via negativa<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d my blessing to have not<\/em> had a standard arts education. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been far more blessed to not<\/em> been suckered and indoctrinated with standard ways of doing things, approaching things, and thinking about things. In this sense, I was able to approach photography \u00e2\u20ac\u0153carte blanche\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (a blank slate, empty sheet of white paper) which provided me far more opportunities than closed doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why this incessant need for us to feel we need a formal education? Most of it is a byproduct of our standardized educational system. We feel the need to externalize our self worth and legitimacy through advanced degrees, fancy institutions and other forms of social legitimacy. But our personal goal here is artistic and creative freedom. Artistic and creative daring. To pave new creative paths. To be more bold in our photography and approach, and to be more widely reckless in our creativity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. What kind of mentors or masters are useful?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
He without a past has no future.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Well the question goes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is it possible for us to become great in photography without some sort of foundational knowledge and background?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
I see learning from the past masters of photography<\/a> like creative espressos or shots of adrenaline\u00e2\u20ac\u201d they reawaken our own enthusiasm for photography, while still giving us some sort of oversight and guidance. But as every Zen practitioner knows \u00e2\u20ac\u201d eventually we must \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kill our masters<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. I think there is even a Buddhist saying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you meet the Buddha on the road, you must kill him.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Certainly the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153killing\u00e2\u20ac\u009d here is metaphorical. One doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to forcibly \u00e2\u20ac\u0153kill\u00e2\u20ac\u009d anyone. The general concept and gist is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our masters will help give us some structure and oversight, but like a good bonsai tree we just use them for initial supports. We must eventually outgrow them, and then follow our own growth pattern and chart.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
6. Closer is typically better<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153If your photos aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t good enough, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not close enough.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d – Robert Capa<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Typically speaking, there is much wisdom to this Robert Capa<\/a> quote. For me, I see it as both emotional proximity and<\/em> physical proximity. The purpose isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t to be close for close sake\u00e2\u20ac\u201d the purpose is for us to be close in order to better feel the emotions of our subjects and have more \u00e2\u20ac\u0153skin in the game<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Nassim Taleb<\/a>) in street photography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Street photography is artwork with human beings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- <\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li><\/figure><\/li>
Hanoi lake<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a> <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve come to the realization that street photography is our artwork. Street photography is creating photographic artwork with people in it. Why street photography? Because we delight in people and humans. As a human being, we derive no greater joy besides our fellow joy in our fellow humans. In other words:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To a human being, other humans are king.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
You could give someone all the money, bitcoins, Lamborghinis and garden estate villas in the world but without fellow human beings to enjoy these gifts with, these things are useless. Money is useless without having other human beings, toys are useless without having other human beings to play with, and games are boring when we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have other humans to play with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need a reason to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153justify\u00e2\u20ac\u009d our street photography to anyone else. To simply say that street photography is our artwork \u00e2\u20ac\u201d this is sufficient into itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Street photography gives us great delight, joy, hope and optimism in life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis is what I love most about street photography:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It gives us deep new hope and joy for the future!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Currently it is difficult to imagine a future. As Cindy says in her \u00e2\u20ac\u0153NONFUTURE<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d film \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the fear that everyone has is that a future will no longer exist. But contrary to popular to belief there will<\/em> be a great(er) future! Thus the best thing we can do is use street photography as an optimistic<\/em> tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think street photography for the sake of it. The great joy and delight of street photography is that it will give us renewed enthusiasm, love, and excitement for the future!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. Street photography as most fun as a visual compositional game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n