{"id":50170,"date":"2017-05-11T23:32:07","date_gmt":"2017-05-12T06:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=50170"},"modified":"2017-05-11T23:42:11","modified_gmt":"2017-05-12T06:42:11","slug":"how-make-better-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/11\/how-make-better-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"HOW TO MAKE BETTER PHOTOS"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

Here are some distilled ideas on how to make better photos, after about 10 years of distilled information\/knowledge (from age 18-29).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t zoom<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Using a zoom lens will make you lazy. Rather, use \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcfoot zoom\u00e2\u20ac\u2122. Which means, if you want to get closer to your subject, move your feet, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcwork the scene\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 by making photos from different angles. Crouch down. Tippy-toe. Take a step to the left and the right.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But what if my subject is really far away, and there is a lake or river in front of me?<\/p>\n

Simple: use that disadvantage to your benefit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Frame the scene differently. Frame the scene by pointing the camera lower, or point it higher. Shoot it vertically instead of horizontally. Or tilt your camera. Or lower your exposure-compensation, or make it brighter.<\/p>\n

Use the limitation in a creative way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Rather than complaining why<\/em> you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make a good photo \u00e2\u20ac\u201d ask yourself:<\/p>\n

\n How can I use this negative constraint in a positive way, to make a more creative photo?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t buy an iPhone with a zoom lens, or buy a camera with a zoom lens.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Instead, I recommend using a camera (with roughly a 28mm-35mm \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcfull-frame equivalent\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 lens). The default iPhone and most smartphone camera is around 28mm \u00e2\u20ac\u201d ideal to be creative.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I have generally found using any lens longer than 50mm makes you lazier, and less creative with your compositions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just take 1-2 photos<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you want to make a good photo \u00e2\u20ac\u201d you need to make many photos of the same scene. To learn more, see my contact sheets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The difference between a bad photographer and a great photographer is simple:<\/p>\n

\n A bad photographer will only make 1-2 photos of a scene. A great photographer will make 100-200 photos of the same scene.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you shoot digital, you have no excuses. We live in a world where unlimited storage of your digital images is free.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So if you see a good scene,<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcShoot the shit out of it.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 (Trent Parke<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Many of my best photos required me to make at least 100+ photos of it. And the more photos I made of a scene, the more likely I was to hit a home run.<\/p>\n

3. Just aim to make one good photo before you die<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pablo Picasso<\/a> made 1-2 art pieces a day in his entire life. We only remember a few of them. I can only think of three off the top of my head (his Korean-War mural, his cubist portrait in blue, and his huge red sculpture in Chicago).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With Henri Cartier-Bresson<\/a>, I only remember his jumping puddle photo, his bicycle photo, and the photo in Spain of a bullfighter.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

With Josef Koudelka<\/a>, I only remember his black silhouette devil-dog photo, his watch-photo in Prague, and a photo from his \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcGypsies\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 project of a grandma holding the face of her dead child.<\/p>\n

With Andy Warhol, I only remember his Mao, Marilyn Monroe, and Campbell Soup cans.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With Kanye West<\/a>, I only remember STRONGER, ALL DAY, and BLACK SKINHEAD.<\/p>\n

\"eric-kim-street-photography-lg-g4-smartphone\"<\/p>\n

With Jay-Z<\/a>, I only remember \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcChurch in the wild.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 With Lupe Fiasco, I only remember \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcKick, push.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 With Nujabes I only remember \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcArurian Dance.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

With my friend Junku Nishimura<\/a>, I only remember his \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcHUG\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 photo. I only remember the Horse at the beach photo of Josh White<\/a>. With Charlie Kirk<\/a>, I only remember his beautiful women with flash photos in Tokyo.<\/p>\n

With Cindy A. Nguyen<\/a>, I remember her \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcLiberation Time<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 poem.<\/p>\n