![\"0-](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/0-cindy-project-mirror-reflection-parents-800x533.jpg?resize=800%2C533\")
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Dear friend,<\/p>\n
I’m very passionate about photography and helping you– why, and does it really matter to be a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153passionate\u00e2\u20ac\u009d photographer?<\/p>\n
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First of all, there is a difference between the word \u00e2\u20ac\u0153passion\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153enthusiasm\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n
When we say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153passion\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, we actually mean enthusiasm.<\/p>\n
![\"eric](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/eric-kim-photography-composition-diagonal03-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530\")
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Passion is pain, dying, and death. That is why the crucifixion of Jesus is called the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153passion\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of the Christ.<\/p>\n
Whereas enthusiasm comes from the Greek word \u00e2\u20ac\u0153enthous\u00e2\u20ac\u009d — which means inspired or possessed by a god.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/eric-kim-photography-saigon-0014931-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530\")
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I don’t know about you, but my enthusiasm comes from the fact that I want to help people. I am actually passionate about helping others– I would probably die for this shit.<\/p>\n
Everyday, I push myself 120%. I drink a shitload of coffee, don’t eat breakfast or lunch, so I can be more productive as a blogger and teacher, to hopefully create more information that can help more people. Im a beast.<\/p>\n
![\"eric](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/eric-kim-photography-composition-diagonal02-800x1208.jpg?resize=800%2C1208\")
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I sleep horribly. I have bags under my eyes. I haven’t seen the back of my eyelids in a while. I collapse from work exhaustion in the evening. I pass out. I wake up, feel like shit, but after a coffee, I’m alive again.<\/p>\n
So my lifestyle is obviously not for you. You gotta do what is right for you.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/R0003631-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530\")
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Okay, so for clarity sake; I’ll just say passion to mean enthusiasm. In American English, they mean the same thing.<\/p>\n
You can have several<\/em> passions in life. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.<\/p>\n For example, my passion(s) include:<\/p>\n I can go on but I won’t bore you.<\/p>\n So for me, ERIC KIM is just a mashup of all these different passions. I’m like a promiscuous honey bee: I suck the nectar out of all the creative flowers I come across. Then over the years, I secrete my own unique honey.<\/p>\n Lesson<\/em>: there is only one of you in the universe and planet earth. Combine all your many<\/em> passions, to make yourself a more unique photographer.<\/p>\n To get better as a photographer, shoot more. Study more photography.<\/p>\n Do less of what you don’t like to do. Do less passive entertainment. Less Netflix, more walking around the block after work and shooting street photos.<\/p>\n Less time on tech blogs, more time making digital illustrations and sharing them on your own personal blog.<\/p>\n A practical homework assignment: uninstall one app from your phone everyday.<\/strong> Eventually, you’ll only have the few essential apps you need to create art.<\/p>\n For me, on this iPad, I only have IA WRITER, and Ulysses to write. I have all my photos on my WordPress.org server. That means, fewer distractions, and more creative output.<\/p>\n Funny enough, I blog a lot, but read very few blogs. I am trying to limit my information intake to 20%, and making my creative output 80%, based on the 80\/20 Pareto principle.<\/p>\n The more I create and produce, the happier I am.<\/p>\n I prefer to shoot photos, rather than looking at the photos of others. In terms of my inspirations, I limit it to only three master photographers: Josef Koudelka, Richard Avedon, and Henri Cartier-Bresson.<\/p>\n Homework assignment #2: find your inner-3 inspirational photographers, and stick with them.<\/strong> Know their work inside and out. Read all their books, interviews, and buy their art. Surround yourself with then, and emulate them.<\/p>\n To follow your passion in photography, know who you are inspired by: and then stick true to your own creative vision.<\/p>\n See your photography mentors as guides, not masters. Become your own master in photography, and paint your own reality.<\/p>\n Be strong,\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/eric-kim-photography-saigon-0014894-800x1208.jpg?resize=800%2C1208\")
<\/p>\nDo more of what you like to do<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/eric-kim-street-photography-hanoi-0005399-800x1208.jpg?resize=800%2C1208\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/eric-kim-street-photography-hanoi-ricoh-gr-ii-0003866-1-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/eric-kim-street-photography-hanoi-0005038-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/eric-kim-photography-Cindy-Project-mask-nyc-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530\")
<\/p>\nConclusion<\/h2>\n
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\nEric<\/p>\n
\nPhoto Journal<\/a><\/h2>\n
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