{"id":54320,"date":"2017-06-29T23:16:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-30T06:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=54320"},"modified":"2017-06-29T23:30:12","modified_gmt":"2017-06-30T06:30:12","slug":"no-excuses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/29\/no-excuses\/","title":{"rendered":"NO EXCUSES."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Singapore, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Okay, please pardon me friend, but one thing I have is no patience for excuses. Imma rant a bit if you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mind. Please close this if you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like it.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have a laptop right now.<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Singapore, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The last few weeks in Saigon, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been doing all my blogging on an old iPad Air (Version I) and an old Samsung Galaxy Note 3.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been doing all my photography on a $600 Ricoh GR II.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Orange County, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This ain\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t an attack on you. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s an attack on (past) ERIC KIM, who always complained his shit wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t good enough.<\/p>\n

There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a new producer on the block, who makes all his beats on his old iPhone 6. He has produced a hit record for Kendrick Lamar. All on Garage band on his iPhone and a few other apps.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Hanoi, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I always thought, my innovation and creativity was held back by my lack of tools. I always thought, if I had a better camera, I could be a better photographer. If I just had a better laptop, I could write more good blog posts. If I just had a good video camera, I could make more good YouTube videos.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Sapa, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now, I realize that is all bullshit.<\/p>\n

Rather, innovation comes from lack<\/em> of tools.<\/p>\n

Frustration<\/h2>\n
\"\"
SF, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I only innovate when something is annoying or pisses me off.<\/p>\n

For example, I bought a point and shoot digital camera (Ricoh GR) after being frustrated how heavy my DSLR was. I carried my camera with me more often, and therefore, shot more. I innovated more, using a flash, and shooting with a deep depth of field, because you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get nice \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcbokeh\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 on a non-DSLR camera.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Hanoi, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a random note, I think bokeh is the worst creativity crutch in photography. You become lazy. You think a good photo is just shooting wide open. I fell victim to bokeh addiction, upgrading to a full frame camera just to get a more \u00e2\u20ac\u02dccreamy\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 and \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc3d\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 bokeh, instead of making a photo with emotion, soul, and showed beauty.<\/p>\n

Innovation in phone photography<\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
PHOTO JOURNAL<\/a> by CINDY x HAPTIC<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To continue, I think the most innovative folks in photography are the ones shooting with only a phone, like Aik Beng Chia, Oggsie, Minho Baranovic. Why? They used their limitations to a creative benefit.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Hanoi, 2017 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, the original iPhone had really bad image quality. Therefore to make a good photo you could only shoot in good light, or during \u00e2\u20ac\u0153golden hour\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (sunrise and sunset).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
STREET NOTES MOBILE EDITION<\/a> by HAPTIC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With an old iPhone or smartphone camera, you cannot get \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bokeh\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. The sensor is small. Therefore, you have to work to get a simple and clean background, rather than just relying on shooting wide open at f\/1.4 or f\/1.8.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
STREET NOTES MOBILE EDITION<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When I had a point and shoot digital camera, my first camera, the Canon SD 600 (thanks mom, I got it at age 18 as a high school graduation present) it was always in my front pocket. I loved it. I always made photos because of the compactness and portability.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Then I wanted to make \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bokeh\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, so I got a Canon Rebel XT 350D with a kit lens. Then I was confused…why couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t my expensive camera get those \u00e2\u20ac\u0153blurry background\u00e2\u20ac\u009d photos I saw online? I realized I needed a 50mm f\/1.8 lens. So I bought it. I shot everything at f\/1.8 for a week. My friends would \u00e2\u20ac\u0153woooo\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ahhhh\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to see the shallow depth of field. Because back then, compact point and shoot cameras couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t do that. They were more amazed with the novelty of shallow depth of field.<\/p>\n

\"\"
SF, 2015 #ricohmafia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now, new apps allow us to make shallow depth of field with our phone cameras. You see this on the iPhone plus and other dual lens phone cameras. Obsession with bokeh is now available for the masses. You no longer have to spend $1000 on a DSLR and lens.<\/p>\n

Innovation comes from restrictions.<\/h2>\n
\"\"
NYC, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The funny thing: we have all the most amazing technology with photography. Why are we uninspired?<\/p>\n

My idea:<\/p>\n

\n We are uninspired, because we are too distracted with our unlimited options in photography, ranging from our cameras, tools, post processing options, and apps.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For example, Barry Schwartz calls this the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Paradox of choice\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. We think having more<\/em> options will make us more<\/em> happy. The truth: more options makes us more stressed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Tokyo, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For me, having too many cameras and lenses and options gave me \u00e2\u20ac\u0153paralysis by analysis\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. I had so many options, I would waste precious energy and mind power to decide which camera to shoot with today. This hurt my creativity.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
ERIC KIM STRAP<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The only way to find more creativity and inspiration:<\/p>\n

\n Never complain about your gear. Just make the best use of what you already<\/em> have.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If I just bought that new camera or lens…<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Selfie at Cindy\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s family house, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We all know this feeling: I feel uninspired. I think, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh, if I just bought that new camera, lens, or tripod, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be more inspired to make more photos, and therefore be be more creative and happy.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Paris, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not your fault. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the credo of capitalist culture: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Buy this, and you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll feel better!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Or, consider \u00e2\u20ac\u0153retail therapy\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n

My theory:<\/p>\n

\n Capitalist culture wants us to be good worker bees, stuck in our cubicle prisons. We collect a good salary, and no longer have fear of starving to death. We trade our freedom for security.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And of course, we feel miserable. Why? Nobody likes feeling like a slave.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Hanoi, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To feel better, on the weekend, we hit the mall. We drive around in our sports cars. We get fucked up on cocaine, weed, and alcohol. We drown away the pain and sorrow. Then on Monday, back to the fucking grind.<\/p>\n

Art is the answer.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Okay, so what is the answer to all this miserable feeling of oppression?<\/p>\n

Simple:<\/p>\n

\n Make more art<\/a>.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Art is everything.<\/p>\n

Art is a blog post, poem, a beat you make, a video you upload to YouTube, or a photo you make.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Art is not for the elite. Art is for the masses.<\/p>\n

Art<\/a> is just a creative expression of your soul.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Create art on your own standards.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Saigon, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You are already an artist. You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t gotta study pretentious artists to become an artist. You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t gotta go to art school. I think art school is the worst waste of money<\/a> if you need to go into debt.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Hanoi, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a photographer, you are an artist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So just go out, and JUST SHOOT IT<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Hanoi, 2017 #ericproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To find a creative community of mutual love, growth, and support, join ERIC KIM FORUM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also, for creative empowerment in your street photography, buy STREET NOTES MOBILE EDITION for inspiration during your morning commute, and whenever you need a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153shot\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of motivation.<\/p>\n

BE STRONG,
\nERIC<\/p>\n

\"\"
Hanoi, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

MOTIVATION<\/a><\/h1>\n

\"JUST<\/p>\n

Just shoot it:<\/p>\n