{"id":58118,"date":"2017-07-19T01:36:21","date_gmt":"2017-07-19T08:36:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=58118"},"modified":"2017-07-19T01:37:08","modified_gmt":"2017-07-19T08:37:08","slug":"the-impulse-to-photograph","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/19\/the-impulse-to-photograph\/","title":{"rendered":"The Impulse to Photograph"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
SF, 2016 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

I think one thing a lot of us are chasing — to evoke more of the impulse<\/em> to photograph.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Where does the impulse to create art come from?<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Hanoi, 2016 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All art is created from some opaque — hidden source inside your soul<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As a photographer, you might not always know why<\/em> you want to make a certain photograph. But you feel it. You know if you don’t photograph, you will get ‘blue balls’ — like, feeling frustrated to not<\/em> shoot.<\/p>\n

Don’t let yourself censor yourself<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I feel that in photography, you need to follow your gut and impulses. Don’t restrain yourself.<\/p>\n

For example, if you’re shooting street photography<\/a>, don’t censor yourself. Photograph everything<\/em> and anything<\/em> that interests you.<\/p>\n

The death of your photographic impulse is when you see something you want to photograph, but you let your inner-critic<\/a> say to yourself:<\/p>\n

\n Don’t photograph that, it will be boring.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

IGNORE YOUR INNER-CRITIC<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Have less free time<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But how do we feel more of the impulse to photograph? I often lose inspiration.<\/p>\n

For myself, sometimes the best way to evoke<\/em> the impulse to photograph is through frustration.<\/p>\n

For example, I was compelled to shoot street photography, because I was cooped up in my 9-5 office job prison. I would go out to release<\/em> my pent-up energy, and pent-up steam. So sometimes the funny thing — having a shitty job can compel<\/em> you to make more photos.<\/p>\n

I think most human beings (when we have too much free time) we squander and piss it away.<\/p>\n

So to find more impulses to photograph, use the little free time you have to make photos<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Assignment: Pomodoro Photography Technique<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"\"
H\u00c3\u00a0 N\u00e1\u00bb\u2122i, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another assignment idea is the ‘Pomodoro Photography Technique<\/a>‘. Set your phone timer to 25 minutes, put your phone in airplane mode, and only<\/em> shoot for those 25 minutes. And when the timer is up, you are not<\/em> allowed to shoot more.<\/p>\n

Talk about a ‘creative constraint<\/a>‘.<\/p>\n

Use the simplest camera possible \/\/ ‘Set it and forget it’<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Sa Pa, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Often too many settings and technical things get in the way of our impulse<\/em> to photograph.<\/p>\n

For example, if I see something I wanna shoot, I want to just ‘Point and Click.’<\/p>\n

Tip: SET IT AND FORGET IT.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

That means just shoot with your phone<\/a>. Or put your camera to ‘P’ (program) mode<\/a>, ISO 1600, and just point-and-click.<\/p>\n

\n

Drugs, coffee, and street photography<\/h1>\n
\"\"
Sa Pa, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Caffeine<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Hanoi, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before you go out and shoot, have a double-shot of espresso. Liquid inspiration. Or have some nice (caffeinated) tea– I’m a big fan of Matcha Green Tea.<\/p>\n

The way I understand coffee and caffeine is this:<\/p>\n

\n Caffeine is a natural poison that coffee plants and tea plants secrete. When insects eat the caffeine, they die. Humans– we are too big to die from caffeine. Rather, we get a mild buzz– a response<\/em> to the poison of the caffeine. Apparently this process is called ‘hormesis’ — a small amount of poison makes us stronger.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Alcohol<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Garden Grove, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some folks like to drink alcohol before shooting street photography. Certainly it lowers social inhibitions. A lot of people call alcohol ‘liquid courage’ (for good reason).<\/p>\n

Personally, I feel more tired after I drink alcohol — this is why I prefer coffee. But if drinking a beer or two before you shoot helps you in street photography, go for it. I ain’t no puritan #NOJUDGEMENTZONE<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Downtown LA, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ultimately, remember– the point of photography is to help you live a better life. Don’t force yourself to shoot more if it makes you more miserable.<\/p>\n

But, if shooting more photography makes you more<\/em> happy and more appreciative of life, perhaps you need a little fire up your ass to stir you into action.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, ignore what I say — follow what you believe in<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What gives you the IMPULSE to photograph? Share your tips in ERIC KIM FORUM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

CONQUER YOUR FEARS AND MEET NEW PEERS ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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