{"id":58742,"date":"2017-07-22T23:29:58","date_gmt":"2017-07-23T06:29:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=58742"},"modified":"2017-07-23T00:49:37","modified_gmt":"2017-07-23T07:49:37","slug":"how-to-master-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/22\/how-to-master-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Master Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"HENRI
HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To start, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t consider myself a master. But, I have mastered myself, and I have mastered photography for myself.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"HENRI
HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Henri Cartier-Bresson<\/a>: the original master of photography we must surpass and overcome.<\/p>\n

1. Shoot yourself!<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Saigon, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve studied the masters of photography for a long time, and there is no formula.<\/p>\n

All wisdom in photography:<\/p>\n

\n Know Yourself.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Or a better way to think:<\/p>\n

\n Shoot Yourself!\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That means, know who you are as a person. Know your personal preferences. Know what you like to shoot and what you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t<\/em> like to shoot.<\/p>\n

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

For me, I know:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. I like to photograph human beings. <\/li>\n
  2. I know my life is limited, therefore I will only focus on photographing personally-meaningful moments to me. <\/li>\n
  3. I see myself as a street sociologist<\/a>. I shoot street photography<\/a> to understand cities, urban architecture, human interactions, and to document the human soul. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What are your preferences in photography? Why do you shoot photos? This is the first step to self-knowledge in photography.<\/p>\n

    2. Master your tools<\/h2>\n
    \"\"
    Saigon, 2017 #ricohmafia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    The two cameras I have mastered is the Leica<\/a> and Ricoh GR<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Why master a camera? You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think before shooting. You shoot from the gut, and you focus on composition<\/a>, emotion<\/a>, and soul<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Stick with one camera, one lens for at least a year. Then when you are ready to graduate and move on, then pick up a new camera system.<\/p>\n

    Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t move onto a new camera setup, until you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve mastered the gear you (already) have.<\/p>\n

    3. Exploit your opportunities<\/h2>\n
    \"Laughing
    Laughing lady. NYC, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    We are all given decisive moments in life. It is our power to seize those opportunities, or not.<\/p>\n

    In photography, it is rare you see a good moment. You can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t control that.<\/p>\n

    But, you can control how many photos you shoot of a scene.<\/strong> You can control how hard to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153work a scene.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d To learn more, study CONTACT SHEETS<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    The best way to understand how to make better photos: learn how to NOT waste good photo opportunities.<\/p>\n

    Work the scene by:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Shooting both horizontal and verticals of the scene. <\/li>\n
    2. Trying to shoot as many photos as possible: I try to shoot 30, 40, 50 photos of a scene if possible. <\/li>\n
    3. 25% principle<\/a>: When in doubt, shoot 25% more<\/em> than you think you should. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      My favorite photo book: MAGNUM CONTACT SHEETS<\/a>. To debunk the myth that great photographers only get the shot in one photo.<\/p>\n

      4. Copy the masters, then kill them.<\/h2>\n
      \"Gordon
      GORDON PARKS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Learn from the masters of photography<\/a> and copy<\/a> them. But once you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re done with your apprenticeship, kill them<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Whoever says they have never been influenced or inspired by other photographers or artists are talking bullshit. Even Henri Cartier-Bresson<\/a> was inspired by his masters, like Matisse, and a lot of other surrealists during his time.<\/p>\n

      \"Three
      Three Boys at Lake Tanganyika. The photo that inspired Cartier-Bresson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Pro tip: to find better sources of inspiration, study who YOUR masters studied under.<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      Who did Picasso<\/a> copy and study? Who did Leonardo da Vinci<\/a> find inspiration from? Who did Steve Jobs<\/a> look up to?<\/p>\n

      All art ultimately imitates nature (study FRACTALS).<\/p>\n

      My suggestion:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Find inspiration from the masters, and collect data, information, techniques, style, and mood. Then when you have collected enough pollen of inspiration, create your own unique honey. <\/li>\n
      2. Blatantly steal from others, but give credit where credit is due. <\/li>\n
      3. Aim to be GOOD, not original.<\/strong> (Bauhaus concept)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        5. Never stop shooting or publishing<\/h2>\n
        \"\"
        Innovation and growth. From the book: SCALE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not growing, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re dying.<\/p>\n

        Never stop learning from all of art. Never be satisfied. Seek more artistic wisdom, ideas, and power. Steal liberally, but REMIX the art you consume.<\/p>\n

        \"LEONARDO
        LEONARDO DA VINCI X ERIC KIM TRACE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        Like a human stomach, you ingest diffeeent foods, and you turn that food into fuel….to power your body and metabolism. If you go 100 days without eating, you will certainly die.<\/p>\n

        \n If you go 100 days without consuming great art, how can you stay creatively alive?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

        For me, I consume all art. No boundaries.<\/p>\n

        \"\"
        BAUHAUS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        Study Bauhaus, Cubism, Renaissance art, modern architecture (Frank Lloyd Wright), and other geniuses who married the humanities with technology. Good books to study: Einstein, and Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.<\/p>\n

        Find inspiration from those who dream big. Walt Disney, Elon Musk, Howard Hughes, all the great titans<\/a>.<\/p>\n

        No boundaries, no limits. Only mental, intellectual, physical, and artistic growth.<\/p>\n

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

        Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s master photography together: JOIN ERIC KIM FORUM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

        \n

        Learn From the Masters of Photography<\/a><\/h1>\n
        \"\"
        MASTERS PROTOTYPE by HAPTIC<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        \n “He without a past has no future.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

        Start here:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Why Study the Masters of Photography?\u00c2\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n
        2. Great Female Master Photographers<\/a><\/li>\n
        3. Cheat Sheet of the Masters of Photography<\/a><\/li>\n
        4. 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography<\/a><\/li>\n
        5. Beginner’s Guide to the Masters of Street Photography<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n

          The Masters of Photography<\/h2>\n
          \"Prague,
          Prague, 1968. Josef Koudelka<\/a> \/ Magnum Photos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n