{"id":65144,"date":"2017-09-04T08:05:01","date_gmt":"2017-09-04T15:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=65144"},"modified":"2017-09-04T08:15:36","modified_gmt":"2017-09-04T15:15:36","slug":"pictures-should-stimulate-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/04\/pictures-should-stimulate-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Pictures Should Stimulate Your Life!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"MASTERS:
MASTERS: First Edition Book<\/a> by HAPTICPRESS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

I think photography and pictures should be the great stimulus to our life.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Sunset
Sunset in Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I am addicted to coffee, tea, and caffeine. Why? It is a STIMULUS to my life.<\/p>\n

I love hip hop music, and empowering music– why? It is a STIMULUS to my life.<\/p>\n

Great art, great music, and great pictures STIMULATE me to CREATE MORE ART!<\/p>\n

Photography helps me love life more.<\/h2>\n
\"Cindy
Cindy working on her translation work. Kyoto, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I know the feeling of apathy, of ‘ennui’, and the feeling of depression– feeling caged up in a fluorescent-lit office. I know the feeling of not having a feeling of power, control, or autonomy in my life.<\/p>\n

For me, photography gave me great confidence, excitement, and hope in life. Photography gave me an artistic STIMULUS to my life– I devoted so much of my free time researching images, studying the masters of photography<\/a>, studying composition<\/a>, and what makes a great picture. The more I studied, and consumed great art– the more empowered I was. The more EXCITED I was living my life. The more optimism, joy, and future-forward thinking I had in life.<\/p>\n

Photography gave me more MOTIVATION<\/a> to living, and to life in general.<\/p>\n

Photography should give you hope and optimism<\/h2>\n
\"Cindy
Cindy doing yoga in the living room of our Airbnb. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There is enough doom and gloom in life. Why not add more JOY, excitement, and optimism to your life?<\/p>\n

The secret to being a more productive artist: find more joy, appreciation, and happiness in the mundane, everyday parts of life. To NOTICE, and find beauty in even the smallest things in life.<\/p>\n

\"Cindy
Cindy color. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I’ve been shooting a lot of JPEG<\/a> on my RICOH GR II<\/a> recently (processing with ERIC KIM PRESETS<\/a>), and it has been amazing. Why? Shooting JPEG has helped simplify my life– I shoot more frequently, and care less about all the technical details. I keep the camera in ‘P’ (program) mode<\/a>, and I just point and click.<\/p>\n

\"Cindy's
Cindy’s arm. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The fun thing — I’ve become more CARELESS and free in my photography. I’m pointing and clicking a lot more– and shooting a lot more. Often, more randomly. More motion blur. Caring less about perfect composition. Tilting my camera (DUTCH ANGLE<\/a>) and just having fun. I’m visually exploring the world around me, mediated through my ‘Positive Film’ JPEG preset on the Ricoh GR II — and even adding more<\/em> saturation and contrast. I love how the pictures look– the juicy colors STIMULATE me to live more, to explore more, and to have more fun in life.<\/p>\n

Grocery store photography<\/h2>\n
\"Head
Head of lettuce, in grocery store. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Everyday in Kyoto, Cindy and I go to ‘Frescos’ (Japanese grocery store) — and I’ve been having a ton of fun just being a tourist, and making photos in a grocery store. There is a lot to shoot.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It kind of is fun– like Andreas Gursky — a critique on modern-day consumerism, consumption.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It actually is quite exciting for me– because shooting in a grocery store has liberated me. Why? The realization:<\/p>\n

\n You can make fun and interesting photographs, anywhere, and anytime. You just gotta look closely enough.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Restaurant photography<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I’ve also just kept my Ricoh GR II around my neck, and shooting inside restaurants– another good place to make pictures. People don’t really pay attention. Often, you can get more interesting photographs inside restaurants, than outside on the streets. Why? People are more relaxed, more expressive, and often interacting with friends, family, or others.<\/p>\n

The color red (color of blood)<\/h2>\n

The colors that stimulate me the most in photography include the BOLD and AGGRESSIVE colors– like RED, which reminds me the color of blood:<\/p>\n

\"Red
Red texture. Kyoto, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Cindy
Cindy at work at cafe, with red light. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Eric
Cindy and red curtain. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"Kyoto
Shot through the reflection of an aluminum espresso machine. Kyoto selfie with Cindy. Reflection, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Portrait
Portrait of Cindy, Uji 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Cindy
Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Assignment: Shoot the color RED<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you want to shoot more color pictures, try to focus on the color red. I see it everywhere in my work. It draws my eyes the most, and excites me.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"Red
Red hair on red background. Kodak Portra 400 with flash. London, 2014.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Woman
London, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"COLOR
COLOR THEORY WHEEL by ANNETTE KIM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Practical advice<\/h2>\n

Only consume art which excites you, which stimulates you. Consume great art, which COMPELS and ENCOURAGES you to create more of your own art.<\/p>\n

If art makes you sad, depressed, or nihilistic towards life– cut it away, ruthlessly. Avoid any art that will eat away at your soul, like cancer.<\/p>\n

Don’t limit yourself to just photographers. Study all art. My current inspiration is L\u00c3\u00a1szl\u00c3\u00b3 Moholy-Nagy<\/a> — with his bold use of lines, colors, and compositions — which inspires me to make more compositional powerful images:<\/p>\n

\"L\u00c3\u00a1szl\u00c3\u00b3
L\u00c3\u00a1szl\u00c3\u00b3 Moholy-Nagy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Another tip– watch great CINEMA<\/a>, and analyze the cinematography, the angles, the compositions. I’m currently super-inspired by Akira Kurosawa<\/a>, the master, especially his film ‘Seven Samurai’:<\/p>\n

\"KUROSAWA
KUROSAWA x KIM \/ Seven Samurai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"KUROSAWA
How my eye travels. KUROSAWA x ERIC KIM \/ Seven Samurai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
Now with their clothes added.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"KUROSAWA
KUROSAWA x ERIC KIM \/ Boy in bed of flowers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"KUROSAWA
KUROSAWA x ERIC KIM \/ 7 SAMURAI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lastly, never stop having confidence in yourself. Always make pictures, push yourself towards personal grandeur in photography, and I also encourage you to pick up a copy of MASTERS VOLUME I<\/strong><\/a> — to draw upon timeless inspiration from the masters from the past. Not to be their slave, but to learn from them– and to have their work STIMULATE you to make more of your own work.<\/p>\n

\n Read more: Why I study the masters of photography<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>
MASTERS VOLUME I<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What stimulates or inspires you to make art? Share your opinion in ERIC KIM FORUM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To take your street photography and visual artistry to the next level, invest in ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

\n

MAKE MORE ART<\/a><\/h1>\n
\"Creative
Creative Everyday by HAPTIC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

INSPIRE YOURSELF with HAPTIC<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Re-discover you inner-child and feel like PABLO PICASSO<\/a>:<\/p>\n