{"id":69026,"date":"2017-11-08T07:17:07","date_gmt":"2017-11-08T15:17:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=69026"},"modified":"2017-11-08T07:17:36","modified_gmt":"2017-11-08T15:17:36","slug":"the-benefits-of-shooting-street-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/08\/the-benefits-of-shooting-street-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Shooting Street Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been thinking a lot about Street Photography \u00e2\u20ac\u201d what it means to me, why I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been able to stay so passionate about it for over a decade, and what benefits it brings into my life, and into the lives of others.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

CONQUER YOUR FEARS AND MEET NEW PEERS ><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Less social anxiety<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I think a lot of us face social anxiety, and shooting street photography is one of the best ways to overcome social anxiety.<\/p>\n

\n Social anxiety: fear of talking or interacting with strangers.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I mean, it makes sense for us to fear strangers. Because a stranger could mean danger, and potential death (assuming they were from a different tribe).<\/p>\n

However in today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s world, we have gone global. We interact with so many difficult individuals and people from all around the world. We interact more and more on the internet and digitally \u00e2\u20ac\u201d which I think, is actually harming our capacity to interact \u00e2\u20ac\u0153in real life\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Shooting street photography has helped me become more bold. It has helped me better interact with strangers, and overcome past social anxieties I had.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a generally extroverted person (I like to interact and engage with other people), but I was very anxious when I was at a party with nobody I knew. I would have severe anxiety, even asking a stranger for directions.<\/p>\n

\"Street<\/p>\n

Now, with the help of street photography (and life experience), I no longer fear strangers.<\/p>\n

This has helped me in ALL ASPECTS of my life. My business life (I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fear rejection or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153failure\u00e2\u20ac\u009d). My personal life (I have more confidence to talk about difficult subjects with friends or loved ones). Having a more voracious appetite for risk, and taking chances in my life, photography, and art.<\/p>\n

2. Mental well-being<\/h2>\n

\"Kyoto,<\/p>\n

As modern humans, we never walk. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m genuinely convinced that walking is a fucking very important and integral part of mental well-being.<\/p>\n

Much of the human brain devotes energy and resources for locomotion, or coordinating movement. Therefore my theory is this:<\/p>\n

\n If we no longer move, or need to move \u00e2\u20ac\u201d what use do we have for our brain?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We needed to (once upon a time) move in order to hunt, find new food and resources, and most modern biologists say that humans are \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hunter-gatherers\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d meaning, we needed to move (in order to hunt and gather).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know about you, but when I stay at home in my apartment all day, I get \u00e2\u20ac\u0153stir crazy\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. I need to go outside, I need to walk, I need to move, or else I start to think depressive thoughts and feel shitty about myself.<\/p>\n

Therefore, street photography has benefitted me because it just gives me an excuse to MOVE. Sometimes walking by itself is boring. Why not move, walk, and make pictures (visual art)\u00e2\u20ac\u201d all at the same time (and kill multiple birds with one stone?)<\/p>\n

3. Meeting new people<\/h2>\n
\"Friends
Friends and peers at week-long Hanoi-Sapa workshop, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the biggest reasons why I love to teach workshops<\/a> is that it allows me the opportunity to meet new friends and peers.<\/p>\n

As humans, we are social creatures. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think any human would want a billion dollars and a hundred Lamborghini’s if he\/she didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have any other humans to enjoy it with.<\/p>\n

\"Eric<\/p>\n

Personally, I love being a social human being. I love sharing my knowledge, insight, and wisdom with others \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and in return, I love learning from them.<\/p>\n

Therefore my suggestion is this: Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just be a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153lone wolf\u00e2\u20ac\u009d street photographer. Sure, you might like to shoot solo, but also try to meet other street photographers in real life.<\/p>\n

I love to talk and walk and shoot with friends. Therefore, I will sometimes meet up with a friend to walk around and shoot, and I actually enjoy the conversation and social interaction more<\/em> than the photography part. And that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s totally cool \u00e2\u20ac\u201d because I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think the purpose of photography is to become the world\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s best photographer, but to feel more happiness and joy in life.<\/p>\n

\"Meeting
Meeting other passionate street photographs in Bangkok for the Monogram Asia 8×8 event, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So friend, besides the fact that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m writing this article to promote my upcoming street photography workshops<\/a>, I also want to encourage you to shoot more street photography as a way of finding more joy, positivity, and happiness in life.<\/p>\n

Anything we do that makes us:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Be less fearful in life <\/li>\n
  2. Walk and move more<\/li>\n
  3. Be more social <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Is a good thing.<\/p>\n

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

    Join a community of like-minded street photographers on ERIC KIM FORUM ><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n

    STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101<\/a><\/h1>\n

    \"Tokyo,<\/p>\n

    If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re new to street photography, start here:<\/p>\n