{"id":72503,"date":"2017-12-09T12:25:14","date_gmt":"2017-12-09T20:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=72503"},"modified":"2017-12-09T07:46:00","modified_gmt":"2017-12-09T15:46:00","slug":"keep-it-simple-stupid-kiss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/09\/keep-it-simple-stupid-kiss\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep it Simple, Stupid (KISS)"},"content":{"rendered":"

When in doubt, keep it simple.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The paradox of choice<\/h2>\n
\"Cindy
Cindy diagonal composition. Uji. 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know about you, but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m drowning in choices.<\/p>\n

Whenever I want to buy something on Amazon, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m spending hours agonizing over the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153perfect\u00e2\u20ac\u009d choice.<\/p>\n

When it comes to photography, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m always trying to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153optimize\u00e2\u20ac\u009d my photography setup. Same goes for my devices, and life.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m very stupid.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The secret:<\/p>\n

\n Keep it simple, stupid.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m very stupid, so this works well for me.<\/p>\n

Simplify your equipment and lifestyle<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For example in photography, I just use one camera, one lens \u00e2\u20ac\u201d simple, #RICOHGRII<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also, I shoot in P mode (program mode)<\/a>, which is the true settings that pros use (Eli Reed from Magnum, Steve McCurry, Moises Saman). Keep your camera settings simple \u00e2\u20ac\u201d just \u00e2\u20ac\u0153set it and forget it\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n

\"Negative
Negative space around woman. Kyoto zen temple, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With your food and lifestyle, keep it simple. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t eat at fancy and complicated restaurants where they need to explain what you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re eating, and when they need to explain \u00e2\u20ac\u0153why\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the food is good.<\/p>\n

Keep your travels simple. Enjoy local restaurants, coffee shops, and live like a local when you are abroad.<\/p>\n

Simple and good<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

With your photography editing, keep it simple. Use the same preset on all your pictures, and also keep your workflow simple \u00e2\u20ac\u201d don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seek the best, seek simple and good.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love simple<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Have a simple home, without superfluous rooms you will never use.<\/p>\n

Have a simple outfit \u00e2\u20ac\u201d all black everything.<\/p>\n

Have a simple diet \u00e2\u20ac\u201d meat, eggs, veggies.<\/p>\n

Keep your preferences simple. Prefer espresso over complicated cappuccinos. Prefer to fly economy or coach, instead of expensive business or first class.<\/p>\n

Keep your furniture simple, IKEA is the best.<\/p>\n

Subtract complexity<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

With your writing, keep it simple. Make sure that even a 5-year-old can understand you.<\/p>\n

With your photos, seek to simplify your photos. Subtract distractions from the frame, and focus on simple emotions \u00e2\u20ac\u201d joy, anger, anxiety, frustration, despair, or excitement.<\/p>\n

Simple aesthetics<\/h2>\n
\"Cindy
Cindy with hands on face. Red, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In terms of your aesthetics, keep it simple.<\/p>\n

I like black and white<\/a>, because it is simple.<\/p>\n

When I shoot color photography<\/a>, I keep the colors simple and minimal \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I limit my colors in my frame to 3 colors.<\/p>\n

\"Abstract.
Abstract. Cindy with hands on face. Red, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why simple?<\/h2>\n
\"Cindy
Cindy walking, with diagonal line composition. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Simple is better. Simple helps you focus on creating, making, and producing \u00e2\u20ac\u201d rather than getting bogged down with small details.<\/p>\n

I like simple writing tools, like IA WRITER or ULYSSES, and I use \u00e2\u20ac\u0153markdown\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to format my text.<\/p>\n

Simple is good because if helps me focus.<\/strong> In today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s distracted world, the successful are the ones who can focus, by cutting away distractions.<\/p>\n

Back to basics<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m currently thinking a lot about beginner<\/a> photography \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the best form of photography, because you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have concepts that cloud your mind or creative vision.<\/p>\n

Beginners are the best. They use simple equipment<\/a> (usually just a phone), and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think too much. They make simple, direct pictures, that bring them joy.<\/p>\n

For great simple artists, study Matisse, Piet Mondrian<\/a>, Andy Warhol, and photographers like Josef Koudelka<\/a> and Richard Avedon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Simple is hard<\/h2>\n

Steve Jobs<\/a> agonized to keep Apple devices simple. How can you simplify a complex latticework of technological processes, to make an Apple device straightforward, intuitive, and easy to use?<\/p>\n

Simple: single home button for the iPad, iPhone, and other I devices.<\/p>\n

Simple: intuitive, uncomplicated, something you can easily teach a child.<\/p>\n

Simple is good<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Simplify your life, to allow more room, focus, energy, and time to concentrate on what is important in your life: empowering yourself, empowering others, and making art!<\/p>\n

KEEP IT SIMPLE,
\nERIC<\/p>\n

\n

HAPTIC INDUSTRIES: Creative Tools For Photographers<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"HAPTIC<\/a><\/p>\n