{"id":75099,"date":"2017-12-27T09:09:38","date_gmt":"2017-12-27T17:09:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=75099"},"modified":"2017-12-27T09:17:49","modified_gmt":"2017-12-27T17:17:49","slug":"the-photographer-as-a-vessel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/27\/the-photographer-as-a-vessel\/","title":{"rendered":"The Photographer as a Vessel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

Some more fun photography philosophy to wax poetic about — this time, let’s consider the photographer as a vessel.<\/p>\n

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DOWNLOAD PDF: Photographer as a Vessel<\/a><\/p>\n

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MASTERS<\/a><\/h2>\n
\"LEARN<\/a>
LEARN FROM THE MASTERS BOOK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Learn how to become your own master in photography ><\/a><\/p>\n

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PHOTO JOURNAL<\/a><\/h2>\n

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

Find more meaning in your photographic life with PHOTO JOURNAL ><\/a><\/p>\n

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1. All reality is subjective<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Out of order.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Let’s consider the following facts:<\/p>\n

First of all, ‘reality’ as we know it — is just interpreted through our sensory-perception. There are a trillion shades of color, yet the human eye cannot perceive all of it. There are billions of smells, yet the human nose can only perceive a bit of it. There are radio signals, wifi signals, and other waves floating around in the air, yet the human senses cannot perceive any of that.<\/p>\n

\"Good
Good things happen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The dragonfly sees the world differently from a human. The dog and cat also perceives the world differently from a human.<\/p>\n

Therefore, let us accept that the human being can only capture or perceive a tiny, minute portion of reality.<\/p>\n

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2. Capture decisive moments which are meaningful to YOU<\/h2>\n
\"Love
Love our high class customers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now, the real world (visually) is quite phenomenal. There are millions of shapes, forms, patterns, gestures, faces, and scenes we cannot begin to even comprehend.<\/p>\n

\"Cindy
Cindy with kiss on eye. Saigon, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are millions and billions of ‘decisive moments’ happening every second, on every street corner in the world.<\/p>\n

Yet, you are just one human being. There is no way you can capture all<\/em> of the decisive moments happening right now.<\/p>\n

\"Cindy
Cindy red and green. Saigon, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Your duty as a photographer is to capture personally-meaningful decisive moments for yourself– and share that joy with others.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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3. The photographer as a filter\/vessel<\/h2>\n
\"Red
Red text, green background. Kyoto, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First of all, you are a filter. You can only filter (some) of visual reality — and you capture that reality with your lens.<\/p>\n

\"Girl
Girl with red jacket. Central Park, nyc, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Also, the photographer is a vessel — an empty vessel, and it is your job to store images, and share those images with others. If we take a zen-taoist philosophical approach, we as humans aren’t so important. Rather, we are an empty vessel to carry ideas, and share those ideas\/information with others.<\/p>\n

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4. Your pictures are more important than you<\/h2>\n
\"Annette
Annette kim with glasses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The reason I like the idea of a photographer being a vessel is that it helps me kill my ego.<\/p>\n

I think having an ego as a photographer-artist is important, for you to share your own perception of the world with others. Your perspective as a photographer-artist-individual is important, and deserves to be shared.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Pepsi
Pepsi with green wall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, the downside with an ego: we get personally offended or we get sad when others don’t like\/appreciate our photos\/work.<\/p>\n

Therefore, if you consider yourself as a vessel — an empty carrier, waiting to be filled up with images, you disconnect your ego from your photographs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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5. Inspire 1 viewer<\/h2>\n
\"Yes,
Yes, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re local. Berkeley self portrait shadow, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The benefit of disconnecting your ego from your photographs is that your duty is to make beautiful images\/pictures. However, it isn’t your duty to force everyone to like your photos.<\/p>\n

My philosophy:<\/p>\n

\n If you can make 1 photograph that inspires, uplifts, and elevates the mood and joy of life to 1 viewer someone on planet earth, you are on the right path.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Selfie
Selfie with shadows. Berkeley, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, let’s say you make a photograph and share it online. Let’s say 100 people see it, and 99 of those 100 hate it. But for 1 person, it totally changes how they see life (in a positive way). According to my moral calculus, your duty as a photographer is fulfilled — if your image was able to deeply touch that 1 person.<\/p>\n

\"Question<\/p>\n

I guess in other words,<\/p>\n

\n Don’t seek to please the masses. Seek to please 1 individual (1 viewer), deeply, and profoundly.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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6. If all fails; shoot just for yourself.<\/h2>\n
\"Selfie
Selfie with x over my head. Istanbul, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now, let’s say you share the photo with 100 people, and all 100 people hate it (unlikely, but possible).<\/p>\n

\n If you like the photo, that is enough.<\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you make photos that bring you joy, that gives you more hope, that makes you a more pleasant person, and makes you more optimistic, and you end up sharing that optimism\/joy with others– then, making photos is good not only for you, but for all of society — society as being understood as your friends, family, and close community<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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7. Your photos don’t belong to you<\/h2>\n
\"ITALY.
ITALY. Sicily. Palermo. 1971. Henri Cartier Bresson children playing with wheel. And funeral car in top of frame.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Josef Koudelka<\/a> once said, once he makes the photos — he realizes, the photos don’t belong to him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I see myself the same way. Of course all the photos I shoot are filtered through my own subjective reality. Yet, once I create the photos and release them into the world– the photos\/pictures no longer belong to me. This is why I believe in open-source<\/a>; the advancement of the human race is far more important than myself as an individual.<\/p>\n

\"The
The dance abstract by ERIC KIM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I am only a vessel.<\/p>\n

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Conclusion: Practical takeaways<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So — this is what ERIC KIM thinks; what should I think?<\/p>\n

1. Call them ‘the’ pictures; not ‘my’ pictures<\/h3>\n

\"Purple<\/p>\n

First of all, don’t call them “my”<\/em> pictures, call them “the<\/em>” pictures. This means, someone can hate your photos, but still like you as a human being.<\/p>\n

2. Don’t take your photography too seriously<\/h3>\n
\"Beauty
Beauty of a lone chair against a blue background, and microphone stand in red ribbon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Secondly, your duty is to make beautiful pictures which uplift, inspire, and motivate others. Therefore, don’t worry about yourself too much — just focus on the picture-making.<\/p>\n

3. Inspire just 1 individual<\/h3>\n
\"Istanbul,
Istanbul, woman in yellow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thirdly, it is impossible to please 100% of the people who see your pictures. In your mind, just seek to inspire that 1 viewer– that one person, who will find extreme joy in your work. According to the MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER<\/a> principle; it is better to alienate or have extreme followers; people who EXTREMELY HATE your work, or EXTREMELY love your work. Avoid people in the luke-warm in-between.<\/p>\n

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JUST SHOOT IT.<\/h2>\n
\"Out.
Out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lastly, don’t over-think it. When you see something that makes you smile or excites you, just shoot it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Orange
Orange building and blue sky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Photograph like a child. Shoot your food, photograph nice colors, photograph nice textures. Don’t seek to make ‘serious’ photos; seek to make fun photos. Have fun, share your enthusiasm for living, and don’t take yourself too seriously.<\/p>\n

\"Deflated
Deflated balloons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SMILE,
\nERIC<\/p>\n

Share your favorite photos in ERIC KIM FORUM ><\/a><\/p>\n

CONQUER YOUR FEARS AND MEET NEW PEERS AT ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE ><\/a><\/p>\n

SEE ALL PRODUCTS ON AMAZON ><\/a><\/p>\n

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PHOTOGRAPHY PHILOSOPHY<\/a><\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Why<\/em> do you make photos? Reflect in PHOTO JOURNAL<\/a>:<\/p>\n