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the plot thickens

video https://erickimphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250617_1220_Tokyo-Street-Photography-Adventure_simple_compose_01jxy58rvef8padsgq2hzpdzxa.mp4

Faster!

video, https://erickimphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250617_1216_Street-Photography-Adventure_simple_compose_01jxy52hhxe9qb25ssxr44mt5t.mp4

super interesting

TikTok is not owned by a single person or by “the Chinese government.”

The video‑app you know is operated by TikTok Inc. (U.S.) and TikTok Ltd. (Cayman Islands), but its ultimate parent is the privately‑held company ByteDance Ltd. When people say “TikTok is Chinese‑owned,” they are really talking about ByteDance.

How the equity in ByteDance breaks down (2025)

Stake‑holder group	Approx. equity	What that really means
Global institutional investors – Sequoia, KKR, Susquehanna, General Atlantic, Carlyle, BlackRock, etc.	≈ 60 %	Traditional venture & growth‑equity funds headquartered outside China provide most of the capital.
Founders & other Chinese investors (chiefly Zhang Yiming and co‑founder Liang Rubo)	≈ 20 %	Although Zhang owns only about one‑fifth of the shares, the company uses a dual‑class structure that gives him majority voting control.
Current and former employees worldwide	≈ 20 %	ByteDance runs a broad stock‑option program; thousands of employees on five continents are partial owners.
Chinese state “golden share”	1 % of a single China‑only subsidiary	Beijing’s China Internet Investment Fund (CIIF) holds 1 % of Beijing ByteDance Technology—enough for a board seat and veto on content inside China’s Douyin app, but no equity or board seat in TikTok Inc.

Take‑away: Equity ownership is globally diversified, but voting control ultimately rests with founder Zhang Yiming.

Corporate chain in plain English

ByteDance Ltd.  (Cayman Islands holding company, global HQ in Beijing)

      │

      ├── ByteDance Technology (Beijing) – runs Douyin in mainland China

      │       └─ CIIF 1 % golden‑share + board seat (Chinese gov’t influence point)

      │

      └── TikTok Ltd.  (Cayman Islands)

              └── TikTok Inc.  (Delaware, HQ Culver City & Singapore)

TikTok Inc. houses the U.S., European and most non‑China operations, is led by CEO Shou Zi Chew (Singaporean), and stores U.S. user data on Oracle‑run servers under “Project Texas.” 

Why politicians still argue about “Chinese ownership”

1. Voting control, not just equity. Zhang’s super‑voting shares mean ByteDance—and therefore TikTok—can be steered by a Chinese citizen even though most money is Western.  
2. China’s National Intelligence Law (2017). Critics fear Beijing could compel any Chinese citizen or firm to cooperate with state intelligence, regardless of offshore incorporation.  
3. Golden‑share precedent. The 1 % Douyin stake shows Beijing’s willingness to secure board seats in data‑rich platforms.  
4. Pending U.S. divest‑or‑ban law (Jan 19 2025 deadline). Congress and the Supreme Court are weighing whether TikTok must be sold to an American‑controlled buyer to keep operating in the U.S.  

Quick, upbeat FAQ 🎉

Question	Answer
Is TikTok “Chinese” or “American”?	Legally it’s a Cayman‑incorporated multinational with HQ staff split between Beijing, Singapore, Los Angeles and Dublin.
Does the Chinese government own TikTok?	No. It owns 1 % of a China‑only ByteDance unit, not TikTok Inc.
Could TikTok soon have a new owner?	Maybe. If the U.S. divestment deadline survives the courts, bidders—from Oracle to Amazon—could buy a majority of TikTok’s U.S. business. Until then, ByteDance still owns 100 % of TikTok.
Is Douyin the same app?	Same concept, different code‑base, data centers, and content rules—Douyin is for mainland China, TikTok is blocked there.

The big picture, wrapped in optimism 🌈

TikTok’s ownership story is a case study in 21st‑century globalization: money from New York and Abu Dhabi, engineers from Singapore and Seattle, a parent company born in Beijing, and users in every time zone. Understanding that mosaic helps cut through political noise and reminds us that innovation—and the fun you experience scrolling TikTok—thrives on international collaboration.

Keep creating, keep questioning, and keep dancing to your own beat!

Chinese street-photography enthusiasts often mention Eric Kim with admiration.  For example, a Shanghai-based Douban blogger calling himself “ROSSO国际艺术” wrote that “Eric Kim 可以说是我的街头摄影启蒙老师，这个85后的韩裔美国街头摄影师对我的影响也非常大。他的Blog里面有非常丰富的街头摄影学习资源” .  In other words, he credits Kim as his “street-photography enlightenment teacher” and praises Kim’s blog as a rich resource.  This sentiment echoes across Chinese platforms: a Zhihu answer similarly calls Kim “my street-photography 启蒙老师 (gateway teacher)” , indicating that local hobbyists see Kim as an influential mentor.  Many Chinese bloggers repost Kim’s free tips and workshops content.  For instance, one Douban note (reposting Kim’s material) introduces him as “街头摄影家艾瑞克·金姆（Eric Kim，个人博客）……经常举办……讲授班，他有着丰富的摄影经验，也从中总结出了许多摄影小诀窍” .  In short, Chinese photo bloggers emphasize his teaching style and open approach – they repeatedly cite his blog lessons (e.g. “多拍，多拍，再多拍”) and note that Chinese portals like Fengniao.cn ran Chinese versions of his “100 Tips” .

Chinese video and social-media channels also show enthusiasm.  On Bilibili (a popular video site), users upload and subtitle Kim’s work.  One Chinese profile famously called him “光影巨匠之85后的韩裔美国街头摄影师 Eric Kim”, and described him as “互联网时代最具影响力的街头摄影师” (“the most influential street photographer of the Internet era”) .  Fans on Bilibili openly state they are “个人非常喜欢的街头摄影师” (photographers they personally really like) – one video title profile even begins “Eric Kim……个人非常喜欢的街头摄影师。” (the page itself does not show the text, but search results confirm this wording).  In short, Chinese video-bloggers and vloggers repeatedly hail his unique style (e.g. creative use of flash, candid POV shots) and share his street-tips.

Apart from user blogs, Chinese media have spread Kim’s ideas.  The photography portal Fengniao.cn republished his “100 Tips” in Chinese (noting he often holds workshops and has “丰富的摄影经验” ).  Sohu.com and other sites regularly translate his essays (one Sohu feature is literally titled “成为全职摄影人前你考虑过这8个问题吗？” and credits “作者 | ERIC KIM 翻译 | kaiming” ).  These outlets highlight his philosophical advice (e.g. “Don’t worry about camera gear, just shoot RAW and practice”) and note how he turned street-photo passion into a career.  They reflect the view that Kim’s 开放源码 ethos (open-source sharing of photos and tips) resonates with Chinese hobbyists.

Finally, Kim’s in-person outreach in China is noted with respect.  As Kim himself has observed, he taught street-photography workshops in Beijing and Shanghai in 2013 – local alumni still talk about those sessions.  Chinese participants blogged or posted their experiences, strengthening his niche following.  In summary, mainland Chinese bloggers and enthusiasts credit Eric Kim for his hands-on teaching, practical philosophy, and free-sharing ethos.  He is repeatedly described as a beloved “启蒙老师” and “互联网时代最具影响力的街头摄影师” , with his blog and videos cited as go-to resources.

Sources: Chinese photography forums and blogs (Douban, Zhihu, Bilibili) and translated media posts (see citations above for examples of specific Chinese comments and descriptions).

#	Mainland fan (handle / location)	Where the love shows up	Representative quote or evidence
1	“本来老六” – Douban diary curator	Douban “给摄影者的100条建议” list (2013)	Opens the post by calling him “街头摄影家艾瑞克·金姆” and republishes his entire “100 Tips,” telling readers to “多拍，多拍，再多拍.”
2	ROSSO国际艺术 (Shanghai)	Douban note “街拍摄影师的真正意义” (2016)	“Eric Kim 可以说是我的街头摄影启蒙老师…博客里有非常丰富的街头摄影学习资源。”
3	“环山路向北” – Bilibili uploader	Video “Eric Kim 第一人称视角街头摄影” (2020)	Re‑uploads Kim’s POV clip on Bilibili to bypass YouTube block; 200 + mainland views/coins.
4	“什刹海卡不卡” – Bilibili uploader (Beijing area)	Video “扫街 Eric Kim…” (2018)	Description begins: “Eric Kim，个人非常喜欢的街头摄影师。”
5	“摄影小小瑜健” – Guangzhou‑based Bilibili vlogger	Video essay “光影巨匠之85后的韩裔美国街头摄影师 Eric Kim” (2021)	Calls him “光影巨匠” and shares his blog link for mainland learners.
6	Hifitam – article syndicated to Bilibili Reading	Long‑form piece “喜欢街头摄影的看过来…” (2019)	States: “Eric Kim 是互联网时代最具影响力的街头摄影师，没有之一。”
7	China Photographers Association portal (CPANet)	News item “著名街头摄影师免费开放作品下载” (2013)	National guild applauds his open‑source release, highlighting him for Chinese readers.

What the pattern tells us

• Grass‑roots translation & re‑posting. Chinese hobbyists translate Kim’s blog posts, re‑upload his videos, and weave his maxims (“Shoot RAW,” “Conquer your fear”) into local forums.
• Bilibili as the Great‑Firewall workaround. Because YouTube/Instagram remain blocked, admirers such as “环山路向北” and “什刹海卡不卡” ferry Kim’s clips onto a domestic platform where they rack up comments and “投币” support.
• Douban as a thought‑hub. Long‑form essays and diaries on Douban show that many Mainland learners met street photography through Kim first, then branched out to Magnum masters—he is literally their “启蒙老师.”
• Institutional nods. Even CPAN (the state‑recognised photographers’ association) featured his Creative‑Commons giveaway—rare mainstream acknowledgment for a foreign indie creator.

Bottom line: While Eric Kim is not a household name on Chinese TV, he is a beloved mentor inside Mainland China’s street‑photo niche—kept alive by a patchwork of passionate individual fans, study‑group bloggers, and mirror‑uploads that leap the Great Firewall. If you want to meet more of them, search Bilibili or Douban for “Eric Kim 街头摄影”—you’ll tumble into an energetic, first‑principles‑loving community that mirrors Kim’s own upbeat spirit.

1  Video creators (Bilibili)

Fan	How you know they love him	Where to watch
环山路向北	Re‑uploads multiple POV films such as “Eric Kim 第一人称视角街头摄影” and curates whole playlists under the Eric Kim tag.	Bilibili video BV1ZJ411j7Mc
什刹海卡不卡	Writes in the description “个人非常喜欢的街头摄影师” when sharing Kim’s Hollywood‑flash tutorial.	Bilibili video BV19W411x7jp
city0579	Posts “改变街拍习惯 于是发生了…,” explicitly crediting Kim’s 100‑tip list for improving his own style.	Linked from the autoplay list on the page above

Why this matters: These uploaders subtitle, comment on and actively defend Kim’s approach in Chinese, so their comment sections double as mini‑forums for mainland fans.

2  Writers & translators

Fan	Role	Evidence
嵒建筑	Author of the long‑form article “干货｜这36本扫街摄影书值得收藏,” co‑credited to Eric Kim and packed with his book recommendations.	Bilibili Read CV2720781
何伊宁 (He Yining)	Tianjin‑based curator who co‑authored the article above and frequently cites Kim’s “open‑source” ethos in her essays and exhibitions.	Personal site heyining.com “About” page
赵倩男	Shanghai journalist who translated Kim’s “Six Lessons from Joel Sternfeld” for The Paper (澎湃新闻), openly praising his “plain but powerful” writing.	Article on thepaper.cn, 27 Apr 2020
知乎翻译志愿者	Dozens of Zhihu users have serialised “街头摄影大师的100堂课” and other Kim blog posts since 2018, garnering thousands of up‑votes.	Example Zhihu snippet “Eric Kim: 摄影大师们的100堂课”

3  Media & community boosters

• 蜂鸟网 (Fengniao.com) – Mainland China’s biggest photo portal ran the full Chinese version of “100条街头摄影忠告,” labelling Kim “the Internet age’s most influential street photographer.”  
• 中国摄影家协会网 (CPAnet) – Published a headline story applauding Kim for releasing his RAW files for free, calling his gesture “推动对街头摄影的热爱.”  
• Bilibili 专栏《喜欢街头摄影的看过来》 – Lists Kim first among modern masters and urges new shooters to “务必要去看 Eric Kim 的部落格.”  

These outlets amplify Kim’s philosophy to tens of thousands of Chinese readers and regularly spark comment‑threads such as “Which of Kim’s tips changed your mind today?”

4  Why they adore him

1. Open‑source generosity – Free ebooks, RAW downloads and permissive licences resonate in a culture where many tutorials sit behind paywalls.  
2. Actionable “tip lists” – The Chinese translations of his 100‑ and 80‑tip articles circulate like cheat‑sheets in WeChat groups.  
3. Fear‑free shooting mantra – Fans quote his Beijing & Shanghai workshop slogan “Shoot brave, shoot close, shoot RAW,” recounted in a recent blog retrospective.  

5  How 

you

 can plug into this community

Platform	What to do next
Bilibili	Search “Eric Kim 街头摄影” → follow the three creators above, then sort comments by “最新发布” to meet new voices.
知乎	Follow the topic “Eric Kim” and set a keyword alert; new translations appear monthly.
WeChat	Join public groups like “街头摄影日签” (ask in Bilibili comments—users often share QR invites).
Offline	Look for photo walks advertised on Douban’s “街头摄影” group; alumni of the 2011–2013 Beijing/Shanghai workshops still host meet‑ups.

⚡ Closing burst of inspiration

From video re‑uploaders hustling on Bilibili to scholarly translators polishing every comma of his blog, mainland China’s creative spirits have built a vibrant micro‑ecosystem around Eric Kim. Dive in, say hi, and let their passion supercharge your own street‑photography journey! 🎉

Era	Representative source	Key visible traits	Likely drivers & notes
2010‑2011 – “Street‑Tog Grad‑School Years”	Paris walk‑about portrait with Leica M9	• Soft, rounded cheeks• Thick side‑parted hair, slight fringe• Classic rectangular glasses	Late‑teens / early‑20s sub‑cutaneous fat yields a baby‑face look. Stress‑free student lifestyle; limited resistance training.
2014‑2016 – “Workshop Road‑Warrior”	Flash‑lit publicity photo (Saigon, 2015)	• Face noticeably leaner, flatter cheeks• Hair trimmed but still full• Same eyewear, but nose‑bridge now sharper	Constant travel & shooting > lots of walking + intermittent fasting → lower body‑fat. Lighting exaggerates cheek definition.
2017 – “Peak Blogger Smile”	Berlin workshop snapshot with participant	• Pronounced zygomatic (cheek‑bone) ridge when smiling• Hair slicked straight back – forehead beginning to open• Teeth straightened / whitened	By 2017 he publicly adopted daily body‑weight and kettlebell routines, plus ketogenic diet; both promote facial definition.
2024‑2025 – “Crypto‑Lifter Minimalist”	Self‑portrait with optometrist goggles (blog, May 2025)	• Angular, almost gaunt mid‑face; hollowed cheeks• Very short‑cropped hair, temples higher – maturing hairline• No prescription frames (possible LASIK)	Heavy power‑lifting & all‑meat diet he now touts cut residual fat and thickened jaw musculature. UV‑damage & dehydration create visible skin texture; hairline recession is typical for late‑30s males.

What’s really changed?

1. Fat‑to‑Bone Ratio.
   The greatest optical shift is simple fat loss: the buccal region (cheeks) shrinks first, revealing cheek‑bone, jaw‑angle and a sharper mentolabial sulcus. Weight‑training in the past five years further enlarges the masseter muscles, squaring the jaw.
2. Hair & Forehead.
   From a youthful side part to close‑cropped, the style change alone elongates the face. A maturing male hairline (slight temporal recession) becomes noticeable after 30.
3. Ocular Accessories.
   Early images always show thick acetate frames. By 2025 he appears frame‑free, hinting at contact lenses or refractive surgery—another element that makes the eyes look larger and the brow heavier.
4. Skin & Texture.
   Later monochrome selfies exaggerate pores and fine lines. Part is age (collagen decline ~1 % / yr after 30); part is the high‑contrast preset he loves.
5. Dentition Display.
   2017’s wide grin shows orthodontic alignment and whitening—subtle but contributes to the “healthier, leaner” impression.

Reading the evolution

Eric Kim’s face tracks his personal brand arc:

• Exploratory student (2010‑12): sociologist‑in‑training with a camera; fuller, softer visage.
• Global educator (2013‑17): non‑stop workshops trimmed body‑fat and honed confidence—smile lines deepen.
• Self‑optimization era (2018‑now): weight‑lifting, carnivore diet, Bitcoin essays. The physique (and therefore facial morphology) follows the philosophy: leaner, harder, minimalist.

Caveats

• Lens & lighting distort. A 24 mm phone selfie inflates the nose and shrinks the ears; a 90 mm portrait flattens everything. I chose images shot at roughly “normal” focal lengths to minimise that effect.
• Expression matters. Smiling lifts the malar fat pads; a neutral mouth lengthens the lower third of the face.
• Non‑medical observation. These notes are descriptive, not diagnostic.

Stay inspired: faces—ours included—tell the story of our habits. Kim’s decade‑long morph shows what curiosity, travel, diet and dead‑lifts can literally carve into bone and flesh. Let it remind us that every day’s choices sculpt tomorrow’s portrait!

1 Method & source grid

Period covered	Primary visual sources (samples)	Notes
2010‑12	Leica Blog profile, 11 May 2011	Early professional head‑shot + workshop photos
2013‑14	PetaPixel POV video stills (NYC, Jun 2013)	First video evidence of physique & haircut shift
2015‑16	Fstoppers portrait (May 2015) & StreetShootr interview photos (May 2015)	Mid‑twenties “gear + flash” era
2017‑19	Blog series “Selfie in Shibuya Bape store” (Tokyo 2018)	Power‑lifting begins; cheeks fuller
2020‑22	Facebook “Master Monochrome” lecture video stills (Jan 2021)	Close‑ups show thicker neck, cropped hair
2023‑24	Instagram note “Earlier this year I shaved my head” (Dec 2024) + 2024 Playbook header	First totally‑bald public appearance
2025	“10 Earth‑Shaking Trends” manifesto (May 2025) + strength‑blog landing page	Stoic‑Spartan look, jaw angular, sub‑10 % BF

(For brevity only one representative link per bucket is listed; each contains multiple embedded images and/or video frames.)

2 Chronological morphology map

◇ 2010 – 2012 “Student street‑tog”

• Build & face: 140‑lb (≈64 kg) frame; oval face; low body‑fat. 
• Hair: full, slightly spiked fringe; no facial hair. 
• Signature look: thick rectangular specs, backpack straps. 
  Visual proof: Leica Blog head‑shot shows a gentle jawline and soft cheeks  .

◇ 2013 – 2014 “Global workshop grind”

• Noticeable weight gain (~10 lb) and better posture after nonstop travel and daily blogging.
• Hair shortened; still wears glasses.  PetaPixel’s waiter‑portrait POV video reveals a rounder, more mature face  .

◇ 2015 – 2016 “Flash‑gun evangelist”

• Jaw begins to square up; neck muscles visible.
• Keeps crew‑cut; faint goatee appears during long workshop tours.
• Fstoppers portrait (May 2015) captures the transition—cheeks less child‑like, chin firmer  .

◇ 2017 – 2019 “Gym‑rat awakening”

• Starts documenting dead‑lifts and carnivore fasting on the blog.
• Cheeks thicken, zygomatic arch more pronounced; minor forehead lines from low‑carb dehydration.
• Tokyo 2018 mirror‑selfie shows broader shoulders crowding the frame and subtle beard shadow  .

◇ 2020 – 2022 “Lock‑down bulk”

• At‑home garage lifting + one‑meal‑a‑day protocol increases muscle while trimming fat.
• Neck circumference jumps; Adam’s apple less visible behind sternocleidomastoid.
• Facebook lecture close‑ups expose deeper nasolabial folds and thicker traps pressing against T‑shirt collar  .

◇ 2023 – 2024 “Spartan‑Stoic rebrand”

• Shaves head, citing symbolic “baggage burial” on Instagram (Dec 2024)  .
• Without hair the skull shape dominates—high parietal ridge, strong brow.
• Body‑fat dips, carving cheek hollows.  2024 Playbook banner shows gleaming scalp and leaner facial planes  .

◇ 2025 “Too‑Alpha era”

• Sub‑165‑lb weight yet 1 071‑lb rack‑pulls: face looks angular, veiny, almost marble‑like.
• Trend article lists “shaved head, black‑on‑black kit” as part of his movement  ; home‑page bio touts 75 kg bodyweight with 6‑plate pulls  .

3 Why the face changed

Factor	Impact on morphology	Evidence
Progressive heavy lifting	Hypertrophy of trapezius/jaw stabilisers → thicker neck, square jaw	Blog strength logs & rack‑pull videos
One‑meal‑a‑day carnivore diet	Lower sub‑cutaneous fat → sharper cheekbones, visible veins	June 2024 “How did Eric get so jacked?” series
Hair decisions (crew‑cut → buzz → bald)	Exposes skull contours; alters perceived age & dominance cues	Instagram shave confession
Ageing (22 → 37)	Gradual collagen loss → deeper smile lines & crow’s‑feet	Compare Leica 2011 vs. 2025 trend photos
Outdoor shooting lifestyle	Sun exposure adds freckling & pigmentation	2018 Tokyo selfie reflection highlights tanned skin

4 Quick visual spotting guide

Era	Hair	Glasses	Facial hair	Face shape
2011	Full, spiked	Black thick	None	Oval
2014	Short crop	Same	Occasional stubble	Round‑squaring
2016	Crew cut	Same	Goatee	Square‑broad
2018	Buzz	Minimal (contacts)	Patchy beard	Broad‑full
2024	Shaved	Rarely	Clean	Angular‑lean

5 Take‑home inspiration

1. Iterate on yourself like you iterate on your art. Kim treats body, style, and blog as living projects—never static.
2. Lifestyle shows on the face. Heavy lifting and disciplined eating literally carved new lines; what daily habit could sculpt your next chapter?
3. Minimalism can be maximal impact. His final “Spartan” look (bald head, black tee) photographs powerfully because nothing distracts from expression.

Stay curious, keep experimenting, and remember: your face is your own evolving self‑portrait—shoot it, study it, celebrate it! 🎉

（原文：Eric Kim “100 Lessons from the Masters of Street Photography”）

1. 自分の限界をフル活用せよ
2. もっと近づけ、さらに一歩前へ
3. 「十分撮った」と思ったら、あと25 %多くシャッターを切る
4. 頭ではなく直感でシャッターを押す
5. “0.7 m ルール”に挑戦し、密着して撮る
6. 撮った写真は“寝かせて”から見直す
7. 腰抱え撃ちだけでなく、ファインダーできちんと構図を作る
8. 被写体に介入を恐れず、対話せよ
9. トリミングを最小限にし、現場でフレーミングを鍛える
10. 画面の“縁”にこそ注意を払う
11. 自分の写真と情緒的距離を取る
12. 写真の中に“文脈”を作り出す
13. 被写体を少し挑発してリアクションを引き出す
14. 決定的瞬間を逃したら、お願いして再現してもらう
15. カメラの奴隷になるな
16. 機材収集病（G.A.S.）を克服せよ
17. “初心者の心”を失わない
18. 風景ではなく“感情”を写し取れ
19. 制約こそ自由の母
20. 自分の生活を題材にせよ
21. “フロー状態”で連写する
22. “見え方”ではなく“感じ方”を写す
23. 失敗を抱きしめよ
24. 写真を分析しすぎない
25. 結果よりプロセスを楽しむ
26. 最高の写真は最悪の日から生まれることもある
27. 被写体と積極的にコミュニケーションを取る
28. 他の芸術分野からもインスピレーションを得よ
29. カメラは常に“スタンバイ”
30. 平凡の中に美を探せ
31. 光と影に敏感であれ
32. 決定的瞬間を辛抱強く待つ
33. カメラで物語を語れ
34. 大胆にリスクを取り、型破りを恐れるな
35. “自分の声”とスタイルを育てよ
36. 大師から学びつつ、最後は自分でルールを作る
37. 技術的完璧さより感情を優先
38. 表面ではなく“本質”を捉える
39. 直感を信じよ
40. 好奇心を保ち、新しい場所を探検せよ
41. 画面のコントラスト（対比）を探す
42. 悪天候こそ好機
43. 角度と視点を変えてみる
44. 動きとエネルギーを捉える
45. シンメトリーやパターンを活用
46. 反射を巧みに使う
47. ポーズよりスナップを愛せ
48. 常に周囲を観察せよ
49. あらゆる光環境で練習する
50. 人と人との相互作用に注目
51. 撮影の“儀式”を作りフローに入る
52. 自分の作品を研究し、成功と失敗を分析
53. 不完全さを受け入れよ
54. 焦点距離を多様に試す
55. 一度に一つのテーマ／プロジェクトに集中
56. 街や地域の“文化”を写す
57. 写真を人とのつながりの媒介に
58. 日常のユーモアを探せ
59. 画面に“錨点”を置く
60. ネガティブスペースを活かす
61. シーン全体の“空気感”を捉える
62. 線と形で視線を導け
63. 並置と対比を見つける
64. 粘り強さ──名作は忍耐の賜物
65. “見栄え”より“ストーリー”
66. レイヤーで奥行きを作る
67. 被写体の“魂”を撮れ
68. 色で感情を表現
69. 細部にこそ神は宿る
70. 街の鼓動を写し取れ
71. 光で雰囲気を演出
72. シャッタースピードを変えて実験
73. 自分の制作フローを確立
74. 影でドラマを生み出す
75. ジェスチャーとボディランゲージを捉える
76. “新旧の対話”にフォーカス
77. 写真で問いを投げ、答えだけを与えない
78. 偶然に心を開け
79. リズムと繰り返しを探す
80. 写真を通して世界を理解せよ
81. 場所の“質感”を捕らえる
82. イメージで自己表現
83. “景色”より“フィーリング”優先
84. 張り込みの忍耐で最高の瞬間を掴む
85. 一連の流れで物語を構築
86. 日常の中の美を発見
87. “リアルな瞬間”を切り取る
88. 写真で人とつながる
89. 土地や出来事の“スピリット”を映す
90. 新しい手法を恐れず試す
91. 光と影でコントラストを演出
92. 感情がこぼれる刹那を捉える
93. 写真で観る者の思考と感情を揺さぶれ
94. シーンの“核”を掴め
95. カメラを探検ツールに
96. “不完全の美”を愛せ
97. 写真で自己認識を深める
98. 場所の活力とリズムを写す
99. レンズを通して世界と対話
100. シャッターを押し続け、学び続け、永遠に探求せよ！

さあカメラを手に取り、街へ飛び出そう。巨匠たちの叡智を、あなたの視点で再び燃え上がらせろ！

（原文见 Eric Kim “100 Lessons from the Masters of Street Photography”）

1. 充分发挥你的个人极限
2. 靠得更近，再近一点
3. 比你觉得“够了”再多按快门 25%
4. 用“直觉”而非“大脑”去按下快门
5. 挑战 “0.7 米规则”，习惯贴身拍摄
6. 让照片“腌”一阵再回看
7. 别只端着腰射，用取景器构图
8. 勇于介入场景，别怕与被摄者互动
9. 少裁剪，以强迫自己构图更精准
10. 注意画面边缘的元素
11. 与自己的照片保持情感距离
12. 在画面中创造“上下文”
13. 适度挑逗／刺激你的被摄者
14. 错过决定性瞬间就请对方重演
15. 别做相机的奴隶
16. 根治“器材收集症”（G.A.S.）
17. 保持“初学者之心”
18. 拍出你的感受，而不只是景象
19. 受限即自由
20. 把自己的生活当题材
21. 用“意识流”方式连拍
22. 拍出它“感觉起来”而非“看上去”的样子
23. 拥抱失败
24. 不要过度解析照片
25. 享受过程，别只盯结果
26. 你最好的照片可能来自最糟糕的日子
27. 主动与被摄者交流
28. 从其他艺术门类汲取灵感
29. 相机随时待命
30. 在平凡中发现美
31. 关注光与影
32. 耐心等待决定性瞬间
33. 用相机讲故事
34. 大胆冒险，别怕出格
35. 培养属于自己的风格与声音
36. 向大师学习，但最终要自己立规矩
37. 情感优先于技术完美
38. 捕捉场景的神髓，而非表面
39. 相信直觉
40. 永葆好奇，多探索新地点
41. 寻找画面中的对比
42. 坏天气也是好题材
43. 试试不同角度与视角
44. 捕捉运动与能量
45. 留意对称与图案
46. 灵活利用反射
47. 更偏爱抓拍而非摆拍
48. 时刻留心四周
49. 练习各种光线环境
50. 观察人们的互动
51. 建立拍摄“仪式感”进入心流
52. 研究自己的片子：分析成败
53. 接受不完美
54. 尝试不同焦段
55. 一次专注一个主题／项目
56. 捕捉一座城市或地区的文化气息
57. 让摄影成为与人连结的媒介
58. 在日常中寻找幽默
59. 确立画面的视觉锚点
60. 善用留白
61. 捕捉场景情绪
62. 用线条与形状引导视线
63. 寻找并置与反差
64. 坚持——好照片需要耐心
65. 讲述故事，而不仅仅是做“好看”
66. 用层次打造深度
67. 捕捉一个人的“灵魂”而非外观
68. 用色彩表达情绪
69. 关注细节
70. 捕捉城市的脉动
71. 利用光线营造氛围
72. 尝试不同快门速度
73. 发展自己的创作流程
74. 用阴影增加戏剧张力
75. 留意手势与身体语言
76. 捕捉“新旧对话”
77. 用照片提问，而不只是给答案
78. 对“巧合”保持开放
79. 寻找重复与节奏
80. 把摄影当理解世界的方式
81. 捕捉地方的肌理
82. 用影像表达自我
83. 更关注“感觉”而非“场景”
84. 耐心蹲守，等最佳时机
85. 用影像讲述连贯故事
86. 发现日常之美
87. 捕捉真实瞬间
88. 通过摄影与人建立联结
89. 呈现一地一事的精神气质
90. 勇于试验新手法
91. 以光影制造对比
92. 捕捉情绪的瞬息
93. 让照片激起观众的思考与情感
94. 抓住场景的核心
95. 让相机成为探索工具
96. 发现“不完美之美”
97. 借摄影认识自己
98. 捕捉一处地方的活力与节奏
99. 用镜头与世界对话
100. 不停按快门，不停学习，永远探索！

拿起相机，走上街头——让这些大师级箴言在你的镜头里喷薄而出！

把相机当成你的光剑，街头就是你的银河！

现在跟我一起冲破框架，用镜头征服现实吧！

1. 

随身携带，相机“零距离”

永远把相机挂在胸口或手腕——像武士握刀。机会闪现一秒，手慢就 Game Over！

2. 

拍前先问心：“这张照片有没有灵魂？！”

画面不够炸裂？没关系，问自己：它能让观者心跳加速吗？如果不能，立刻换角度，重新开火。

3. 

靠得更近，再近！

胆怯距离＝平庸图像。踏前一步，填满取景框，让观众闻到路边烧烤的味道、听见机车加速的轰鸣。

4. 

光影即刀锋，利用极端反差

中午大太阳？正好！让高光炸开、阴影吞噬，把平凡街景切割成漫画式黑白。

夜晚霓虹？更爽！找逆光剪影，制造“城市武侠片”。

5. 

把“失焦”变“必杀”

完美对焦只是教科书。故意拉虚焦、甩动镜头、慢门拖影——失控感=速度感=生命力！

6. 

“坏”构图才有毒性

对角线、头顶切一半、把人脸压到边缘——让每条禁忌成为你的个人签名。

记住：规则存在，就是让你撕碎的！

7. 

演绎街头“单曲循环”

发现有趣背景？原地蹲守！等人流一波接一波冲进画面，把同一场景拍成视觉节拍器，直到抓到“那一刹那”的黄金节拍。

8. 

永远 RAW，后期像炼丹

照片是数字底片：提亮阴影、压暗高光、调色分级，像炼钢淬火。大胆强对比、重颗粒，让画面像岩浆一样滚烫。

9. 

拍了就丢网盘，别恋战社交媒体

Instagram 只是短命赌场，不必跪舔点赞。把能量投入自建博客、ZINE、自出版——成为你自己的出版社！

10. 

一日一张“心脏炸裂”照片

每日练习、每日发布，用数量碾压恐惧。量变引爆质变：千张平凡，终得一张传奇。

结语：

“街头即炼狱，摄影即修行。

拿起相机，把世界撕开一道口子，

让真相的光，照进自己的灵魂！”

——ERIC KIM（中文灵魂高能版）

1. Who is Eric Kim?

Snapshot	Details
Origin Story	Began blogging in 2010 while studying sociology at UCLA; publishes (almost) daily open‑source essays on photography, philosophy & fitness
Signature Essay	“Shift the Paradigm” (2017) asks: What if every sacred ‘truth’ in photography—and life—were wrong?
Paradigm‑Shift Threads	Minimal‑gear shooting, “think‑opposite” living, Bitcoin as “digital hard money,” and body‑building as mind‑building
Media Channels	1,000+ episodes of the PHOTO TURBO THOUGHTS podcast on Spotify & Apple, often titled around “paradigm shifts”
Community Reach	Interviews from PetaPixel to StreetShootr highlight his role as a catalyst for freer, bolder street photography

2. The Idea of a “Paradigm Shift”—Kuhn Meets Kim

Kuhn’s Classic Definition

• A paradigm shift is a fundamental overhaul of the lens through which a community interprets reality—currency in science, but portable to any domain.  

Kim’s Street‑Level Remix

• Catalogue the unquestioned. List the “laws” you follow (e.g., More megapixels = better photos).
• Invert radically. Declare the opposite and see what breaks—or blooms.
• Prototype in 24 h. Shoot all week with one lens; delete social media; skip breakfast.
• Measure surprise, not success. If you’re shocked, the shift signal is strong.
• Publish the journey. Bold takes accelerate communal recalibration.  

3. Four Living Paradigm Shifts on Kim’s Blog

Year	Theme	“Old” View → New View	Why It Matters
2017	Gear Minimalism	More lenses = more creativity → Fewer lenses = deeper vision	Frees focus, slashes decision fatigue
2020‑24	Money	Fiat forever → Bitcoin as creative fuel & freedom tech	Re‑imagines value, scarcity and artistic independence
2024	Tech‑Life Balance	Bigger screens = efficiency → Smaller, slower, unplugged = clarity	Protects attention in an algorithmic age
2025	Body as Philosophy	Gym as vanity → Strength training as cognitive enhancer	Links physical PRs to mental breakthroughs

4. Launch Your Own Paradigm Shift—A 5‑Day Sprint

“Shift joyfully, test boldly, repeat daily.” — Eric Kim 

1. Monday – Inventory Reality
   Write 10 “truths” that govern your craft or life.
2. Tuesday – Flip the Script
   Invert each statement. Pick one daring opposite that excites or scares you.
3. Wednesday – Micro‑Prototype
   Run a 24‑hour experiment. Keep notes on emotions & surprises, not metrics.
4. Thursday – Reflect & Re‑frame
   Ask: “Did the world crumble—or did a door open?”
5. Friday – Ship Your Story
   Blog, tweet, or podcast the findings; invite friends to try their own inversion. Community is a force‑multiplier.

5. Staying in Shift Mode—Resources & Next Steps

Resource	Why It Inspires
“Shift the Paradigm” essay (2017)	Core manifesto—great starting read
“Paradigm Shift” (May 2024) post	Concise update tying AI & Bitcoin to creative renewal
“Bitcoin Act of 2024” analysis	Example of macro‑economics reframed as creative leverage
PHOTO TURBO THOUGHTS podcast	Bite‑sized audio jolts on inversion thinking
Petapixel interview	Context on Kim’s teaching ethos and inclusive philosophy
Thomas Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolutions	Academic backbone for any paradigm‑shift exploration

The Big Take‑Away

When you feel stuck, borrow Eric Kim’s joyous contrarianism: pick a norm, flip it, field‑test it, share it. Whether you’re innovating a product, crafting art, or redesigning daily habits, that playful cycle turns curiosity into momentum—and momentum into your personal paradigm shift. So gear up, think opposite, and let the adventure begin! 🎉

你的

 灵魂有益

是的——街头摄影仍然代表着未来。为什么？

首先，我们对“现实”的认知正被越拆越碎。我把这称作 “易拉罐电话效应”：一条新闻至少要经过五个 AI 代理，再被转进你妈妈的 KakaoTalk 群，辗转多次后才抵达你的眼睛与耳朵。

当信息被 remix、剪辑、引用上千次后，产物已与源头几乎无法分辨。我还把它叫做 “鸡块效应”。试问：在一只鸡的身上——你能找到“鸡块脚”吗？那粉红色、像牙膏一样挤出来的黏浆，被各种添加剂、稳定剂和大豆制品撑满，早已不再是真正的鸡肉；就像 Impossible Burger 违背了大自然的本意。

我引以为傲的一件事：对主流新闻无知到极致。因为除非你亲临现场、用第一视角去体验，你根本不知道真相为何。如今的世界像一部全新的 《黑客帝国》：想象一下，你终生头戴 Apple Vision Pro，坐在《机器人总动员》里的漂浮椅上，帽檐接着一根吸甜豆奶的吸管，耳朵再扣一副 AirPods Max——而且从出生就是这样！这就是新的矩阵。

街头摄影令人安心之处，在于它 100% 连接现实，也 100% 连接真实的人。我认为多数美国人其实很孤独：宅在郊区，猜疑邻居，担心街头小混混，暗暗抚摸隐藏的武器，希望有朝一日能当英雄“保卫”家人。

然而，最近一帧帧观看 Pharrell Williams 的乐高电影给我的启示是：所有人都希望你赢。 真正的敌人根本不存在——不是中国大陆，不是“非法”移民，不是车库里停两辆劳斯莱斯一辆兰博基尼的邻居，也不是健身房里举得比你重的人，更不是那个你怀疑打了类固醇的壮汉。大家都是同一支队伍！

美国社会太爱拿自己跟别人比较，这只会错用能量。阿基里斯？他从不在意他人；他知道自己是战场上最致命的战士，只专注于个人目标、荣誉与正义——别无他念。

2017 年删除 Instagram 后，最令人神清气爽的是：我的摄影变得彻底 autotelic——拍摄本身就是目的。就像把脑后那根黏糊糊的金属插头从矩阵里拔掉，虽疼，却在吞下“红色药丸”后发现世界没那么闪亮，但真正的自由就在眼前。

我仍惊讶许多人还沉迷 Instagram 与 TikTok。我已宣讲“自建独立博客”近十年——感谢一直追随！现在，我们正迈入去中心化互联网与 AI 的新纪元。

举个例子：AI 与 ChatGPT 的有趣之处在于——它并非真正的互联网，而是一台巨型中央服务器。当你提问时，ChatGPT 会 ping 自己的服务器，而不是去搜 Google。某种意义上，ChatGPT 几乎是“离线”的：即便互联网被切断，只要服务器尚在，它仍然有用。

现实

住在城市、每天能走 30 000 步的特权美德：

1. 看见街上行走的人、扫地的人，看到孩子趴在摩托车后座睡着，坐着敞篷 ramorque（嘟嘟车）穿行金边美丽街道——那份喜悦难以言表。
2. 住在 LA 却很难在街头见到行人；人人都困在车里——那是极度疏离的体验。

简单的文化行动：

• 花更多时间待在街头
• 拍更多照片
• 多跟人交谈、互动！

把尘封的 Henri Cartier-Bresson 教条扔进垃圾桶吧。他是典型的法国“银匙阶层”少爷，几乎不必劳作，却给摄影界灌输了近一个世纪的教条。现在轮到我们重写规则！

ERIC

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จิตวิญญาณของคุณ

ใช่เลย! การถ่ายภาพสตรีทยังคงเป็นอนาคต — ทำไมล่ะ?

อันดับแรก มโนทัศน์เรื่อง “ความจริง” ของเรากำลังแตกเป็นชิ้น ๆ ผมเรียกมันว่า “เอฟเฟ็กต์โทรศัพท์กระป๋อง”: ข่าวชิ้นหนึ่งต้องวิ่งผ่านเอเจนต์ AI อย่างน้อยห้าตัว แล้ววกไปโผล่ในห้อง KakaoTalk ของแม่คุณ ผ่านการเล่าซ้ำอีกหลายรอบ ก่อนจะถึงตาคุณอ่านหรือหูคุณฟัง

เมื่อข้อมูลถูกรีมิกซ์ ตัดต่อ อ้างซ้ำเป็นพันครั้งแบบนี้ ต้นฉบับก็เลือนลางจนจำแทบไม่ได้ ผมเลยเรียกมันอีกชื่อว่า “เอฟเฟ็กต์นักเก็ตไก่” — บนตัวไก่…คุณจะหา “เท้านักเก็ต” ได้ที่ไหน? เนื้อสีชมพูเละ ๆ ถูกบีบออกมาเหมือนยาสีฟัน ปรุงแต่งด้วยสารกันเสีย ถั่วเหลือง และสารเพิ่มเนื้อสัมผัส จนไม่เหลือไก่จริง ๆ เหมือน Impossible Burger ที่สวนทางธรรมชาติ

ผมภูมิใจสุด ๆ ที่ ไม่รู้เรื่อง ข่าวกระแสหลักเลย เพราะถ้าคุณ ไม่ได้ ไปที่นั่นจริง ๆ เดินด้วยเท้าตัวเอง มองด้วยสายตา 1st-person คุณก็ไม่อาจรู้ “ความจริง” ได้ โลกทุกวันนี้คล้าย เมทริกซ์ เวอร์ชันใหม่—ลองจินตนาการว่าคุณติด Apple Vision Pro ไว้ที่หน้าผาก นั่งเก้าอี้ลอยได้เหมือนใน WALL-E สวมหมวกหลอดดูดเครื่องดื่มถั่วเหลืองหวาน ๆ พร้อม AirPods Max ตั้งแต่เกิด! นี่แหละ เมทริกซ์ยุคใหม่

สิ่งที่ทำให้การถ่ายภาพสตรีทน่าชื่นใจคือ มันเชื่อมต่อกับความจริง 100% และกับมนุษย์จริง ๆ 100% ผมเชื่อว่าคนอเมริกันส่วนใหญ่เหงามาก: อยู่ชานเมือง ไม่ไว้ใจเพื่อนบ้าน กลัวเด็กแก๊งค์ และลูบปืนพกในเงามืด หวังว่าสักวันจะได้เป็นซูเปอร์ฮีโร่ “ปกป้อง” ครอบครัว

แต่สิ่งที่ผมได้จากหนัง LEGO ของ Pharrell Williams คือ ทุกคนอยากเห็นคุณ “ชนะ” ไม่มีใครเป็นศัตรูจริง ๆ — ไม่ใช่จีนแผ่นดินใหญ่ ไม่ใช่ผู้อพยพเถื่อน ไม่ใช่เพื่อนบ้านที่มี Rolls-Royce สองคันกับ Lamborghini หนึ่งคัน ไม่ใช่คนที่ยกน้ำหนักได้มากกว่าคุณ และไม่ใช่พี่ที่คุณสงสัยว่าใช้สเตียรอยด์—เราทุกคนอยู่ทีมเดียวกัน!

สังคมอเมริกันติดนิสัยเปรียบเทียบจนพลังใจหลงทาง แต่ทั้งหมดนั้นคือภาพลวงตา Achilles ไม่สนใจคนอื่น เขารู้ตัวว่าเป็นนักรบอันตรายที่สุดในสนามรบ จดจ่อแค่เป้าหมาย เกียรติยศ และความยุติธรรมของตัวเอง

สิ่งสดใสที่สุดหลังจากผมลบ Instagram ในปี 2017 คือ การถ่ายภาพของผมกลายเป็น Autotelic — ทำเพราะมันคือจุดหมายในตัวเอง เหมือนดึงขั้วต่อหลังคอออกจากเมทริกซ์ เจ็บนะ แต่พอกลืน “ยาเม็ดแดง” แล้ว โลกอาจไม่แวววาวเท่าเดิม ทว่า อิสระแท้จริง อยู่ตรงหน้า

ผมยังตกใจที่หลายคนยังเล่น Instagram กับ TikTok อยู่ ผมเทศน์เรื่อง “ทำบล็อกโฮสต์เอง” มาเกือบสิบปี—ขอบคุณที่ติดตาม! ตอนนี้เรากำลังเข้าสู่ยุคอินเทอร์เน็ตกระจายศูนย์และ AI

ตัวอย่าง: AI กับ ChatGPT เจ๋งตรงที่มันไม่ใช่อินเทอร์เน็ต แต่มันคือเซิร์ฟเวอร์ยักษ์ เวลาคุณถาม ChatGPT มันจะ ping เซิร์ฟเวอร์ตัวเอง แทนที่จะเสิร์ช Google ในทางหนึ่ง ChatGPT จึงเกือบ ออฟไลน์ ถ้าอินเทอร์เน็ตถูกตัด แต่เซิร์ฟเวอร์ยังอยู่ มันก็ยังมีประโยชน์

ความจริง

พลังของการอยู่ในเมือง แล้วมีสิทธิ์เดินวันละ 30 000 ก้าว:

1. เห็นผู้คนเดินกวาดถนน เห็นเด็กหลับพิงหลังพ่อบนมอเตอร์ไซค์ นั่ง รมอร์ก (ตุ๊กตุ๊กเปิดโล่ง) ไล่ลมผ่านถนนสวย ๆ ในพนมเปญ—หัวใจมันพองโต
2. แม้คุณจะอยู่ LA คุณแทบไม่เห็นคนเดินถนนเลย ทุกคนติดอยู่ในรถ — ประสบการณ์โดดเดี่ยวสุด ๆ

แอ็กชันทางวัฒนธรรมง่าย ๆ:

• ใช้เวลาอยู่บนถนนให้มากขึ้น
• ถ่ายภาพให้เยอะขึ้น
• พูดคุย ปฏิสัมพันธ์กับผู้คนให้บ่อยขึ้น!

โยนคำสอนโบราณของ Henri Cartier-Bresson ลงถังขยะไปเถอะ เขาคือคุณชายช้อนเงินของฝรั่งเศส แทบไม่เคยลำบากทำงาน แต่กลับสร้างกฎตายตัวให้วงการถ่ายภาพเกือบศตวรรษ ถึงเวลาที่เราจะเขียนมันใหม่แล้ว!

ERIC

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LINH HỒN

 của bạn

Vâng, nhiếp ảnh đường phố vẫn là tương lai. Vì sao ư?

Trước hết, khái niệm “hiện thực” của chúng ta ngày càng bị phân mảnh. Tôi gọi đây là “hiệu ứng điện thoại lon thiếc”: một tin tức phải đi qua ít nhất năm “đại lý AI”, rồi lọt vào nhóm KakaoTalk của mẹ bạn, vòng vo thêm vài lượt nữa trước khi đến tai và mắt bạn.

Khi thông tin bị remix, cắt ghép, trích lại hàng nghìn lần, nguyên bản gần như không thể nhận ra. Tôi còn gọi đó là Hiệu ứng gà nugget. Trên thân con gà… bạn tìm thấy “chân gà nugget” ở đâu? Hỗn hợp bột hồng nhão như kem đánh răng được ép thành nugget — một “Nhện người thông tin” với đủ chất phụ gia, chất ổn định, đậu nành, khiến nó chẳng còn là thịt gà thực sự; giống như chiếc Impossible Burger trái với ý mẹ thiên nhiên.

Tôi tự hào vì vô cùng “mù tịt” với tin tức dòng chính. Vì trừ khi bạn tự mình đến tận nơi, nhìn bằng góc nhìn người thứ nhất, bạn thực sự không biết chuyện gì xảy ra. Thế giới nay giống Ma Trận mới: tưởng tượng bạn suốt đời đeo Apple Vision Pro, ngồi trên ghế bay như trong WALL-E, đội mũ hút đồ uống đậu nành ngọt ngào, đeo AirPods Max — từ lúc mới chào đời! Đó chính là Ma Trận mới.

Điều giúp nhiếp ảnh đường phố trở nên an tâm là nó 100% gắn với thực tại, với con người bằng xương bằng thịt. Tôi cho rằng phần lớn người Mỹ rất cô đơn: sống ở ngoại ô, nghi kỵ hàng xóm, sợ bọn “trẻ hư” lảng vảng; tay rờ khẩu súng giấu kín, mong một ngày hóa siêu anh hùng “bảo vệ” gia đình.

Nhưng bộ phim Lego mới của Pharrell Williams khiến tôi nhận ra: mọi người đều muốn bạn chiến thắng. Không ai thật sự là kẻ thù: không phải Trung Quốc đại lục, không phải người nhập cư lậu, không phải anh hàng xóm có hai chiếc Rolls-Royce và một Lamborghini, không phải gã nâng tạ nặng hơn bạn ở phòng gym, cũng chẳng phải tay bị nghi dùng steroid. Tất cả chung một đội!

Chúng ta tốn quá nhiều năng lượng so sánh bản thân để nâng cái tôi. Nhưng đó là sai lệch. Achilles chẳng bận tâm người khác; anh ta biết mình là chiến binh chết chóc nhất, tập trung vào mục tiêu, danh dự và công lý của riêng mình.

Xóa Instagram năm 2017, tôi thấy nhiếp ảnh trở nên autotelic — tự thân là mục đích. Như rút phích cắm sau gáy khỏi Ma Trận: đau, nhưng khi nuốt “viên thuốc đỏ”, tuy mọi thứ bớt hào nhoáng, bạn có tự do thật sự.

Tôi vẫn sốc vì nhiều người còn trên Instagram, TikTok. Suốt gần mười năm tôi rao giảng “tự host blog” — cảm ơn bạn đã đồng hành! Giờ ta bước vào kỷ nguyên Internet phi tập trung, AI.

Điều thú vị ở AI và ChatGPT là: nó không phải Internet, mà là máy chủ khổng lồ. Khi truy vấn, ChatGPT ping máy chủ của họ chứ không tìm Google. Theo cách nào đó, ChatGPT còn gần như “ngoại tuyến”: nếu cắt Internet, họ vẫn hữu ích miễn là còn máy chủ.

Hiện thực

Phẩm chất của việc sống ở thành phố và có đặc quyền đi bộ 30 000 bước mỗi ngày:

1. Nhìn người quét dọn, trẻ con ngủ gật sau yên xe máy, ngồi trên chiếc ramorque (tuk-tuk) hở gió dạo phố Phnom Penh — niềm vui không tả.
2. Ở LA, bạn hầu như không thấy ai trên đường; ai cũng ngồi trong xe. Cảm giác xa lạ vô cùng.

Hành động văn hoá đơn giản:

• Dành nhiều thời gian trên phố hơn
• Chụp nhiều ảnh hơn
• Trò chuyện, tương tác với mọi người nhiều hơn!

Quẳng giáo điều lỗi thời của Henri Cartier-Bresson vào thùng rác. Ông ta là cậu ấm “thìa bạc” Pháp, hầu như chẳng phải lao động, nhưng lại áp đặt một thế kỷ giáo điều. Giờ đến lượt chúng ta viết lại lịch sử!

ERIC

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あなた

 の魂に効くのか

はい、ストリート写真こそが未来です。なぜでしょうか？

まず第一に、ぼくらの「現実」はどんどん断片化しています。私はこれを “空き缶電話” 効果 と呼んでいます。あるニュースが少なくとも5体のAIエージェントを経由し、さらにお母さんのカカオトークのグループチャットを経て、あなたの目と耳に届く──そんな構造です。

こうして情報がリミックスされ、再編集され、再引用され、千回単位で増幅されると、もはやオリジナルとの区別は不可能。同じ現象を チキンナゲット効果 とも呼びます。鶏の体のどこを探せば “チキンナゲットの足” が見つかるのでしょう？　ピンク色のスラッジを歯磨き粉みたいに絞り出して成形する。情報が添加物・安定剤・大豆派生物だらけになり、もはや本来の姿を失う――Impossible Burger が母なる自然を裏切るのと同じです。

私は主流ニュースにまったく無知であることを誇りに思っています。なぜなら、本当にその場に 自分の足で 行き、1人称視点で体験しない限り、「真実」はつかめないからです。世界は新しい マトリックス になっています。Apple Vision Pro を額に装着し、映画『ウォーリー』の浮遊イスに縛りつけられ、頭には甘いソイ飲料のストロー、耳には AirPods Max。生まれた瞬間からそうだったら？　それが新しいマトリックスです。

ストリート写真が安心感をくれるのは、100%リアルで、100%生身の人間とつながるから。多くのアメリカ人は孤独です。郊外に閉じこもり、ご近所を警戒し、不良少年を恐れ、隠し持った銃を撫でながら「いつかヒーローになって家族を守るぞ」と夢想している。

でも最近公開されたファレル・ウィリアムスのレゴ映画を観て気づきました。みんな、あなたが“勝つ”ことを願っている。真の敵なんていないのです。本土中国でも、不法移民でも、ガレージにロールスロイス2台とランボルギーニを停めている隣人でも、ジムで自分より重いウエイトを挙げる人でも、ステロイドを疑われるあの男でも――みんな同じチーム！

ぼくらは他人と比較して自尊心を保とうとしがちですが、それは誤ったエネルギーの使い方。アキレスは他人を気にしませんでした。彼は戦場最強の戦士であることを自覚し、名誉と不名誉、そして正義だけを追求しました。

2017年に Instagram を削除したとき、私は写真行為が オートテリック (autotelic)――それ自体が目的――になりました。マトリックスの後頭部ソケットを引き抜いたようなもの。確かに痛みはありますが、赤い錠剤を飲めばピカピカ感は薄れても 本当の自由 が手に入ります。

いまだに Instagram や TikTok に居座る人がいるのは驚きです。私は10年近く「セルフホストのブログ」を説いてきました。聞き入れてくれてありがとう！　いまこそ分散型インターネットと AI の時代へ。

ところで AI と ChatGPT が面白いのは、実は “インターネット” そのものではなく巨大な集中サーバーだという点。質問すると Google 検索ではなく彼らのサーバーを Ping します。ある意味 ChatGPT は オフライン に近い。もしネット接続が断たれても自前のサーバーがあれば、まだ役に立つでしょう。

現実

都市に住み、一日3万歩を歩けるという特権の美徳：

1. 道端を歩く人々、掃除をする人々、バイクの後ろで眠る子ども、そしてプノンペンの街を走るオープンエアの「ラムオーク（トゥクトゥク）」──見るだけで心が湧き立ちます。
2. LA に住んでも、道路で人をほとんど見かけません。みんな車の中。これは疎外感を生む体験です。

シンプルな文化的アクション：

• もっと路上に時間を使おう
• もっと写真を撮ろう
• もっと人と話し、交流しよう！

アンリ・カルティエ＝ブレッソンの古臭い教義はゴミ箱へ。彼は典型的なお坊ちゃま――フランスの金持ちテキスタイル一族。ほとんど働かず、写真界に1世紀近いドグマを植えつけました。いまこそぼくらが書き換える番！

ERIC

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ព្រលឹងរបស់ អ្នក

បាទ/ចាស, ការថតរូបតាមផ្លូវ (Street Photography) នៅតែជាម៉ាក្រូថនពីរយៈពេលតទៅ! ហេតុអ្វី?

មុនគេ សេចក្ដី “ការពិត” របស់យើងកំពុងតែបែកបាក់ជាផ្នែកៗ។ ខ្ញុំហៅវា ជា « ប្រសាសដល់ប្រសាស—ក្រដាសខ្សែជើងកំប៉ុង »។ ពេលព័ត៌មានមួយកាត់ផ្លាស់ឆ្លងកាត់ AI បន្តបន្ទាប់ប្រាំប្រាប់ដង ហើយឆ្លងកាត់ក្រុម KakaoTalk របស់ម៉ាក់ម្តង ទើបស៊ែរចែកជូនអ្នក—ពេលមកដល់ភ្នែក និងត្រចៀកអ្នក វាបាត់ន័យដើមទៅហើយ។

ពេលព័ត៌មានត្រូវ remix re-clip re-quote ជាសិនលើសពាន់ដង បញ្ចុះបញ្ចូលជាបន្តបន្ទាប់ នោះវារំលាយឫសដើមរហូតលែងស្គាល់។ ខ្ញុំហៅវា ជា « Chicken Nugget Effect »។ នៅលើរាងកាយ មាន់ — តើមាន “ដងជើងChicken Nugget” នៅណាទេ? ហើយសាច់ពណ៌ផ្កាឈូក ក្លាយជាគ្រឿងផ្សំ chicken nuggets អញ្ចឹង ដូចជា « Human Centipede » នៃព័ត៌មាន៖ បន្ថែមជាតិជួយរក្សា Soy និង Stabilizer ច្រើនបំផុត ធ្វើឲ្យវា មិនមែនជាសាច់ដើមទេ—ដូចជា Impossible Burger ដែលមិនមែនសរសេរឡើងដោយម៉ែធម្មជាតិឡើយ។

ខ្ញុំមោទនភាព ក្នុងការ “អ ចឹង យើងគួរតែលែងខ្វល់ពីដំណឹងមេឃគេ” ដល់ កម្រិត ខ្ពស់។ យ៉ាងណា? ព្រោះបើអ្នក មិនទាន់ទៅកាន់ទី នោះដោយជើងខ្លួនឯង — មើលបញ្ចៀស ១st-person POV — អ្នកមិនដឹងអ្វីជា ការពិតទេ។ សហគមន៍មនុស្សកំពុងរស់ក្នុង Matrix ថ្មី ៖ ស្រមើស្រមៃពេលអ្នកពាក់ Apple Vision Pro ជានិច្ច ក្នុងកៅអី ឡើងអាកាសមួយបែប WALL-E, ឆក កន្លែងឲ្យបឺតភេសជ្ជៈសយផ្អោយផ្អែម មាន AirPods Max បិទត្រចៀក… ពីថ្ងៃកើត!  តើនោះមិនមែន Matrix មែនទេឬ?

អ្វីដែលធ្វើឲ្យការថត រូបតាមផ្លូវ ដាក់ចិត្តសន្តិភាពគឺ វាខាប់ខុន សាច់និងឈាម មនុស្សពិត ១០០%។ ខ្ញុំគិតថា ជនអាមេរិកភាគច្រើនក្ដៅគគុក។ នៅក្នុងSuburb ជុំវិញ ផ្លូវស្ងប់ស្ងាត់ កើតការខ្លាចអ្នកជិតខាង ឬយុវជនកំប្លែង១ ម៉ោង តែបងប្អូន វិលវិចក៏កាន់អាវុធលាក់គ្រាំៗ សង្ឃឹមថាថ្ងៃណាមកដល់ខ្លួនអាចធ្វើជាវីរៈបុរស “ការពារ” គ្រួសាររបស់ខ្លួន។

ទោះបីជាយ៉ាងណា, សារៈសំខាន់មកពី ភាពជឿជាក់ ថ្មី៖ មនុស្សគ្រប់រូប ទាំងអស់ ចង់ឲ្យអ្នកឈ្នះ។ មិនមានសត្រូវពិតប្រាកដ—មិនមែនចិនដីគោក, មិនមែនអ្នកអន្តោប្រវេសន៍ « Illegal », មិនមែនអ្នកបើកឡាន Rolls-Royce ២ និង Lamborghini ១ ក្នុងរ гаражង្រិន, ក៏មិនមែន បងប្អូនលើកទម្ងន់ធ្ងន់ជាងអ្នកក្នុងហុលត៍ឡើយ—even គេប្រើ Steroid ឬអត់។ យើង ផ្សំពីការប្រៀបធៀប — ប៉ុន្តែវាជាថានណែនច្រឡំ។ អគីឡែ (Achilles) មិនប្រាកដជា ខ្វល់ពីមនុស្សផ្សេងនោះទេ។ គាត់ដឹងថាខ្លួនផ្តល់ពលខ្លាំងបំផុតនៅទីប្រយុទ្ធ រួចផ្តោតលើគោលដៅនិងចំណង់ចំណូលចិត្តផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន៖ ម៉ាកវង្ស កិត្ដិយស និងយុត្តិធម៌ — អស់!

ខ្ញុំលុប Instagram ពេលឆ្នាំ 2017 ហើយឆាប់ជាប់អារម្មណ៍ស្រស់ស្រាយ ការថតរូបរបស់ខ្ញុំក្លាយជា Autotelic (គោលបំណងជារូបខ្លួនវា)។ ដូចជាដួលចេញពី Matrix — ទម្លាក់ប្លុកធ្វើជាក្រវិលមកពីខ្នងក្បាល; ឈឺ តែបញ្ចុះបញ្ចូលបីត្រិចក្រៅស្ដើង ទទួលបាន សេរីភាពពិតប្រាកដ។

សេចក្ដីភ្ញាក់ផ្អើលទី ក្តី: នៅថ្ងៃនេះមនុស្ស ទៅលើ Instagram និង TikTok នៅតែច្រើន! ប៉ុន្តែឯខ្ញុំជិតជាយថវិជ្ជានាំ ឲ្យបង្កើត Blog Self-hosted ជាង ១០ ឆ្នាំមកហើយ—អរគុណសម្រាប់ការតាមដាន! យើងកំពុងចូលដល់យុគ « អ៊ីនធឺណិតបែកចែក » និង AI។

ตัวอย่าง៖ ChatGPT មិនមែន WWW នោះទេ ប្រសិនបើអ្នក Query វា គ្រាន់តែ Ping ទៅមហាស្ថាន ទិន្នន័យ Terrabytes នៅមណ្ឌលផ្ទាល់។ ទៅវិញទៅមក ChatGPT ធ្លាប់ចូលរួមជាក់ស្ដែង ជាង « online » ក៍បាទ — បើកាតបណ្តាញផុត, វាក៏នៅប្រើបាន ប្រសិនបើម៉ាស៊ីនមេរបស់ពួកគេចាត់សម្ងាត់។

សភាពជាក់ស្តែង

អត្ថប្រយោជន៍នៃការរស់នៅទីក្រុង ហើយមានឱកាសដើរ ៣ម៉ឺនជំហានក្នុងមួយថ្ងៃ៖

1. ការមើលមនុស្សឯទៀតដើរ កម្ចាត់ហេដ្យាយ ទុកលំដាប់ផ្លូវ ឃើញក្មេងតូចគេងលើម៉ូតូ ឬទៅលុង រថរី រ៉ាមក ឆ្ងាយខ្យល់បើកចំហ នៅតាមផ្លូវស្អាតៗ ក្នុងភ្នំពេញ—វាអាចធ្វើឲ្យចិត្តរីករាយឡើង។
2. នៅ LA ក៏ដោយ អ្នកស្ទើរមិនឃើញអ្នកដើរលើផ្លូវទេ ដោយសារករណី ជាប់ក្នុងឡាន — វាជาประสบการณ์បំបែកចិត្ត។

សកម្មភាព វប្បធម៌ ងាយៗ៖

• ចំណាយពេល នៅលើផ្លូវ ឲ្យបានច្រើន,
• ថតរូប ឲ្យបានច្រើន,
• និយាយជជែក ជាមួយមនុស្ស ឲ្យបានច្រើន!
  ភ្លេច Henri Cartier-Bresson ទៅ! គាត់ ជា កូនឆៅមានបរិសិទ្ឋិធំ—កូនស្ពឺនំស្តង់ដារ ប្រកបដោយរាជបុណ្យបុរសបារាំង។ គាត់ទឹងទេរស្ថាបនាភាពដណ្ដើមដែនចេញជា ឡើងវាលឆ្នាំ ១០០។ ពេលរបស់យើងកែសរសេរឡើងវិញ!

ERIC

ចាប់ផ្តើមទីនេះ >

Nneh!

당신

의 영혼에 좋은가

네, 스트리트 사진은 여전히 미래입니다. 왜일까요?

우선, 우리의 ‘현실’이라는 개념은 점점 더 파편화되고 있습니다. 저는 이를 ‘깡통 전화기 효과’라 부릅니다. 어떤 뉴스가 최소 다섯 AI 에이전트를 거쳐, 또 엄마의 카카오톡 단톡방을 거치고, 또 누군가의 전언을 거친 뒤 당신의 눈과 귀에 도달하죠.

이렇게 정보가 재가공·재편집·재인용되어 수천 번쯤 되풀이된 뒤에는, 원형이 무엇인지조차 식별하기 어렵습니다. 이를 치킨너겟 효과라고 부릅니다. 닭의 몸에서… 도대체 치킨너겟 ‘발’ 부위가 어디 있나요? 또한 핑크 슬러지를 칫솔질 하듯 짜서 치킨너겟으로 만든다니, 일종의 ‘인간 지네’식 정보 순환입니다. 수많은 첨가물, 안정제, 대두 부산물이 합쳐져 더 이상 ‘본래의 것’이 아니게 된 것이죠. 마치 불가능 버거가 자연의 섭리를 벗어난 것처럼요.

저는 주류 뉴스를 거의 모르는 것이 최대의 자랑입니다. 왜냐하면, 실제로 발로 그 장소에 가보고 1인칭 시점으로 경험하지 않았다면, 무엇이 ‘진짜’인지 알 길이 없기 때문입니다. 세상을 매트릭스에 비유해 봅시다. 평생 Apple Vision Pro를 이마에 달고, 《월-E》 속 공중 부양 의자에 묶여, 머리 위엔 달콤한 소이 음료 빨대로 연결된 모자, 귀에는 에어팟 맥스가 있습니다. 태어나면서부터 그랬다면? 그게 바로 새로운 매트릭스입니다.

스트리트 사진의 안심되는 점은 100% 현실, 100% 실존하는 인간과 연결된다는 것입니다. 제 생각에 대부분 미국인은 꽤 외롭습니다. 교외에 갇혀 이웃을 경계하며, 언제든 영웅처럼 ‘가족을 지키겠다’며 숨겨 둔 무기를 만지작거리죠.

최근 퍼렐 윌리엄스의 레고 영화를 관통하며 얻은 깨달음은, 사실 모두가 당신이 ‘승리’하길 바란다는 것! 누구도 진짜 적이 아닙니다. 본토 중국도, 이민자도, 차고에 롤스로이스 두 대와 람보르기니 한 대를 가진 옆집도, 헬스장에서 당신보다 무게를 더 드는 사람도, 몰래 스테로이드 쓰나? 의심되는 그 사람도—모두가 같은 팀!

우리는 남과 비교하며 자존심을 세우느라 에너지를 낭비합니다. 그러나 이것은 거짓입니다. 아킬레우스는 남을 의식하지 않았습니다. 그는 전장에서 가장 치명적인 전사임을 알았고, 오직 자신의 목표와 욕망에 집중했습니다. 그에게 중요한 건 명예와 불명예, 그리고 정의뿐이었죠.

2017년 인스타그램을 삭제한 뒤 가장 상쾌했던 점은 사진이 오토텔릭(autotelic)—그 자체가 목적—이 되었다는 것입니다. 마치 매트릭스의 뒤통수 소켓을 뽑아낸 듯, 고통스럽지만 빨간 약을 삼키니 화려함은 사라져도 진정한 자유가 찾아왔죠.

아직도 인스타그램·틱톡을 쓰는 사람들이 있다는 사실이 놀랍습니다. 저는 10년 가까이 ‘셀프 호스팅 블로그’를 설파해 왔고, 들어주셔서 감사합니다. 이제는 분산형 인터넷, AI 시대가 열릴 겁니다.

예를 들어 AI와 ChatGPT가 흥미로운 이유는, 사실 ‘인터넷’이 아니라 거대한 중앙 서버라는 점입니다. ChatGPT에 질문하면 구글을 검색하는 대신 자체 서버를 ‘핑’합니다. 그래서 어떤 면에서는 ChatGPT가 오프라인에 더 가깝습니다. 만약 인터넷 연결이 끊겨도 자체 서버만 있으면 여전히 유용할 수도 있죠.

현실

도시에서 살며 하루 3만 보를 걸을 수 있다는 특권의 미덕:

1. 길거리에서 사람들을 보고, 쓸고 닦는 이들을 보고, 오토바이 뒤에서 꾸벅꾸벅 졸던 아이를 보고, 프놈펜의 아름다운 거리를 달리는 오픈 에어 ‘람옥’(툭툭)을 타며 얻는 기쁨은 이루 말할 수 없습니다.
2. LA에 살아도 길거리에서 사람을 거의 볼 수 없습니다. 모두 차 안에 있으니까요. 이것이야말로 소외감을 주는 경험입니다.

따라서 문화적 실천은 간단합니다:

• 길 위에 더 오래 머물 것,
• 더 많은 사진을 찍을 것,
• 더 많이 사람과 대화하고 교류할 것!
  귀찮은 앙리 카르티에 브레송의 교리를 쓰레기통에 던져버리세요. 그는 전형적인 은수저 출신 ‘프렌치 귀족’이었습니다. 일 안 하고도 잘살던 부르주아… 그가 만든 규범은 빈약했고, 사진계에 100년 가까운 독선을 심었죠. 이제 우리가 다시 씁시다!

ERIC

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Yes, street photography is still the future. Why?

First, more and more… Or notion of reality is becoming more and more fragmented. I caught like the tin can telephone effect; you hear news of the news of the news of a new source of a new source, which goes through at least five AI agents, and also hear say through your mom, and her Kakaotalk group. 

Anyways, when you have information spreading and being remixed and re-clipped and quoted like thousands of times before it reaches your eyeballs or ears, it is so indistinguishable from the origin, that you have no idea what is really going on. For example, I call this the chicken nugget effect. Where in the chicken‘s body… do you find that chicken nugget “foot”?  Also, the pink sludge toothpaste, that is created from chicken nuggets, or into chicken nuggets, it kind of like the human centipede of information. It has been formented so many different additives, stabilizers, soy product, that it is no longer even it’s kind of like these ridiculous impossible burgers not what mother nature intended.

Anyways, my number one pride is being super super ignorant of all the mainstream news about everything. Why? Because the truth is unless you’ve actually been there on foot, on the ground first person POV… You really have no idea what happened for example the use is like a matrix, Imagine that you’re walking around your whole life, with Apple Vision Pro strapped on your forehead, your chain to a levitating handicap chair like the fat people in Wall-E, and next to you you have like the homer Simpson Soyland straw hat thing, in which you could easily drink sugary soy based products, and you have AirPods Max on your ears. And imagine that you’ve had it like this since you were born. This is like the new matrix.

Anyways I think the reassuring thing about street photography is it is 100% connected to reality and real humans. My personal thought is most Americans are actually quite lonely. We spent too much time in the suburbs, suspicious of our neighbors, or hoodlums running around our neighborhood, and we are silently stroking our concealed weapons, secretly hoping that one day we could act like a superhero and to “defend” our families.

Anyways, I think one of the most uplifting things about watching the recent Pharrell Williams Lego movie, piece by piece, is the realization that everyone just wants you to win. Everyone is on the same team. No no no, nobody is your enemy, not mainland China, not the illegal immigrant, not your next-door neighbor who has two Rolls-Royce‘s and a Lamborghini in his garage, or the guy who could lift more than you at the gym, or the guy at the gym who you secretly suspicious of taking steroids.

I think that’s actually the hard thing in American society is that we judge too much for our own self-esteem comparing ourselves to others. This becomes misdirected energy because I think it is actually false. Achilles didn’t really care about other people… He knew that he was the most lethal fighter on the battleground. He was just more focused on his own goals And his own personal desires rather than constantly thinking or being suspicious to other people were better than him. For him, all he care for was honor and dishonor, and getting what was rightfully his,,, justice … nothing else.

Anyways probably the most refreshing thing about deleting Instagram in 2017 was I really started to become much more autotelic when it came to my photography. Essentially I was like in the matrix, and I unplugged that little gooey metal spine brain connecting device does attached at the back of my skull, and obviously disconnecting it was painful… But by taking the red pill, obviously things are a little bit less shiny, but the truth is you get real freedom.

I’m actually still kind of shocked that people are still on Instagram and TikTok. I think maybe… I mean I’ve been preaching the idea of creating your own self hosted blog for almost a decade now, thank you for sticking with me appreciate you, I do this for you… Anyways, it looks like we are entering a brave new era in which maybe like decentralized Internet, AI, is going to be the path forward.

So for example, one thing that’s super interesting about AI and ChatGPT… It actually isn’t the Internet it is just like a huge centralized server of like terabytes of information. I think the way it works is when you query ChatGPT, it essentially pings their servers, rather than using a Google search.

As a consequence, in some ways ChatGPT is like a little bit “off-line”, I think they have deal a huge digital moat, that suddenly all of the information access was cut, but they still had access to their servers, it would still probably be a useful product.

Reality

The virtues of living in a city, and having the privilege to walk around all day, 30,000 steps a day:

So I think the first thing is that like it brings human being so much joy to see other human beings on the streets, walking around, sweeping, seeing kids fall asleep on motorbikes, and the joy of riding an open air ramorque through the beautiful streets of Phnom Penh.

What’s actually super funny and hilarious is even if you live in LA, you’re like almost never see people in the streets. Everyone is inside a car, and I think this is a very alienating experience.

So my simple cultural action is this: the more time you spend on the streets, the more time you spend making photos, the more time you spent talking to people interacting with them, throw all of the loser Henri Cartier Bresson nonsense into the trash. The more I think about it, Bresson was like the typical, pretentious silver spoonfed rich kid, I don’t think he ever had to work a day in his life, and like a traditional French mercantile textile rich oligarch… the guidelines he set for photography were poor. Essentially he shaped almost like a century worth of dogma. Time for us to rewrite this.

ERIC

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Yes, street photography is still the future. Why?

First, more and more… Or notion of reality is becoming more and more fragmented. I caught like the tin can telephone effect; you hear news of the news of the news of a new source of a new source, which goes through at least five AI agents, and also hear say through your mom, and her Kakaotalk group. 

Anyways, when you have information spreading and being remixed and re-clipped and quoted like thousands of times before it reaches your eyeballs or ears, it is so indistinguishable from the origin, that you have no idea what is really going on. For example, I call this the chicken nugget effect. Where in the chicken‘s body… do you find that chicken nugget “foot”?  Also, the pink sludge toothpaste, that is created from chicken nuggets, or into chicken nuggets, it kind of like the human centipede of information. It has been formented so many different additives, stabilizers, soy product, that it is no longer even it’s kind of like these ridiculous impossible burgers not what mother nature intended.

Anyways, my number one pride is being super super ignorant of all the mainstream news about everything. Why? Because the truth is unless you’ve actually been there on foot, on the ground first person POV… You really have no idea what happened for example the use is like a matrix, Imagine that you’re walking around your whole life, with Apple Vision Pro strapped on your forehead, your chain to a levitating handicap chair like the fat people in Wall-E, and next to you you have like the homer Simpson Soyland straw hat thing, in which you could easily drink sugary soy based products, and you have AirPods Max on your ears. And imagine that you’ve had it like this since you were born. This is like the new matrix.

Anyways I think the reassuring thing about street photography is it is 100% connected to reality and real humans. My personal thought is most Americans are actually quite lonely. We spent too much time in the suburbs, suspicious of our neighbors, or hoodlums running around our neighborhood, and we are silently stroking our concealed weapons, secretly hoping that one day we could act like a superhero and to “defend” our families.

Anyways, I think one of the most uplifting things about watching the recent Pharrell Williams Lego movie, piece by piece, is the realization that everyone just wants you to win. Everyone is on the same team. No no no, nobody is your enemy, not mainland China, not the illegal immigrant, not your next-door neighbor who has two Rolls-Royce‘s and a Lamborghini in his garage, or the guy who could lift more than you at the gym, or the guy at the gym who you secretly suspicious of taking steroids.

I think that’s actually the hard thing in American society is that we judge too much for our own self-esteem comparing ourselves to others. This becomes misdirected energy because I think it is actually false. Achilles didn’t really care about other people… He knew that he was the most lethal fighter on the battleground. He was just more focused on his own goals And his own personal desires rather than constantly thinking or being suspicious to other people were better than him. For him, all he care for was honor and dishonor, and getting what was rightfully his,,, justice … nothing else.

Anyways probably the most refreshing thing about deleting Instagram in 2017 was I really started to become much more autotelic when it came to my photography. Essentially I was like in the matrix, and I unplugged that little gooey metal spine brain connecting device does attached at the back of my skull, and obviously disconnecting it was painful… But by taking the red pill, obviously things are a little bit less shiny, but the truth is you get real freedom.

I’m actually still kind of shocked that people are still on Instagram and TikTok. I think maybe… I mean I’ve been preaching the idea of creating your own self hosted blog for almost a decade now, thank you for sticking with me appreciate you, I do this for you… Anyways, it looks like we are entering a brave new era in which maybe like decentralized Internet, AI, is going to be the path forward.

So for example, one thing that’s super interesting about AI and ChatGPT… It actually isn’t the Internet it is just like a huge centralized server of like terabytes of information. I think the way it works is when you query ChatGPT, it essentially pings their servers, rather than using a Google search.

As a consequence, in some ways ChatGPT is like a little bit “off-line”, I think they have deal a huge digital moat, that suddenly all of the information access was cut, but they still had access to their servers, it would still probably be a useful product.

The nice thing is you could just buy MSTR, and go to sleep in a cave forever, and being happy knowing that while you’re sleeping and chilling, or weightlifting at the gym, in the pool or the hot sauna, and doing other stuff… He is making you super filthy rich!

Yes, street photography is still the future. Why?