ERIC KIM

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Motivational Photo Thoughts

How you can become the best photographer:

Optimal, optimus means “the best”. I like the American idea —

Be all you can be.

In photography,

Become the best photographer you can become.

In my vlog on becoming a photographer, my belief:

Your life task goal is to become the best photographer you can possibly become.

This is done independently of others. Their opinions, metrics, likes comments follows, etc.

Comparison is the death of creativity and motivation in photography and life. By comparing yourself, your kids, your art, photos etc with others you are saying and doing:

In order to judge the worth of this, I must benchmark it against something else external of my control.

For photography, why judge it against anyone else?

For example, it seems most photographers judge their worth in respect to Henri Cartier-Bresson. All the Magnum photographers have thus far lived in the shadow of grandfather Henri Cartier-Bresson.

However, the reason why this is such a bad approach is that even Henri Cartier-Bresson himself give up photography. Why? My theory is that he had hidden penis envy of his other painter artist friends; he secretly wanted to be a painter, not a photographer. Ultimately, he even deemed photography as not a “legit“ art form, that photography was simply a precursor to drawing and painting. Therefore, in order to advance, we must kill our masters.

Also, the reason why I think it is so bad to find inspiration from any other artist, either dead or living is this:

Besides perhaps Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, all artists of the past or present seem to have low self-confidence.

For example, I believe the artists during the renaissance didn’t even see themselves as “artists”. They simply did what they felt they must do.

For example, painting seem to have been more of a side hobby for Leonardo Vinci than anything. He seem to be more interested in human anatomy and physiology, mechanics, engineering, etc. He was a fully formed man.

Even Michelangelo; he seem to be driven by extremes. Note the Sistine chapel, and his great sculpture.

Perhaps in order to advance, you shouldn’t classify yourself as anything. Maybe not even a visual artist.

Why? When you classify yourself, you chain

How I Hype Myself Up

What is one of the most important skills in life? I believe it to be the ability to hype yourself up. A primal technique, to awaken the maximum amount of physiological power in your body. 

Something I have realized about modern day life; we are not allowed to be loud. Yet the funny irony is that we are allowed to have loud cars, loud close, and loud possessions. However, we ourselves are not allowed to be loud auditorily.

For example, proper and bland folks tend to disdain a lot of rowdy young lower class kids for being “too loud”. 

Why is ambition seen as a vice? Why not the greatest virtue?

In Roman times, ambition was seen as device because ambition literally meant to go around, asking for votes and favors. ”Ambio” — ambi (around) and eo (go).

The reason why philosophers frowned on the ancient Roman notion of ambition is that it inferred that in order to gain office, you had to go around asking people for favors, or asking people to vote for you. Very much like the modern politician.

In America, ambition is actually seen as one of the highest values. To be ambitious to become great is considered an apex value. To desire more, to become more, and to become greater.

This is where things get tricky; what do you want to be ambitious for, and towards?

For example, I have a personal motivation and ambition to become stronger, both physiologically, and mentally. My ambition is to keep becoming stronger, and to lift ever greater weights.

This type of ambition is totally harmless, as lifting weights in the gym, and being loud hurts nobody. Yet, maybe the reason why ambition also gets a bad name is that some assume it has a zero sum calculus; that in order for you to gain, it must be at the negative expense of somebody else.

For example, I made waves when I first announced that all my photos would be open source, and that all full resolution versions of my photos could be easily downloadable online. This created quite the ruckus, as other people felt that because I know set a new precedent, other people had to do as I did. And that somehow, I mean making my photos open source, that they themselves will no longer be able to sell their own photos for a profit.

But this is where people are silly; what I do has no effect on you. Similarly speaking, when it comes to economics, it is not zero-sum. Money is an infinite human concept, and it is ever growing. For example, really rich people own more than one thing, and keep buying things. And this is where brands and companies need to realize, just because I buy a pair of Yeezy sneakers doesn’t mean I won’t buy a new pair of Balenciaga sneakers. In fact, I might want both.

Or similarly speaking, instead of purchasing only a Rolls-Royce, or only a Bentley, I might want both. And also a Maybach.

Also, when it comes to photography workshops, it is not zero-sum. Just because somebody attends my workshop, it doesn’t mean that they will not attend your workshop in the future. I like the idea that we can all gain together.

The interesting thing about being in Asia is that because it is so easy to get a Sim card, and not be held to a stupid monthly phone plan, most people own several phones. At least two phones; an android and an iPhone. Even one of my very successful friends from Vietnam (Chu Viet Ha has about five or six phones.

Therefore, if Google and Samsung want to sell more phones, rather than trying to get people to switch over from an iPhone, they should rather market it and brand it in such a way that you want to get a Google pixel in addition to your iPhone.

For example, the upside of the Google pixel when you get a Google one plan is that you can use a VPN. Therefore, for secure financial transfers, cryptocurrency wallet, and Google authentication, best to own a Google Pixel. However for every day use, best to have an iPhone.

My great pleasure being here in Cambodia (PHNOM PENH). It seems that my hype energy, and physiological energy has (finally) returned to me, since the 2017 Vietnam days.

How do I know when my energy is at a high? Simple — when I feel compelled to make music!

Music is interesting, because when you make music, you impute your soul-energy into it! Just made this beat right now:

SENECA v18mp3

Only pursue things in life which you insanely care for:

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The secret to extracting the most out of life:

TIME LEVERAGE:

Your time in life is limited. Therefore, it seems in order to get the maximum out of existence, the goal is to best leverage your time, as wisely as possible.

For example, as much as I love going to the gym, it still seems the wisest mode of action it’s only go once a week, and just attempt my maximum lift, once a week. Then, all the other spare time I can have is to leverage my more unique abilities — the time to go through my photos, the opportunity to write, publish, share, vlog, etc.

Therefore, I don’t think we should be thinking about “being time efficient“, or even being “effective“. Time leverage is a more useful concept.

Even having technology with faster processors, which allows us to do more and less time. This is simply time leverage. Or being able to Uber everywhere instead of having to drive yourself, find parking, waste time, etc.

Therefore, it seems that the wisest and the best entrepreneur is he who is best able to leverage his or her time, the most intelligently.

Why travel? Towards what ends?

For me, I prefer to travel and be on the road. Why? The irony —

Things are LESS certain and normal.

For me, this awakens my inner-genius. I innovate and do things new.

For example, wanting to workout. I found a local gym here in Phnom Penh and the entry was only $3USD for a day pass! And, the weights were not like back home — it required me to jump quicker than I usually do. For example, instead of increments of 25-pounds and 45-pounds, I just went straight up plate by plate (20kg plates). This is the road for me to (finally) deadlift my dream — 5 plates!

Once again, if I were back home, my technique is limited via the same old way I typically do things. Traveling, being on the road, or being abroad (foreign, non-home) gives you the opportunity (through necessity) to innovate.

Something else I learned:

Life in America is boring.

Life abroad in places like Asia are far more fascinating, dynamic, and fun!

For example in America, you’re essentially trapped in a car all day, or stuck in suburban archipelagos. Even SF or NYC — you’re stuck in the subway, an Uber, etc.

Asia, like being here in Phnom Penh — so much more fun and dynamic! The people are more open, friendly, curious and engaging. Americans tend too shy, or often stand-offish.

If I had the option, I’d prefer to live long-term in Phnom Penh Cambodia over anywhere in the states.

For me, my personal interest:

To live a maximally fun, dynamic, and interesting life.

Also to maximize my ability for turbo thoughts.

Being abroad allows me to do this.

For example, being able to firsthandedly witness the Chinese influence here is very interesting from a global capitalism perspective. And it isn’t scary — my thoughts:

Globalism isn’t going to be about war, it will just be all about wealth-accumulation and capital-accumulation of all rich oligarchs and individuals.

No way I could have had this thought if I were back stateside.

And another thing:

You must witness it first handedly.

Even the closest thing I can personally do to share my experiences is a GoPro ultra wide lens, but to witness it first hand — your mind will be blown. Mine was.

Phnom Penh Travel vlogs — never boring.

Close minded vs open minded. Which do you prefer?

I prefer being open minded.

Why be open minded? You make your mind more powerful. To close your mind actually limits you in a bad way.

Assuming we want to become wiser, more intelligent, and more powerful, opening your mind is the way.

By traveling and experiencing new places can only open your mind.

It seems the new millennial thing is the whole “digital nomad” thing. But after COVID, this dream has died down a bit.

However, for me, the ideal I have is having the ability to live freely. To not be restricted. Not bei

Life update from Phnom Penh >>

For myself, I personally desire to use photography as a form of leverage to change and move the world.

The world-weary say--

To attempt to change the world and move the world is vain.

I say --

Even if your photos can change the heart or soul of 1 other human being on planet earth, it is all worth it.

As I said prior in my 'photography leverage' post, I believe that your #1 strength (photography) can indeed change and shift the world.

Why? Photos are a universal language. It don't matter if you speak Korean, Khmer, Vietnamese, Spanish, English, etc -- everyone can look at a photo and understand it. Even Seneca looks at books of photos with kids and can imitate and mimic the expressions of the kids in the photos.

Still in today's hyper-modern world, I don't know if people truly understand the power of photography.

Consider photography -- the uber-immediate visual impact you get from photos. Also, imputing your soul into your photos. Whenever anyone looks at a photo by you, they can see you.

Also with photography, it is a form of proof. Shooting photos or videos (videos are just moving photos), you have better 'proof' of your existence, what you do, etc.

My funny heuristic:

If someone calls themselves an 'influencer', they are not influential.

But what does it mean to be 'influential'? I think a more interesting idea:

Influential means things that flows out of you (flex).

Thus as a photographer, if images flow out of you, you are an 'influential' photographer. Once again, our rule:

If we publish one photo, or one thing, which even has a .00001% chance of influencing another human being on planet earth (out of 7+ billion), it is worth it.

What drives me and what drives you?

For me, I believe it is a hunger for adventure. Even photography is just a shortcut for adventure.

Currently here in Phnom Penh Cambodia, and I love it! It is like a low-key Hanoi-- with lots of 'up and coming' developments, and the economy is on the up and up. To be able to witness these things firsthand, make photos is one of the greatest joys of existence.

As much as we may sometimes bemoan existence and the scars of our past, I believe --

I am (very) glad I was born.

Why? The joy of existence is being able to explore the world, have kids, make art, and also having the ability to impact and influence the lives of others.

For example the power of a blog, or an email newsletter. Being able to reach thousands of folks from all around the globe. I have started to realize more and more, the best way to maximize your reach as a photographer isn't through social media, or even YouTube -- it is through your own blog, your own podcast, your own email newsletter. The trifecta.

Something else I believe in:

Don't just pigeon-hole yourself into photography-- share it all.

The secret to self motivation in photography