Eric Kim and a disconnect?

To me he seems like an ok guy. However, he is massively over promoting himself. I would never pay to go to one of his workshops in a million years because I have not seen any photos of his which I would consider particularly good and I dont the the approach of getting in people's faces to get a reaction... which is the essence of what he teaches. it seems if you've got the motivation, the courage and the ego then you can become a self professed guru in any subject. I might start a blog on carpentry tonight and make $200,000k per year.
 
emraphoto said:
So here's a question/disconnect for me...

It seems that the popular posit in is to dislike Eric Kim with varying degrees of intensity. Now I haven't met him in person nor have I taken a workshop but personally he seems like a pretty damn good photographer AND as far as the 'hustle' goes he is knocking it out of the park. By 'hustle' I mean all the things one must do to make a living producing photographs... self promotion, sales, revenue generation and so forth.

So what's the deal? He puts out good photographs as far as I can see (although I am not a big fan of 'street' photography) and his writing/articles/self promotion is usually sound.

Why the hate?
Click to expand...

Hi John

I think part of it is, The negative voices are always loudest.

Early on in his "stardom" he was not really a very good photographer but rather an average photographer and very good mouthpiece ... which is arguably a more challenging art.
He had his workshops and videos but the work was not there yet..... that seems to have built some lasting resentment.
It's difficult to objectively carry those feelings over now. His work has come way up and as you mention.... the man has great biz "hustle" which demands respect.
There is always a level of the old resisting the new as well....When he started he was a really young cat. He's still pretty young for the success he has achieved.
For me this deserves a lot of props. From some others it deserves vitriol and resentment.
Again, The negative voices are always loudest.
 
I don't know him very well, only watched some of his videos. I found them a bit too cringy for my taste. Ugh. *Shivers*.

So I don't watch him anymore.
 
DominikDUK said:
Often Envy, many succesful photographers are disliked Annie Leibovitz is another one
Click to expand...

I think much of the dislike for Leibovitz, within the working photo world, is because of her extremely harsh treatment of her employees. The stories are so numerous that, I saw her asked about it in a TV interview, and to my surprise, she admitted to going over the line numerous times (raving, screaming angry in a story told by a former 1st assistant, as a result her whole staff walked out on her). I'm wondering how many times she's been sued by former employees?

As for Kim, I don't really know much about him.
 
f16sunshine said:
Hi John

I think part of it is, The negative voices are always loudest.

Early on in his "stardom" he was not really a very good photographer but rather an average photographer and very good mouthpiece ... which is arguably a more challenging art.
He had his workshops and videos but the work was not there yet..... that seems to have built some lasting resentment.
It's difficult to objectively carry those feelings over now. His work has come way up and as you mention.... the man has great biz "hustle" which demands respect.
There is always a level of the old resisting the new as well....When he started he was a really young cat. He's still pretty young for the success he has achieved.
For me this deserves a lot of props. From some others it deserves vitriol and resentment.
Again, The negative voices are always loudest.
Click to expand...


As photojournalism continues its never ending plunge to the waste bin a lot of folks are working hard at how to make it all work... the 'hustle' as you pointed out. For that reason alone I find the Eric Kim story very interesting. Not that I would copy the model but for students and newcomers there is a lot to be learnt from his approach. It would seem he isn't doing things too far off from some of the famous names that get tossed about here.

In the beginning I wasn't a big fan of the work he put out. I'm still not enthralled with the 'proximity vector' that seems to win praise in this circle. As I come across his work now, recent work, it seems he has developed a pretty sound understanding of 2 dimensional design theory. I think he has come a long way towards being a great photographer.

So, I get the oversaturation argument. If you've seen enough of the guy then you've seen enough. When I read the comments though, on his articles about the net, I can't help but feel envy has gotten the best of some folks.
 
I miss Kai and Lok from digitalrev.

I couldn't care less about camera reviews, but I do like to be entertained.
 
Linking this article here. He set out to make a living with what he likes, and seems to be quite well. How many so-called street photographers can truly make a living like this?
 
I watch his stuff from time to time .
He can be entertaining, although a little silly for my taste ,but he`s informative enough and I`m pleased that he`s able to make a living.
 
mlu19 said:
Linking this article here. He set out to make a living with what he likes, and seems to be quite well. How many so-called street photographers can truly make a living like this?
Click to expand...


If you are street photographer who is known for street photography and not for seminars on street photography, it means, you spend a lot of time on the street. Not on money making seminars.

Winogrand "I'm surviving". Even he has to teach. To have some money...


I think, street photography seminar by Eric brings more than street photography. And this is why it is worth of paying. Many street photographers, but only few good instructors on street photography who like Eric understands what where are lot more involved on human nature at both sides (taker and taken), much more comparing to flowers, veggie photography.
 
mlu19 said:
Linking this article here. He set out to make a living with what he likes, and seems to be quite well. How many so-called street photographers can truly make a living like this?
Click to expand...

Indeed. Perhaps this post is even my point. The fellow seems to be doing all right. I think his recent work is pretty good, all things considered.

The conversation came up as I was sitting in a cafe listening to some curmudgeonly photographers go on about him in a very negative fashion. To shorten a long and boring conversation, 'fraud' will suffice. Therein lies the disconnect for me. The guy is producing and showing work, running workshops and travelling the world doing this photography thing. What's fraudulent about that?
 
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