Just keep it simple and fast paced.

Don’t let your archive pile up and become a degenerate photographer.

Make selections, edit in the photos app built into the iPad with speed, back everything up to google photos, and move onto the next one. We should become efficient with our practice both on the streets and off. By making daily selections and staying on top of your archive, you will save yourself a headache further down the line.

By trying to be different, or an individual, you actually just wind up following trends.

We must remember that photography is both a physical pleasure and a visual game. This means, increasing our power and focusing on the human body is critical to reach your fullest potential.

Why?

I believe weightlifting is critical to becoming a better photographer. You may wonder how these things correlate and why I believe this? Honestly it’s simple and related to the kaizen Japanese philosophy.

The word “Kaizen” is derived from Japanese. It is composed of two characters: “改” (kai) meaning “change” or “to correct,” and “善” (zen) meaning “good” or “for the better.” Thus, Kaizen translates to “change for the better” or “improvement.” This concept is widely used in business and manufacturing contexts to denote continuous improvement involving everyone from executives to workers.

Essentially, in order to improve your photography for the better, you must work on it every single day. Similar to weightlifting, photography requires a a lot of time working in order to see any results.

My thought is that consistent weightlifting and physical training everyday not only will increase your power and courage to continuously throw yourself onto the frontlines of life and embrace chaos, but it will also teach you to enjoy the process. The more you find joy in putting the reps in, whether in the gym or on the street, the more successful you will be with your photography.

Strong Photographer, Strong Photographs

Let us put aside these basic notions of what makes a “good” or “bad” photograph. Instead, I like to consider notions of strength and weakness.

Surely, a strong photographer will have more power and courage to make more photographs, get closer to life itself, and be the “good” photographer. A weak photographer will be shy, intimidated by the streets, and might find themselves on the sidelines of life, ultimately making “bad” work.

These binary ideas of good or bad are basic at best. Let us reframe our perspective to the physical, the real, the tangible human bodies that we possess. By increasing your power each and every day, it is inevitable that you will become a stronger photographer. Forget about the books, forget about the cameras, the lenses, the technical, and the history of photography. Become the strongest version of yourself, and throw yourself onto the frontlines of life.

When you’re walking through the world, don’t just be a passive observer. Pick things up, move things around, pluck the flowers from the trees, throw sticks into the water, and throw rocks around.

Please your senses by touching things and embrace the physical world around you.

We just fear the pain associated with it

The intelligence of the microbiome within your physical gut is godlike

The idea that the microbiome in our gut possesses a kind of “intelligence” is a fascinating concept. While the term “godlike” is metaphorical, there’s growing evidence to suggest that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in various aspects of our health and well-being, influencing everything from our digestion and immune system to our mood and cognitive functions.

The gut microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other life forms. These microorganisms interact with each other and with our bodies in complex ways. Some of the ways in which the gut microbiome can be considered “intelligent” include:

1. Communication with the Brain: The gut-brain axis is a well-studied phenomenon where the gut and the brain communicate via neural, hormonal, and immunological pathways. This communication can affect mood, cognition, and decision-making.
2. Influence on the Immune System: The gut microbiome plays a critical role in the development and function of the immune system. It helps in the differentiation of immune cells and can influence how the body responds to infections and diseases.
3. Metabolic Regulation: The microbiome assists in the digestion of food, the absorption of nutrients, and the production of essential vitamins. It also plays a role in the regulation of metabolism and has been linked to conditions like obesity and diabetes.
4. Adaptation and Evolution: The microbiome is dynamic and can adapt to changes in diet, environment, and health status. This adaptability is a form of intelligence, as it shows the microbiome’s ability to respond to and interact with its environment in complex ways.

While the term “godlike” is subjective and philosophical, it’s clear that the gut microbiome is incredibly complex and influential, impacting many aspects of our health and behavior in profound ways.

Pleasure and Pain

Without rain, there is no sunshine.

Why Pursue Pleasure?

Because pleasure is good! Pain is bad. Maybe we need to think more critically about physicality, physiology, and our human bodies.

Why do the depictions of saints in Caravaggio’s paintings look so ill, sickly, and diseased?
My thought is that they spent way too much time indoors, hunched over, reading books. The modern equivalent of this is sitting down inside at a computer or TV. We should not deny our body what it needs to become powerful.

What kind of things give you pleasure?
What kind of things cause you pain?

Sitting down causes me pain.
Therefore, as a consequence, I stand and walk all day long. I know what my physical body needs to thrive. I need to be outside, in the open spaces, without being told what to do, where to go, and how to live my life.

I simply listen to my physical body.

When I lift weights, I undergo a little bit of pain for a little bit of gain. The suffering becomes something meaningful, and the pain becomes pleasure and true happiness as I increase my power. I choose to seek pleasure through enjoying the pain.

Perhaps notions of GOOD pain are worth considering. Ultimately, seeking pleasure is a base-level goal; rather, seek to increase your POWER.

Pain is pleasure.

The Genie in a bottle

Think of scenes from movies where the protagonist grabs the treasure, the gold, or some material thing. They always get attacked by the skeletons, booby traps, and met with adversaries.

The Cave of Wonders in Aladdin-

The Cave of Wonders is a prominent feature in the story of Aladdin, particularly in the adaptations like Disney’s animated version. It’s not originally part of the “One Thousand and One Nights” tale of Aladdin but was introduced in later adaptations to add mystique and adventure.

In the story, the Cave of Wonders is a magical and mysterious cave that is the resting place of the magic lamp that houses the Genie. The cave is typically depicted as having the shape of a tiger’s or lion’s head with a mouth as the entrance. It’s known for being selective about who can enter; in Disney’s version, only “a diamond in the rough” can enter, referring to a person of pure heart who may not appear to be so from the outside.

The plot unfolds when the villain of the story, Jafar, learns about the cave and Aladdin’s unique qualification to enter it. He tricks Aladdin into retrieving the lamp for him. Inside the cave, Aladdin finds not only the lamp but also a plethora of treasures. However, the cave’s rule is that no one should take anything but the lamp. When this rule is broken, the cave reacts violently and attempts to trap the intruders inside.

The Cave of Wonders is an integral part of Aladdin’s journey, as it is here that he first comes into contact with the Genie, who plays a pivotal role in his transformation from a street urchin to a prince, and in his quest to win Princess Jasmine’s heart and thwart Jafar’s evil plans. The cave, thus, symbolizes a turning point in Aladdin’s life, representing both immense opportunity and perilous risk.

A new allegory-

The story of Aladdin and the Cave of Wonders can be seen as an allegory about the pursuit of knowledge and power versus the pursuit of material wealth, reflecting deeper philosophical themes.

1. Knowledge and Power (The Lamp): The magic lamp, housed within the Cave of Wonders, symbolizes knowledge and power. It’s not outwardly valuable like gold or jewels, but its true worth lies in the immense potential and capabilities it offers, personified by the Genie. This mirrors the idea that knowledge and the power it brings can have a far-reaching impact on a person’s life, enabling transformation and the achievement of one’s goals and aspirations, much like how Aladdin’s life is transformed by the Genie.
2. Material Wealth (The Cave’s Treasures): The cave is filled with gold and jewels, representing material wealth. While tempting, these treasures are ultimately shown to be less valuable than the lamp. This aspect of the story highlights the fleeting and often deceptive nature of material wealth. The restriction against taking any treasure but the lamp underscores the idea that the pursuit of material wealth, especially when it’s at the expense of deeper values or goals, can lead to one’s downfall, as nearly happened with Aladdin.
3. The Moral Dilemma and Choice: Aladdin’s experience in the cave poses a moral dilemma that contrasts the immediate gratification from material wealth with the more profound, enduring value of knowledge and power (wisdom, self-improvement, and personal growth). Aladdin’s ultimate success stems not from the gold and jewels he could have taken but from his interactions with the Genie, who helps him grow and achieve his deeper desires.
4. “A Diamond in the Rough”: The requirement that only “a diamond in the rough” can enter the cave suggests that true potential and value often lie beneath the surface. This can be seen as an encouragement to look beyond material appearances and to value inner qualities and potential, much like valuing knowledge and wisdom over immediate material gain.

In essence, the Cave of Wonders in the Aladdin story serves as a metaphorical crossroads where the protagonist must choose between the allure of immediate, tangible rewards and the pursuit of more meaningful, transformative power and knowledge. It teaches that true worth and potential are not always apparent and that the pursuit of deeper, more meaningful goals is often more rewarding than the mere accumulation of wealth.

Create the best version of yourself

Strive for new heights!

Yourself as a never ending art project