Eric Kim’s “Anti-Lemming” Philosophy: Embracing Individuality in Art and Life
Eric Kim repeatedly urges photographers and creatives to break away from the herd. He uses the image of “lemmings” – blind followers who jump off cliffs together – to warn against mindless conformity. By contrast he celebrates “savages” or “black swans” who trust their own instincts and innovate. In Kim’s words, one should “never be a lemming. Don’t follow the herd, and jump off the cliff. Trust yourself – your own gut, intuition, and life goals” . He applies this contrarian mindset to photography, creativity and lifestyle, championing self-trust, radical authenticity, and continuous experimentation.
Image: Eric Kim with his custom circular-lens glasses – a visual metaphor for his bold, individualistic style. In essays and talks Kim explicitly positions himself as a black sheep who rejects group-think. He writes, for example, “Priding myself in being different, a black swan, a black sheep, and someone who goes against the grain. Rather than following the herd to be ‘cool’, I follow my own inner voice and my own inner truth” . This declaration captures the heart of his anti‑lemming mindset. Instead of trying to fit into mainstream trends or chasing others’ approval, Kim insists on his own path. Even in everyday life he advises, “Don’t get suckered by peer pressure to fit in” and encourages students to focus on their own goals (their “life task”) and “create the future today” .
Core Principles of the Anti-Lemming Mindset
Kim distills his philosophy into a few key principles, repeated across his blog posts and talks:
- Reject the Herd – Don’t follow the crowd. As he bluntly states, “Don’t be a lemming” . In practice this means avoiding social-media fads and peer pressure. Kim even argues that a photographer’s success is shown by not needing trendy platforms: “The only marker of a successful photographer… is if they are notable enough to not have social media and not to have an Instagram. The only legitimate photographers in the modern era have their own self-hosted website” . He views Instagram-obsession as a hallmark of lemming behavior, whereas true innovators carve their own online path (for example, by blogging or open-source publishing).
- Radical Authenticity – Be unapologetically yourself. Kim urges followers to define their own values and express their quirks. He calls this “radical authenticity”, noting that it is “your only competitive advantage” in a sea of look-alikes . Rather than chasing likes or conventional success, he tells readers to question imposed norms and live by their personal code: “Create your own table of values” and follow your “internal compass,” even if it means going against societal expectations . In short, he encourages embracing individuality as a strength.
- Experiment and Iterate – Try new things boldly. Kim contrasts cautious “lemmings” who over-research with daring “savages” who learn by doing. He writes, “A lemming is ‘wise’, a savage is ‘foolish’. Lemmings ‘do their research’, while savages simply experiment for themselves. Lemmings do ‘proper form’ [of exercise or technique]… Savages disdain what is proper” . In other words, don’t wait for permission or perfect knowledge – jump in, fail fast, and learn. Life is “an iterative experiment,” Kim says, and one should “never stop iterating” . Each failure or mistake is fuel for improvement. This mindset frees creators from paralysis by perfection or fear of judgment.
- Empowerment Over Approval – Define success on your terms. Kim frequently redefines success away from money or status. For him, real success is internal: having freedom, creative control, and alignment with personal goals. He echoes Peter Thiel’s idea of avoiding the “tyranny of the crowd,” telling readers that even tech moguls must “Don’t be a lemming” . In practice, he practices what he preaches: deleting his own social media (to avoid distraction), pricing his workshops high (to attract only dedicated followers), and giving away most content for free – all to stay true to his vision rather than chasing trends.
Anti-Lemming in Photography
Kim’s photography advice is steeped in the same contrarian spirit. He rejects conventional wisdom that can stifle creativity:
- Minimalist, Gear-Agnostic Approach: Instead of collecting expensive equipment, Kim travels with one camera and one lens, calling it “bliss” . He champions the idea that “vision matters more than equipment,” often urging beginners that “you don’t need a fancy camera” . This upends the lemming tendency to chase the latest gadget; Kim insists on making bold art with whatever you have.
- Fearless Proximity: A key rule he repeats is: “Don’t be afraid to get close to your subjects. If your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” By getting in close, shooters break free from timid distance and inject personality into images. This starkly contrasts the polite “stand back” advice often given – it exemplifies Kim’s “up close and personal” philosophy.
- Working the Scene: Kim debunks the myth of the “decisive moment.” He argues that every scene has many potential great shots, and urges photographers to overshoot and iterate: “you will never know when the best ‘decisive moment’ will occur” . This ties to his broader ethos of experimentation.
- Open-Source Sharing: Perhaps counter-intuitively, Kim flips the traditional art world secrecy on its head. He publishes thousands of tutorials, e-books, and even raw files under free licenses. His mantra is to “Share your knowledge & technique with others – never hoard it” . By giving away his own “secrets,” he empowers others to grow. This generosity is anti-lemming in spirit – instead of gatekeeping wisdom, he builds a community where everyone can rise.
- Creative Courage: Kim often connects photography to an attitude of bravery. He reminds students that “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”, encouraging a no-fear approach to street photography . In essence, he wants photographers to become bold “savages” behind the camera, not timid “sheep.”
Together, these ideas create a photographic method that is “a call to action: grab your camera, get out there, and capture life with soul” . He even coined the motto “true luxury is less” – a nod to the creativity born from simplicity.
Image: A solitary tree stands apart from the surrounding brush, illustrating the idea of standing out from the crowd. Visually, Kim’s anti-lemming stance is like the lone tree in an empty desert: distinct and unapologetic. In interviews he likens modern creativity to a Zen practice of stripping away noise. After deleting social media and distractions, he found himself “creating new artworks” and following “my own inner voice” . This “fasting” from group culture lets the individual’s creativity emerge, just as a single bold tree rises above the plain.
Lifestyle and Individuality
Kim’s nonconformity goes beyond photography into health, technology, and daily habits. He embraces extremes that defy norms (for example, record-breaking rack pulls in fitness, and a high-risk, high-reward entrepreneurial style). More importantly, he ties all of these to personal empowerment. He lives what he teaches: avoiding addictions (like Instagram or constant news), focusing on purpose, and constantly asking “what do I really want?” rather than “what’s everyone else doing?”
This mindset intersects with broader themes of non-conformity and self-empowerment. Kim’s writing echoes classic contrarian ideas: like Emerson’s call to “insist on yourself; never imitate.” He explicitly warns against being a cog: “you’re just following the herd or the sheep” if you blindly copy others . By framing life as an experiment, he echoes thinkers who value individuality over social approval. In this way, his anti-lemming philosophy is kin to countercultural streams that celebrate the rogue artist, the avant-garde writer, or the disruptive entrepreneur.
For example, Kim emphasizes that society often rewards mediocrity to avoid conflict, whereas progress comes from outsiders. He notes that “everyone who has made massive change in society was looked at as a fool or crazy. Otherwise, you’re just following the herd or the sheep” . This sentiment parallels self-empowerment mantras from The Art of Non-Conformity and other creative manifestos. By pushing students to “build yourself” and “propagate” one’s own unique voice (as he titles in his blog), he places individual vision above trends.
In short, Kim’s anti-lemming philosophy connects creativity to courage. It says that true artistic expression and a fulfilling life come from making your own rules and daring to walk a lone path. Whether he’s describing street photography or self-development, he circles back to the same message: be the anomaly, not the sheep.
Key Quotes: Kim sums up his ethos in pithy lines: “Don’t be a lemming… Trust yourself” . He reminds followers that “radical authenticity is your only competitive advantage,” meaning that “embracing the quirks” that make you different is what truly stands out . Ultimately, his anti-lemming philosophy ties into a larger theme of self-empowerment — turning creative life into one’s own personal rebel art, free from others’ expectations .
Sources: Publicly available blog posts, essays and talks by Eric Kim (e.g. “How to Stand Out as a Photographer,” “Creative Spirit of Ecstasy,” and other writings) . These quotes and themes are drawn from Kim’s websites and published materials. All citations point to the relevant passages in his work.