Bruce Lee & The Tao Of Photography - Invisible Photographer Asia (IPA)

We are huge fans of Bruce Lee – the man, martial artist and philosopher. Undeniably one of Asia’s greatest icons, Bruce Lee invented his own brand of martial arts called Jeet Kune Do. In the Tao Of Jeet Kune Do or Way Of The Intercepting Fist, Bruce shared philosophy behind his martial arts that serves just as well for the photographer and the art of photography.

Learn the principle, abide by the principle, and dissolve the principle.
Learn and practice the principles of photography, then break the rules to form your own method of photographing.

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend.
Don’t be constricted by your own training, knowledge and understanding of photography. Be flexible, fluent, adaptable to change, as and when the situation calls for it.

Man, the living creature, the creating individual, is always more important than any established style or system.
At the end of the day, photography is never about the craft and the tools, it’s about humanity.

I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.
Don’t get caught up in acquiring all the latest, great photography tools. Pick one camera and one lens, and shoot with it 10,000 times.

Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successfull personality and duplicate it.
Don’t copy or emulate your photography idols. Be yourself, be original and draw from your own experience and instincts.

A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.
It is your personal journey in photography that is ultimately the point.

I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.
Please yourself with your photography and not your peers or others.

Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.
Don’t yearn to be a great, famous photographer, yearn to have great photography skills.

Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential.
If you think and feel you can be a great photographer, it is your own responsibility to develop that potential.

The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.
The great masters in photography are remembered for their photographs, not their skills.

Boards don’t hit back.
Theory and practice is good, but nothing beats real world photography.

Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it.
Learn from Life, and absorb that which will help you in your photography.

The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or defeat. Let nature take its course, and your tools will strike at the right moment.
Don’t concern yourself with the final photograph, concern yourself with being aware and armed.

You can never invite the wind, but you must leave the window open.
You can never force a great photograph to happen. You can only be ready to capture it.

If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.
Love Life – Go photograph now!

Check out the official website for more on Bruce Lee: www.brucelee.com