Taking Flight

Hi, I'm K0. It has taken me a long time to reach this point, but rather than drag my feet and figure out the perfect way to do this, it's time to put myself out there and on-chain.

"Perfect is the enemy of good".

I haven't figured out the exact focus of this newsletter, but I want it to be a space to provide some long-form thoughts on photography, blockchain, gaming, or really any of my interests as they evolve.

To provide some context about my background... I was introduced to the Internet as a kid. I wasn't the most socially outgoing child, so the Internet opened up many new worlds for me, especially playing video games with others on a 56k modem.

Fast forward to 2009, my high school friends and I decided to try our hand at creating a video game. With hard work and a lot of luck, we managed to have a successful startup creating games that made sense on the growing Facebook platform and later transitioned to mobile games when the Apple App Store emerged. This experience gave me tremendous insight into how data, digital goods, and networks have shaped the Internet we have today.

In 2021, at a crossroads of whether to stay in the gaming industry, I jumped onto the NFT hype train. Coming from a background in games, digital goods already made sense to me, so the idea of digital ownership was the logical next step. In my wild time since, I've come to appreciate the ideology, the creative act, and the Internet friends I've made along the way.

Photography started out as a love for gadgets. My friend began posting his photos on a new, upcoming app called Instagram. I bought a Canon DSLR kit from Costco and tried figuring out what to shoot. I always chased after new gear and tried to copy what I saw was popular on IG, but I had no idea what I was doing. Although I posted photos, I was unsure of myself and often felt discouraged from posting more due to the lack of "likes."

I had an on-and-off relationship with photography until I suddenly moved to Taipei in 2020 due to Covid. I walked the streets to pass the time, not having many opportunities to meet people. I ended up buying a small Ricoh GR3 and took pictures for the fun and enjoyment of it. It reignited my love for photography, but this time it was for the process and a genuine appreciation of the medium rather than for Internet points.

Since then, my passion for photography has grown and has been something to keep me grounded through the busy grind of life. It really helps me capture the fractional seconds of time when I felt compelled to click the shutter.

So, what does this all mean? I'm not sure, if I'm being honest, but I do want to use my experience and this special moment in the Internet—a time when digital identity and ownership is forming—to make something of my photography. My goal isn't to become rich (though I wouldn't mind 😅) but ultimately, I want to leave behind a message for the next generation. The idea of one's legacy is innate to the human psyche. I may never find it, and even if I do, it's not likely to be realized in my lifetime, but sometimes you just have to jump and take flight.

Published on 26th April, 2024