What To Do When You Hate Everything

I have two separate thoughts today, that somehow likely relate to each other? On rest and imperfection. 

There is a trend I keep seeing- or rather, that I keep engaging with- on the “technically imperfect” photos that photographers have been sharing lately. These photos shouldn’t work, but somehow still do. I think we’ve gotten used to seeing the most picture perfect photos on social media, I feel a little audacious sharing mine that “aren’t quite there.” 

I was culling photos from a day out near Acton (an area I’m never in, which I’m ashamed of) and was sorely disappointed that I only liked maybe one or two. 

But I took a few days off from shooting and editing every day (mainly because my camera is so heavy, I need to get a lighter lens asap), and came back to them with fresh eyes.

Sure the output is smaller than in previous days, but I’ve found a couple I actually like. 

And just like needing to incorporate rest days in a work out regimen, so should you do so for photography. 

Rick Owens Furniture on exhibit at the Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery, London

I said before that photography to me is a muscle you have to exercise. You have to go out and train your eyes, review photo books, edit in a new way.

But part of that process also includes letting go sometimes. Take for example this photo of the woman in the tube station. I was trying to capture the moving train. She’s static. This man came into view and I slightly panicked as he surprised me a little. 

I didn’t quite get my settings right and I wasn’t steady enough with what I wanted to shoot, but I like this photo. I’ve shared it across socials not thinking anything of it other than that it has merit to me. Then I paused and I’m like, “but will people understand that I know it’s not a clean shot?” and then I doubted myself, and then, and then, and then,.. you have to get out of your own head.

Even times where I think everything I’ve taken is sh*t, the photos still deserve to be considered; to be looked at with a fresh eye, for the imperfections to be acknowledged and considered. Is it any good? Probably not! Do I like it? Well, yea!

I want to break free from the idea, the impulse, that only perfect photos deserve to be shared. And who knows, maybe a few months down the line I’ll have retaken something like this with a steadier hand, a fresher eye.