Why the 'Perfect' shot is overrated

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Do you ever feel stuck, endlessly tweaking photos, searching for that 'perfect' look that seems just out of reach? You're not alone. We've all been conditioned to believe in a singular ideal of photographic perfection. But what if I told you that once you understand the truth about the 'perfect shot,' you'll not only take better photos but also find more joy in your photography? Let's discover why.

There are two photography quotes that I particularly like:

Ansel Adams: “There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.”

David Alan Harvey: “Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like.”

In this podcast, I’ll talk through why I like these quotes and why being too focused on achieving the perfect shot can backfire and stop you from producing anything.

I’ll also talk you through a few exercises. The first is from my online course “Discovering DSLR and Mirrorless Photography”, where I ask you to look at an image that you regard as ‘perfect’ (or as near as, as makes no difference). And look at specific elements, such as lighting and composition. How has the photographer approached these elements, and what makes them work so well?

I also suggest that you take the ‘imperfection challenge’ (and let me know in the comments if you would like me to create a formal challenge for you):

1. Shoot out of focus
2. Breach the composition rules 
3. Deliberately use the wrong camera settings (i.e. exposure, iso, etc.)
4. Only allow yourself one-take shots (so no ‘chimping’)
5. Use the worst angles you can find.

Ironically, you’re likely to open up a door into a whole new level of creativity… and how you define your perfect shot is likely to change, too. 

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