I’ve heard many people talk about “perfect” photography. There are tutorials, videos, and endless tips on how to capture the perfect shot. As humans, we all crave perfection in what we do or create, and our brains are wired to recognize perfection or often, to recognize it when others point it out.
But in the realm of subjective, individual creativity, does perfection truly have a place? Does it even have anything to do with creativity? I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on this.
How many times have you deleted a picture from your camera or phone because you weren’t satisfied with it? It happens every time, right? There are usually two reasons for this,
- There’s something about the photo that doesn’t feel right, a disturbance in the composition, maybe, which makes you delete it.
- You had a vision, but the result didn’t match what you intended. The picture turned out differently than you expected.
Beyond these two reasons, I don’t think there’s much else that makes us delete a photo.
So, what does perfection really mean in photography? Is it all about great focus, the right depth of field, perfect lighting, noise-free images, and flawless exposure? I get it, these technical elements are important, especially when you’re working on specific projects or with clients.
For example, when capturing a wedding, focusing on your subjects, ensuring a well-lit environment, and achieving good depth of field are all necessary. The same applies when working on portraits. But does mastering all of these elements guarantee great pictures? Why do some photos look incredible while others don’t? There’s a clear difference between the technical aspects of photography, where all these elements are present and the "creativity" behind the photo, which is highly subjective.
Think about this post: for some, it may be easy to understand, but for others, it may be a bit harder to digest. That’s the essence of creativity in photography, it’s personal, and it doesn’t always follow a set rule.
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| Night street in Bangalore, India |
Let me explain it a little more simply.
We all write, and each of us has a unique handwriting style. I’m sure you agree with this. You can’t fully replicate someone else’s handwriting and that’s what science says.
Photography is exactly the same. Our styles are different. Some of us prefer shooting with a certain lens, others with a different camera. Some prefer wide shots, others prefer close-ups. Just like handwriting looks different on paper, our photos look different depending on the environment, lighting, and how we see the world.
There is no universal perfection and this keeps me wondering: Is there truly such a thing as perfection in photography?
Photography is not about imitation, copying, or replicating someone else’s work. One thing is clear: there is no benchmark (no corporate jargon here!) to define perfection in photography.
Photography is dependent on light, shadow, angles, distance, and points of view. So it’s really tricky to determine what’s “good” and what’s “not” from a viewer’s perspective. The last thing to consider is that "everyone’s taste is different" and rarely do two people’s preferences completely align.
So, with these three things in mind, I can only conclude this: There is no perfection in photography. You can learn all the techniques, technology, and gear, but if you’re chasing perfection, you may be chasing something that doesn’t truly exist.
For me, I am my own judge. If an image looks good to me, then it’s good. If not, I delete it. I don’t care if it’s blurry, grainy, underexposed, overexposed, tilted, asymmetrical, or anything else. If it feels right to me, it’s a good photo. That’s the only rule I’ve followed since I picked up my first camera and I still follow it today.
And I strongly believe it should be that way for everyone. Photography is a deeply personal experience. It’s my moment and my point of view that I’m capturing with whatever gear I have. If the image doesn’t impress me, it won’t impress anyone else. So, the question is: how impressive is the image for "me"? If the answer is high, then it’s going into my photobook or onto this blog. If not, it’s already deleted.
Don’t worry about perfection. Don’t worry about what you see on social media or what others are doing. Keep it simple. If you like it, it’s a great capture. And most importantly, keep it for yourself.
– PS