i just saw this on ali’s blog and i have to share it here too. im that excited about it. in a post on flash vs no flash, Mike Colón absolutely explains how i feel about photography. it isnt about perfection. its about the moment.
The answer is sacrifice. You have to give something up in order to get results that excite you and inspire the artist within. You must give up perfection! Perfectionism only provokes fear and fear is what holds us back in pretty much every area of our lives. I love the way Joe Buissink puts it when he says “There is no such thing as a perfect image, only a perfect moment”. He is so right. If we allow our creativity to be tied up by the “rules” of photography, we’ll find ourselves bored; creating those mediocre images that look just like everyone else’s.
let that soak in.
That’s cool! I totally get it…
It’s good to read blogger Tara again…don’t get me wrong, I love, love, love your work, your photography, but your writing and they way you tell a story is just as good…
love it! love it! well said and tfs!
Totally agree.
letting it soak in. i so agree with that.
Just had to thank you for the quote and the link. He’s an incredible artist!
That is so true, thanks for sharing this Tara! :-D grz Eef
Mike and Joe … right on dudes
hate flash with a pash but moments lost are memories lost :(
Hi Tara,
I totally enjoyed seeing you again at the 2peas social. It’s always a pleasure! Keep up those morning walks and exercise sessions :) and check out Rhett Miller!
Susan
Yep, saw this at Ali’s too, then had to ck. out Mike’s blog… wise words!
Wow…that is amazing. So many times I feel like I’m trying to set up that perfect shot, only to find I didn’t get it. If I can learn to let that idea of perfection go, I know I’ll be much happier with the pictures I do get. Thanks for sharing that with us Tara.
awesome quote. Makes me think. :)
I love those letters. I wonder if they ship to MI?
yes yes yes…found it yesterday myself and pulled a smaller form of that quote off to frame on my studio wall. LOVE IT! :)
Yes, but that is for those who have a real camera. Those of us with a simple point and shoot camera, we have to be leery of lack of flash – because there is a real issue with blurred photos. I’ve gone through all my photos without flash before and every one has looked like I was loaded or was having a fit when I took the pictures. I missed some great shots, merely because I couldn’t get an image that wasn’t totally blurred.
You have to have the steadiness of steel or a tripod on you for stability (and how spontaneous is that???).
Anyhow, while I get what he says, I’m not sure it winds up working in all cases. So, while I love the concept of no flash being freeing, it is somehow even more stressful to this girl!
So funny Tara…I did a big post sparked by Ali’s post too last night. And wrote nearly the exact same thing as you about the moment. Also mentioned you in the post actually, lol.
http://faydean.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/02/connection.html
i saw it too on ali’s blog….and boy that just about sums it all up ! we don’t want to miss those moments because they might not be just “perfect” ! very wise….
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Thanks for the reminder.
~deb~
While currently i am forced to use a flash 9 times out of 10 indoors since i have basically a point and shoot….. a really nice point and shoot which i love, i TOTALLY understand what he is saying, and i agree completly. I one day here in the near future will have a digital SLR which will make the idea of no flash more of a possibility but until then, in the intrest of nonblurry photos, especially when it comes to photographing kids, i will have to continue to use it.
however, as for the realization that there are no perfect shots, perfect images, etc, just perfect moments… that is the thought that i WISH i could get people to realize when they come into the portrait studio….. i hate that what pays my bills is the same old same old, posed non real images that hang in everyones house of their kids….. just the typicaal studio shots….. it lacks creativity, its not them. I just wish that one time, ONE time, the parent would say ya know, i really like that one, i know they are not looking and they have an odd grin on their face, but that is them….. instead of refusing to even consider getting it, and go for the supeer cheesey fake over the top overly posed image……..but it is a portrait studio… so what should i expect.
Love it, thx for posting these words on your blog. The meaning is HUGE. *smile* and so LOVE your blog and your work is amazing, and it is constantly inspiring me :)
His words are so true!
It’s hard work striving to be a better photographer. This is a great post. Thanks!
so true, at times I have got so caught up with getting that perfect shot that have missed the moment … technically I do not have a clue sometimes, but I play around relax and have fun and I still get some really great shots… mmm and some shockers but it is all part of that moment !!!… still feel flash is evil :)
Ha! I totally put the same thing on my personal blog!
It is so on point with how I feel as well.
I always read your blog and I missed this one! I so wished I read it a few days ago!! I have stopped posting pictures on some sites for CC because that’s what people seem to be looking for these days! I am constantly getting people telling me to “sharpen the eyes” or ” the hot spot on her dress is distracting” Just nit-picking the photo about it not being the most tech. perfect picture. I just want to yell but it’s art! It’s not about perfection all the time!! It’s comments like those that make me look at a image that I adore because of the emotion or “the feel of it” and critique it to death and decide it’s not any good. It’s so freeing to me to read Mikes thoughts and for you (someone who’s work I admire) to agree. I have gone over my portfolio and pictures with a fresh new outlook! Thanks!
sharon-when you are asking for CC, you are actually asking for people to critique. :) if you dont want them to critique, then just say its a showcase. the thing is, everyone is a critic right? because everyone has an opinion. and thats perfectly good. its okay to have mistakes in a picture. but when you post for CC< people are going to point those mistakes out. haha! YOU need to come up with your own opinion of what you want your photographs to look like. once you know the rules, you can decide how and when you want to break them. :)
I soo agree with that quote! It perfectly says how I feel! Right on!
:-) I feel so silly…I didn’t explain myself well… I don’t ask for CC much anymore because what I think is a great picture isn’t the same as what the others seem to like. I do appreciate the CC and people pointing everything out but, my perfect isn’t their perfect. I keep trying for what I think others like… and end up not being in love with the image. I have learned so much of what I know from great, honest and thoughtful CC and I am so thankful for it. I just stress myself out and won’t show clients great pictures if they aren’t “perfect” by someone else’s standards. I have taken the whole “Art” aspect of photography out and somehow put in this “perfect” model in and it’s stopped me from feeling great about my photography. It’s MY lack of self-esteem and silliness that stops me from posting not the CC-er. People who take the time out to CC my pictures are great and I didn’t meant to sound ungrateful. So, I do want CC I just want people to also appreciate that perfect isn’t always perfect.
Okay I’ll stop now. I am totally inspired by Mike Colon’s blog post and thank you so much for blogging about it! I’m gonna stop being wimpy and get back to posting pictures…. :-)
Thank you for responding to my comment!
I really liked this quote, too, especially this: “There is no such thing as a perfect image, only a perfect moment”
Remembering this is why I sometimes don’t take the picture at all. A picture can’t always capture all that a lived-in-the-moment memory will, and I don’t want my camera to get between me and the experience.
How funny… never heard of the guy before today… and then suddenly that quote is on EVERYONE’S blogs. I’ve read it 4 times now!!
love it.
this is just what i needed to be reminded of – thanks tara!
thank you..i needed that