A Job Worth Doing, Is Worth Doing Badly!
They say a job worth doing is worth doing well but no job was done well without doing it badly to begin with.
In photography, the early stages are always littered with false starts and frustrating mistakes. The methodical types may try to mitigate this period by reading up on technique but useful as that can be we shouldn’t underestimate the value of a good struggle. It’s not always easy but it is efficient.
As with nature the greatest advancements never come from sensible actions or status quo they are from the unforeseen ‘mistakes’ and the strain of endeavor which disrupt the regular order and force growth. What appears as folly uncovers new ways to develop and advantages to exploit.
In photography, we see advancement as what you know but it is often a product of what you don’t. It is the invention forced up through the cracks of broken knowledge or, as it’s affectionately known ‘winging it’.
We might feel this tense period ties us down but in reality, it sets us free. It should be cherished and encouraged because our early discoveries (accidental or otherwise) form the foundations for all others. Play it safe and you risk building upon a weak structure, play the risky option and the worst you get is a few ropey shots. It’s a win-win!
The only true path to proficiency is to play all you can while you can. Go where you don’t know and see what happens. Mess with the settings, shoot too high, too low, too close or far, swing that camera around your head if you have to. It’s one of the few times where defying sense is actually sensible so make the most of it.
The process may break a few photographic rules, may uncover a few cracks in your foundations but that’s the price of progress. In this game, problems win prizes. There’s a reason the most innovative stuff is called ‘groundbreaking’!
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