Unattainable Perfection in Photography and How to Improve
If you are true to your craft, you will never see your photography as perfect. Your best critic will always be you. You will always see a way to have made it better….
I’ve never seen your photography but I can tell you with certainty that it is not perfect. No photographer has produced the perfect photograph. Nothing human-made is perfect. I consider Ansel Adams's “Moonrise over Hernandez NM” to be the best photo ever taken. Adams kept changing the way he printed this negative. He knew it wasn’t perfect. I like to follow this quote from Masaaki Imai: We will never be perfect but we can always improve.
Subjectivity in Photography
Im sorry to say it but it never will be perfect. As with other art forms, one photo could be great to one person but not so to the next. It's all subjective. All you can do is keep on taking photos. I try and take at least one good photo a day. I am happy with the fact that I've done six weddings and have had no complaints. And more people like my general photos than not. As with everything, practice, practice, and more practice can only improve your photography.
Joining Photography Groups and Websites
Join a photography group and share the pictures with folks. Real life or online. Join a photography website and participate in photo contests and challenges. ViewBug is a great platform where you can find photographers with similar interests, join their challenges, vote in challenges and contests, and see how your work compares to others. All skill levels are welcome, from dabblers, amateurs, passionate amateurs, pros, and people who actually make a living producing excellent photographs.
You’ll be astounded by some of the shots you see. Absolutely breathtaking.
Embracing Continuous Improvement
You know it isn’t. If you think your best photograph is perfect, you aren’t being self-critical enough. It may just be a tiny detail but there always is room for improvement. Perfection is unattainable but we can strive to get closer to it.
Conclusion
Photography is an ever-evolving journey. Embrace the challenge and the joy of making each picture better than the last. Keep practicing, learning, and sharing. The art of criticism, while sometimes harsh, is essential to growth and improvement.