Standing on the Shoulders of Giants 2: Embracing Failure in Photography
Failure is part of the Game. Get used to it.
Welcome to the first installment of "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants," a blog series dedicated to guiding aspiring photographers on their journey to mastery. In this inaugural post, we delve into a concept that often remains shrouded in misconception: the inevitability of failure in photography.
The Illusion of Perfection
As burgeoning photographers, we're often seduced by the illusion of perfection. We scroll through Instagram feeds and online portfolios, bombarded with a curated collection of flawless images. This constant exposure to photographic excellence can foster an unrealistic expectation, leading us to believe that as we improve, the ratio of good photos will magically increase while the bad ones fade into oblivion.
The truth, however, is far more nuanced. Even seasoned professionals, those whose work graces magazine covers and art galleries, grapple with a surprisingly high failure rate. It's a reality that's rarely discussed, often hidden beneath a veneer of curated perfection.
The 10% Rule (and the 1% Exception)
Renowned wedding and portrait photographer Sam Hurd has openly acknowledged that a 10% delivery rate is standard for him. This means that for every 100 photos he takes, only 10 meet his rigorous standards for quality and composition. Even more striking, a mere 1% of his images are deemed worthy of sharing on social media.
This revelation might seem surprising, even disheartening, to those new to the craft. But it underscores a crucial reality: failure is an intrinsic part of the photographic process, even at the highest levels. My own photography instructor, a seasoned professional with years of experience, echoes this sentiment, stating that a pro-level delivery rate of 5% or less is the norm.
Embracing the Imperfect
Few other endeavors exhibit such a high failure rate. In many professions, a 90% failure rate would be considered catastrophic. Yet, in photography, it's an accepted reality, a testament to the elusive nature of capturing the perfect moment, the ideal composition, the optimal lighting.
Embracing this reality early on can be profoundly liberating. It allows us to shed the weight of unrealistic expectations, to view our "failed" shots not as indicators of inadequacy but as stepping stones on the path to mastery. It's a perspective that transformed my own approach to photography, freeing me from the shackles of self-criticism and allowing me to embrace the learning process with renewed enthusiasm.
Don't Delete, Discover!
This understanding of failure leads to another crucial lesson: resist the urge to delete images on your camera (with one caveat: if they are irreparably out of focus). You might be surprised by what can be salvaged in post-production. Modern editing software like Lightroom offers an arsenal of tools to recover details, adjust lighting, and enhance composition. What might appear as a "failed" shot on your camera's LCD screen could potentially be transformed into a masterpiece with a few clicks of the appropriate slider.
The Power of Iteration
This brings us to another key takeaway: shoot more. The contact sheets of great photographers often reveal a fascinating pattern: a series of numerous iterations of the same composition, with subtle variations in framing, lighting, or focus. These masters of the craft understand the power of experimentation, of meticulously exploring a single composition until they achieve the desired result.
Newer photographers, on the other hand, often fall into the trap of taking a few shots and moving on, failing to fully explore the potential of a single scene. Embrace the iterative process, experiment with different angles, and don't be afraid to "fail" repeatedly until you achieve that one exceptional image.
Learning from the Archive
When reviewing your images after a shoot, resist the urge to hastily delete perceived "failures". Instead, take the time to analyze them on a larger screen, scrutinizing the details and identifying areas for improvement. These "failed" shots offer invaluable lessons in composition, lighting, and timing. In the digital age, where storage is abundant and images are essentially free, there's no reason to discard potential learning opportunities.
In conclusion, embracing failure is not about accepting mediocrity; it's about recognizing that setbacks are an inevitable part of the learning process. By analyzing our mistakes, experimenting fearlessly, and resisting the urge to prematurely delete images, we transform "failures" into valuable stepping stones on the path to photographic mastery.
