The Perfection Myth

We have all these crazy ideas about how things should be. I see photographs from all over the world. Manty of them look perfect. This can represent many hours of work by the perfectionistic photographer removing anything that does not align with his or her idea of what is ideal.

I take lots of photo's out in nature, and let me tell you, nature has her own way of expressing perfection. She certainly isn't out there anally raking up every leaf or arranging things in straight lines. Yet her beauty is the very best beauty. It is natural, free and spontaneous. Sometimes it is a leaf that has fallen in just the right way, and is sitting in the grass and glowing in the sun. Another time it is an urban deer having dinner by munching on someone's beautifully manicured landscaping. Let's face it. Some of the overworked photo's we see are just too perfect.

When photo's are overworked they become very dry and artificial in appearance, even though they are technically beautiful. There is a very fine line, somewhat like balancing on a high wire, that we photographers must tread. It's ok to correct what is really ugly, but we must take care not to suck out all the lovely natural juiciness that nature contains. That is what gives a photo life.