I took a photograph of a tulip flower and its leaf recently - it turned out great, I liked the sateen lustre of the tulip’s petals, I gave it four stars in my Lightroom catalogue and I posted it on instagram. However, it bugged me that a small area of the tulip flower was obscured by the leaf! I revisited the photo - the light was good, the colour of the tulip flower was accurate and it had a lovely sheen plus the focus was spot on - hmmmm, it still bugged me about the conflict with the leaf!! So, a couple of days later, with another tulip from the same bunch I tried again. As before, I was happy with the light, the colour and the clarity but this time I also had the leaf under control!
Did the fact that the leaf slightly obscured the tulip flower matter? After all it was just a tiny bit over, and all the other elements of the photo were good?
It is true that I am my harshest critic but it is this approach which has me taking photos every day, challenging myself, using my camera so instinctively that it is as if it is my right hand and little by little, through identifying the flaws in my work, I make progress and then……once in a while, I pat myself on the back!
And to answer the question I ask above: if you want to enter a competition, if you aim to sell your work, or perhaps you want to use your image to make a greetings card for someone - perfection pays. And certainly, in the two former examples, if you are competing against an image which is equally sharp in focus, also with great colour and lighting - and yours has the leaf in the way, and theirs doesn’t …. which image will be selected?
As you travel on your own journey with your photography, or indeed with any skill of your choice, the challenge and the satisfaction of progress is what will take you to where you want to be. And it could even be, that the pride you derive from your craft, is what gives you the self belief and the confidence to pursue a totally unrelated goal.
Enjoy your craft, challenge yourself and savour the journey.
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The image where the tulip petals were slightly obscured by the leaf
Now there is no conflict with the leaf - and I’m feeling happier!