Hold StillPhotography teaches patience. Life tests it.
Every photographer knows the feeling, standing there, camera in hand, waiting for the perfect shot. Maybe it's a street scene, a fleeting expression, or the exact moment a bird takes flight. The temptation is to press the shutter too soon, to make the moment happen. That never quite works, does it?
Life operates on the same stubborn principle. Just because we want clarity doesn't mean we get it. Anyway, the best moments often happen in the spaces between our expectations.
Sometimes, it's better to watch from a distance and let it all unfold.
We've all taken a shot that we thought was going to be great, only to check the negatives and realise you focused on the wrong thing? Christ, that happens a lot to me. Candid portraits that were meant to capture raw emotion instead feature a crisp, detailed lamppost in the background.
Sometimes, we think we know exactly where to focus, only to realise later we've been looking in the wrong place. Or worse, we get so obsessed with getting everything "sharp" that we miss the beauty of the motion blur, the parts of life that are messy, unpredictable, and, frankly, more interesting.
Not every shot will be a winner, and not every moment in life will be perfectly framed.
Enter doubt. It creeps into the psyche in a crafty way, right when you're about to take the shot, right when you're about to make a decision. Whispering, quietly, softly, in a familiar voice:
"Maybe you're not ready."
"Maybe it won't be good enough."
"Maybe you should wait just a little longer."
Maybe, maybe, maybe. I don't know.
If imposter syndrome had a camera setting, it'd be manual mode, the one that makes you second-guess every shot, even when the composition is solid. Life is manual mode, and there is no iPhone camera in sight.
Now you're thinking, sometimes waiting is wise. But more often, doubt is just bad lighting, an artificial shadow we cast over ourselves. The truth is, you don't need perfect conditions, they don't exist.
Under that specific doubtful lens, we can choose to focus on what we've lost or what we still have. We can see doubt as a roadblock or as an opportunity to push through and prove it wrong.
Choosing the right film can make or break an image. Some films are high contrast, punchy, and dramatic. Others are soft, muted, more forgiving in harsh light. Some respond beautifully to the highlights, while others thrive in the shadows. The trick isn't just picking any film, it's about choosing the one that complements your style.
We often assume chemistry alone is enough. That spark, that initial rush feels like the defining factor. But chemistry, like film, isn't just about the first impression. It determines how the image develops. Whether it holds detail in the highlights, whether it has depth, or fades too quickly. Some film stocks are breathtaking but fickle, needing perfect conditions and careful exposure. Others have more latitude, more forgiveness.
If we're drawn to drama, we might keep choosing the same high contrast film, mistaking intensity for something lasting and exciting (like a shit Instagram filter). But step back and adjust, and we might find a film that renders the scene with more depth, more nuance, more beauty and more fidelity.
Some are Portra 800, simply perfection (and that will cost you, dear reader).
The instant before the laughter, the hesitation before the leap. That's where the magic is.
We spend so much time wanting answers, resolution, and clarity, but maybe the most interesting part is this; the wondering, the not quite there yet.
So, when you're stuck in one of those in-between phases, here's the takeaway: be aware, keep your camera ready. Keep your eyes open.
And in the meantime, enjoy the unpredictability of it all.
