A little bit of Imperfection

In photography, we are all too often looking for the perfect shot. We want to get the exposure just right, catch the ideal light and, of course, create a rule of thirds composition that is by the book.

In principle, I have nothing against taking a beautiful photo, but there have been numerous occasions when I decided to take a slightly different approach. Part of what drives this for me is the desire to experiment with my photography; sometimes I want more than just capturing a scene that has been capture many times before.

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about…

The Line

This railway segment runs through the town, where I live, and I used to cross it every day on my commute. One day, on my way home, my eye caught the splash of color next to the steel rails, so I pulled over and went to take a closer look.

The rails looked great going toward the horizon, but I noticed that I was getting some lens flare due to the Sun’s angle. I was about to move my hand to block the effect, when I noticed the look that this created: desaturated on the left and bright color on the right! So I decided to go for this look, as it spoke to me of a deeper meaning in the juxtaposition of the two sides!

Definitely not the perfect shot in the classical approach to photography, but I felt that it created something more interesting!

Oh, and lest I forget: this was captured with an iPhone, as that was the camera that I had with me. But that’s material for another blog post, as the best camera is the one that you have with you!

Comments

45 responses to “A little bit of Imperfection”

  1. tarmant58 Avatar
    tarmant58

    je n’ai jamaios refusé de sejourner aux pays bas _ Hcup. expulsé from millau ; ‘cos mancunian !12 iom -cpi

    On Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 12:00 PM Dutch goes the Photo! wrote:

    > jansenphoto posted: ” In photography, we are all too often looking for the > perfect shot. We want to get the exposure just right, catch the ideal light > and, of course, create a rule of thirds composition that is by the book. In > principle, I have nothing against taking a bea” >

  2. justaskmillerstore Avatar
    justaskmillerstore

    Good one! shop other photography items and goods here https://www.justaskmiller.com

  3. Hammad Rais Avatar

    As if that track is the separation line between two worlds 🙂

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      It is indeed!

  4. DailyMusings Avatar

    I think this is a beautiful photo. The disappearing tracks. the sunlight, the color of the trees. I love the flare effect. Beautiful

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you!

  5. Heart to Heart Avatar

    It’s the flare that makes this picture special! Though I’m no expert in this field😐 But in life,I would say never go by the rule book…

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you kindly; it’s good to understand the rules, so that you know when to break them!

      1. Heart to Heart Avatar

        True! I agree 😊

  6. mammasquirrel Avatar

    This is gorgeous!!!

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you!

  7. lasousa2015 Avatar
    lasousa2015

    I agree wholeheartedly. Megapixels are not the magic bullet. Despite your modesty, the process to make this picture IS the classical approach to photography!!!! The instinctual process you describe of seeing and awareness and evaluation and making considered choices, that IS the magic bullet!

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you very much!

  8. susurrus Avatar

    I agree too. It’s a really interesting effect. I don’t know if it is classical or not, but these kinds of rules are meant for breaking.

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you! It’s fun to explore and go beyond the boundaries of the rules.

  9. Tranature - quiet moments in nature Avatar
    Tranature – quiet moments in nature

    I’m all for following your heart and instinct in photography Frank and I really like the effect created by the flare in your image 🙂

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you kindly, Xenia.

  10. Penny Wilson Writes Avatar

    Perfectly imperfect, Frank. A lovely photo. 🙂

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you, Penny!

  11. Khürt Williams Avatar

    Interesting capture, Frank. Hopefully, you had someone with you as a look for oncoming trains. In New Jersey, we had a few deaths from people photographing on train tracks. I want you to be safe.

    https://thelawtog.com/exposed-the-risks-of-photographing-on-railroad-tracks/
    http://www.njtransit.com/rg/rg_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=SafetyTo

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you, Khürt. Luckily, this is right at a grade crossing, which would have warned me of traffic. I prefer to be safe 🙂

      1. Khürt Williams Avatar

        Glad to hear it.

  12. sandyjwhite Avatar

    Capturing things as they are with imperfections is most true to life. It can’t be more perfect.

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you, Sandy.

      1. sandyjwhite Avatar

        My pleasure.

  13. pensitivity101 Avatar

    I remember this photo Frank.

  14. oneletterup Avatar

    I really appreciate this perspective. It is important to remember that perfection isn’t – and perhaps shouldn’t be – a goal.I also would have assumed the lens flare was meant to be there anyway 🙂
    Lovely photo!

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you! You put it very well.

  15. Leya Avatar

    It is lovely – and I do agree that a photo is much more interesting when taken in the spirit of the photographer and not by the rule book.

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Very true!

  16. pranabaxom Avatar

    I like the end result, the contrast.

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you!

  17. Arati Avatar

    I like the contrast between the two sides of the tracks and the “deeper meaning” contained in this. I think rules can often separate us from creativity and spontaneity. I celebrate that you went with this image that perfectly reflects the moment in time and space that you were in.

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you very much!

      1. Arati Avatar

        🙂

  18. ForgivingConnects Avatar

    This is awesome, Frank! Many parallels with spiritual growth and forgiveness – showing the two sides of something, allowing for “imperfection” which created something of deeper meaning, and even the simplicity of capturing it all with your iPhone. Thank you. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week. Blessings, Debbie

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Thank you, Debbie. Have a great remainder of your week and weekend!

  19. Photography Journal Blog Avatar

    I could not agree more with you regarding the best or perfect camera. It’s what you have with you. I would go a step further too to say that the more you understand how whatever camera you have works, the better your results. Nice photo, rules or no.

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      You are very right about understanding your camera, as I have shown people how to get great shots with their phones 🙂

  20. bushboy Avatar

    Great phone photo Frank. Did you do much post processing?

    1. jansenphoto Avatar

      Hi Brian, I did a minor bit of sharpening and push the saturation a bit (on the entire image). That’s it.

      1. bushboy Avatar

        Thanks Frank. I am a stickybeak when I see an image I really like.

      2. jansenphoto Avatar

        That’s a good thing! I always analyze how a photo was put together 🙂

  21. […] Frank  has posed an interesting idea of looking at a photograph with imperfections and seeing it with a different perspective.  […]

  22. Olga Avatar

    Hi Frank.You’re fast.I already saw your comment before I added this link. Have a wonderful weekend. https://odaciuk.wordpress.com/2019/02/01/playing-with-imperfection/

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