Photography is a bit like golf.
Both are simple to understand and frustratingly difficult to master.
It is easy to argue that, as they are both hobbies, we should take pleasure from simply doing them. But there is only so much fun to be had if you continually slice your tee shot into the rough. Likewise, your enthusiasm for photography dims if you always return home with a card full of duds.
Pretending the results don’t matter doesn’t make the frustration disappear.
The challenge of getting better is part of what makes both so addictive.
Vision ≠ Execution
The frustration with both golf and photography doesn’t come from being crap. It comes from not being as good as we think we should be.
In photography, there is often a gulf between what we want to create (our vision) and what we’re able to create (our execution).
Unrealistic expectations turn that gulf into a source of disappointment.
In landscape photography, so much of what makes a great photograph is beyond our control. We can always blame the weather. But when the stars align and we still fall short, we’re confronted with the limits of our own ability.
Ambition Without Expectation
Part of what makes photography so appealing is the thrill of possibility. The anticipation that today might be the day you create a masterpiece.
But that anticipation needs to be balanced with the realisation that it probably isn’t. And that we should have a go anyway.
This gets easier with time. It is far easier to cope with disappointment when you already have a portfolio stuffed full of bangers.
What we absolutely must not do is allow the fear of failure to stop us from trying in the first place. Because it’s only when we put ourselves out there that we give ourselves the chance to realise our potential.
Progress = Joy
Golf is a lot more fun when you can keep the ball on the fairway and give yourself a chance of a par. You don’t need to win the Masters. You just need enough control over your game that you don’t make a tit of yourself.
Photography is much the same. We don’t have to be the best; we just need enough skill to take advantage when an opportunity presents itself.
That basic level of competence gives us a foundation to build on. When we can reliably handle the basics, we have more freedom to experiment, explore our ideas and enjoy the process of discovering what we’re truly capable of.
Photography gives us plenty to enjoy, but the photographs themselves are part of the pleasure. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make better ones.
The challenge is to balance that ambition with expectations that reflect our current ability. We can aim high without treating every disappointing result as a reason to doubt ourselves.
As our skills develop, we become better equipped to take advantage of opportunities and explore what’s possible. That progress brings its own satisfaction.
We don’t need to be the best to enjoy photography. But getting better can make it a whole lot more fun.
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