Technical mastery?

When I first got into photography, I got all wound up over all the same things as everyone else.

  • Is it tack sharp?
  • Is that a speck of noise I see?
  • Is my histogram looking like a perfect rolling little hill?

Forget that stuff, man. It’s OK to not be tack sharp sometimes and it’s ok to have a little noise.  Heck, I’ve added noise before.  I don’t do that any more.  For some kinds of photography technical perfection certainly is important.  But for capturing a show, you’re not there to capture technical mastery…you’re there to capture energy and emotion.

So, you know what…break a few rules.  Let that shutter stay open just a little too long.  Fuck it.  If it matches the vibe of the show you’re shooting, then…awesome.