Imperfection in photography

I could write a book about the role of imperfection in photography, but it’s going to be a paragraph or two this time.

I don’t often go on vacation. Last week, however, an opportunity presented itself and I spent a week overlooking South Lake Tahoe. I did not take many photos, but in the sunset our party would go to this same spot and take photos of the sunset with their cell phones.

With my mini-camera in hand (Nikon Z-50), I too got to enjoy the sunset. The featured photo (1/320s, f/10, ISO 250) has as few imperfections: the silhouetted vegetation is not in sharp focus and there is lens flare, just to mention two. It is, however, a nice memory of a great evening with friends enjoying life.

The secret to sunrise and sunset photographs is to underexpose. Even the most basic point-and-shoot camera has a button outside where it reads +/- and you can dial in minus 0.7 to 2 stops. Underexposing brings up the colors…

______________________________

Wall Art Botanical Images

Wall Art Photography projects

Wall Art landscapes and miscellaneous

________________________________

11 responses to “Imperfection in photography”

Steve Schwartzman

September 7, 2025

Good point.

I always shoot in raw mode. I’ve found that with pictures that seem too bright as initially rendered with default setting in Adobe Bridge, I can often pull the sliders for exposure, brightness, and whites to the left, or else pull down the tone curve, to reclaim a lot of details that raw mode captured but weren’t apparent.

Another option in iffy situations is to take several pictures at different exposures.

LikeLike

Alessandra Chaves

September 9, 2025

All good advice for sure.

LikeLike

Reply

tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

September 7, 2025

Beautiful photograph and imperfection is perfection in many ways 🙂
Awesome you got to have a lovely Lake Tahoe vacation! Lake Tahoe is so beautiful I’ve been there a couple times.

LikeLike

Alessandra Chaves

September 9, 2025

It is very pretty. I had never stayed there more than one day, this was the first time I vacationed there. I live about 2 hours West of SLT.

LikeLike

Reply

howg2211

September 8, 2025

It’s a beautiful image, particularly with the mountains as a backdrop. I have been amazed when seeing original prints from the ‘old master’ photographers, how many ‘imperfections’ there are compared to today’s expectations. It goes to show, while technique is important, the content always trumps perfection.

LikeLike

Alessandra Chaves

September 9, 2025

It is interesting to see what photographers could get away with in the past and now we cannot. A notable example is highlights and deep shadows. I think technically perfect pictures are often boring.

LikeLike

Reply
1. howg2211
  
  September 9, 2025
  
  I agree!
  
  LikeLike

shoreacres

September 11, 2025

When I looked at and admired the photo, I didn’t notice the two imperfections you mentioned until after reading your comments about the image. What caught my attention first was the lovely framing created by the vegetation, and the gentle golden wash on the clouds above the sun.

I’ve noticed something similar in my work. When I finish a project, I notice every tiny flaw in the varnish, while a customer often looks at the work and exclaims over the ‘perfection.’ I suspect every creator has an expectation of perfection that’s higher than that of others. In many cases, the flaws are only a reminder that a human was involved in creating the beauty.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Alessandra Chaves

October 3, 2025

I think imperfections are part of the artistic process. A perfect photo often lacks in emotional appeal.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. shoreacres
  
  October 3, 2025
  
  That’s why a lot of musicians and music lovers despise autotune.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
2. Alessandra Chaves
  
  October 3, 2025
  
  Yeap.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person

Steve Schwartzman

September 7, 2025

Good point.

I always shoot in raw mode. I’ve found that with pictures that seem too bright as initially rendered with default setting in Adobe Bridge, I can often pull the sliders for exposure, brightness, and whites to the left, or else pull down the tone curve, to reclaim a lot of details that raw mode captured but weren’t apparent.

Another option in iffy situations is to take several pictures at different exposures.

LikeLike

1. Alessandra Chaves
  
  September 9, 2025
  
  All good advice for sure.
  
  LikeLike
  
tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

September 7, 2025

Beautiful photograph and imperfection is perfection in many ways 🙂
Awesome you got to have a lovely Lake Tahoe vacation! Lake Tahoe is so beautiful I’ve been there a couple times.

LikeLike

1. Alessandra Chaves
  
  September 9, 2025
  
  It is very pretty. I had never stayed there more than one day, this was the first time I vacationed there. I live about 2 hours West of SLT.
  
  LikeLike
  
howg2211

September 8, 2025

It’s a beautiful image, particularly with the mountains as a backdrop. I have been amazed when seeing original prints from the ‘old master’ photographers, how many ‘imperfections’ there are compared to today’s expectations. It goes to show, while technique is important, the content always trumps perfection.

LikeLike

1. Alessandra Chaves
  
  September 9, 2025
  
  It is interesting to see what photographers could get away with in the past and now we cannot. A notable example is highlights and deep shadows. I think technically perfect pictures are often boring.
  
  LikeLike
  
  1. howg2211
    
    September 9, 2025
    
    I agree!
    
    LikeLike
shoreacres

September 11, 2025

When I looked at and admired the photo, I didn’t notice the two imperfections you mentioned until after reading your comments about the image. What caught my attention first was the lovely framing created by the vegetation, and the gentle golden wash on the clouds above the sun.

I’ve noticed something similar in my work. When I finish a project, I notice every tiny flaw in the varnish, while a customer often looks at the work and exclaims over the ‘perfection.’ I suspect every creator has an expectation of perfection that’s higher than that of others. In many cases, the flaws are only a reminder that a human was involved in creating the beauty.

LikeLiked by 1 person

1. Alessandra Chaves
  
  October 3, 2025
  
  I think imperfections are part of the artistic process. A perfect photo often lacks in emotional appeal.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  1. shoreacres
    
    October 3, 2025
    
    That’s why a lot of musicians and music lovers despise autotune.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
  2. Alessandra Chaves
    
    October 3, 2025
    
    Yeap.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person

It is all about the light