Sometimes we can’t always get the perfect crispness or focus but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy certain aspects of our less than perfect photos. What is it that we see in the photo that makes us love it? Is it the light or the subject or something else that makes us click at that moment. For me, it was the sun going down and this aerodynamic pelican zooming over the ocean. It makes me wonder what he was doing. Is he going to his home for the night? Is he looking for food? I like how this image makes me wonder.
I was at Land’s End shooting sunset photos when all of a sudden I saw a pelican just above my head so I whipped up my camera and fired off three shots. (Don’t forget the value in setting your camera for continuous high speed! One of the shots is BOUND to come out, right???) While the shutter speed, etc., weren’t meant for this type of shot, I think it came out pretty good considering it’s an aggressive crop and that it wasn’t a fast shutter nor was it focused on or metering the bird.
So today I’m going to appreciate what I have instead of ripping my photos to shreds in my mind lol.
Pelican in Flight
Laura Macky Photography 
November 8, 2015 at 10:14 am
I agree. I often feel some of my “soft” are acceptable.
November 8, 2015 at 10:17 am
I think it’s important to not rip ourselves to shreds with our images. Sometimes composition is much more important and moves us more than a perfectly crisp image. Thanks Sherry!
November 8, 2015 at 10:31 am
I personally like the silence of the image and the “music” that I hear by looking at it.
Waves of the ocean and the silent bird, sailing through the air. To me it sounds like a warm summer wind.
So … Your image is like lounge music to me 😉
November 8, 2015 at 11:32 am
Thank you so much. I like the silence aspect as well. Very poetic! uwerichtersfotoblog. Wow what a name! 😀
November 8, 2015 at 10:48 am
Well said Laura…..perfection is rarely achieved anyway, and some near-misses, like this one, can still be very effective.
November 10, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Thank you Mark. I’m so glad you like it. I agree that perfection is rarely achieved…so why waste our time criticizing levels of less than perfect?
November 8, 2015 at 11:14 am
So absolutely true, Laura, and something I truly needed to hear. I love your photo all the more for it!
November 8, 2015 at 11:33 am
I guess you needed to hear this twice! lol
November 8, 2015 at 11:34 am
Haha! It didn’t show as going through the first time 🙂 Feel free to delete one of them!
November 8, 2015 at 11:35 am
LOL!!! I feel like being a brat and leaving them both there hehehehe.
November 8, 2015 at 5:21 pm
That’s okay, I still love you 😜
November 8, 2015 at 5:28 pm
❤️
November 8, 2015 at 11:18 am
Laura .. It is the light and subject .. And the envious desire to be there! With camera of course 😃
November 8, 2015 at 11:33 am
Thanks much Julie. 🙂 It really is a beautiful spot to be.
November 8, 2015 at 11:19 am
Awesome pic btw 😃
November 8, 2015 at 11:33 am
Thank you 😀 😀
November 8, 2015 at 11:25 am
Nice one 🙂
November 8, 2015 at 11:34 am
Thank you Daniel!
November 8, 2015 at 11:50 am
Well, you must be more critical than I am…or have that “photographers” eye. I really don’t see why you think this photo is less than perfect. I think it looks perfectly gorgeous! Love it!
November 8, 2015 at 11:51 am
You are so sweet. Thank you!! I’m so glad you like it. 😀
November 8, 2015 at 12:20 pm
Amazing photo Laura, the soft light and then the sharp bird beside, so beautiful 😀
November 8, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Thank you Irene. 🙂 I love those birds. They are so aerodynamic!
November 8, 2015 at 1:22 pm
Yes I do the same. But i have learnt not to look into certain things too much. Where’s the fn in that? 🙂
November 8, 2015 at 1:45 pm
Oh but I LOVE looking into things!!!
November 8, 2015 at 1:56 pm
it has a lot more ‘feeling’ than many of the technically accurate photos we see all over the place.
November 8, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Aww thank you! That means a lot. 🙂
November 8, 2015 at 4:09 pm
Love the comment made by sixpixx. Most of my photos have been described as ‘pretty raw’ because they’re not technically correct, but I prefer the comments about how many of my shots tell a story and that’s what it’s about, isn’t it? I love the colors in this image as well as the composition.
November 8, 2015 at 4:36 pm
I liked that comment too. 🙂 Definitely stories or a mood. I think we can be hard on ourselves and hard on others too. So many times I’ve gotten “advice” on what my shot should’ve been. I never do that. Sheesh. Seems strange to criticize someone’s art unless asked for it. Thank you Ida. 🙂
November 8, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Works for me. Sometimes I think photography is 50% light and 50% composition with everything else being bonus points. It’s mastering that first 100% that’s the trick.
November 8, 2015 at 5:17 pm
It’s such a combination of things. I think you are right. Sometimes the image speaks even without everything in alignment. Thank you for your comment.
November 8, 2015 at 5:26 pm
This is what I really want in my photos – sharp and crisp but it’s so rare and unobtainable it seems considering what I have for cameras. I would love to be Mr. Pelican gliding on the wind…
November 8, 2015 at 5:29 pm
I like mine sharp and crisp too most of the time unless I purposefully blur it. But sometimes ya gotta just appreciate what we get. I’d like to be him too. 🙂
November 8, 2015 at 5:30 pm
My best work is never perfect.
November 8, 2015 at 6:21 pm
I went to your blog to remind myself. You are very good!
November 8, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Such a lovely image
November 8, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Thank you. :). They are such wonderful birds.
November 8, 2015 at 6:35 pm
yes I do love a pelican, so graceful in flight, so comical on the ground!
November 8, 2015 at 7:56 pm
Exactly!
November 8, 2015 at 5:42 pm
fab post….
i just did some blur photos on Saturday night.
new for me.
November 8, 2015 at 6:22 pm
Thank you. I wish I had purposefully done this though. lol. I’ll look forward to seeing your photos!
November 8, 2015 at 6:46 pm
I live in the part of the world where the land ends and the water begins, the water that goes on forever. What my world has taught me is that in each day there are many, many imperfections, but it has also taught me that hope resides in the little bits and pieces that are truly perfect. Each person who looks at your images will be measured by what they say they see.
November 8, 2015 at 7:58 pm
What a beautiful comment Charlie. Such a great lesson for life in that we are not the universe but rather one tiny piece of the universe. So much to see and know and feel. Thank you. 🙂
November 8, 2015 at 10:43 pm
Wow! Very impressive! Very Pterodactyl-like! 🙂
November 8, 2015 at 10:51 pm
He sure is! Thank you Tom. I love that description.
November 9, 2015 at 12:14 am
Beautiful shot! Thank you for posting this – your ideas/views regarding the subject of “crisp images”. I often love how blur looks in a shot – trying for something different. Generally our eye is trained for crisp images – sometimes seeing the world in blur is not such a bad thing.
November 9, 2015 at 6:58 am
Thank you for saying that. Sometimes blur is nice I agree. My idea was more to just appreciate the imperfections and focus on what was good with the shot though. I’m all for crisp images! lol
November 9, 2015 at 11:03 am
It is all so subjective our ideas and how we see things. I am all for imperfect!
November 9, 2015 at 11:16 am
Isn’t it? It reminds me of my husband and I having a conversation about the same thing but we mean completely different things and only until much later do we even realize it LOL!
November 9, 2015 at 10:25 am
Beautiful!! I think the colors and the contrast between the warm orange and dark ocean/bird are lovely.
November 10, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Thank you so much Laura. I’m so glad you like it. 🙂
November 10, 2015 at 7:10 am
Reblogged this on Laura Macky Fine Art.
November 10, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Reblogged this on Amazing Fine Art.
November 10, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Thanks so much Bo for the reblog. A perfect ending to my photo. hehe
November 10, 2015 at 2:09 pm
For just going for it, this image you get another wow from me. I Love the colors and the pelican itself brings to the forefront for me, effortlessnes, a languid slow sweeping, soaring through such incredible beauty. Brings … yearning. ❤
November 10, 2015 at 3:13 pm
Your comment is like a little short story! Thank you for such nice words. :)))
November 11, 2015 at 6:31 am
Aw, Laura, thank you! Your image really moved me. ❤
November 11, 2015 at 6:45 am
It makes me happy that you’d say that. I think this image did have a special feeling to it. I feel it too. Thank you. 🙂
November 11, 2015 at 6:46 am
And so we share mutual feelings. How nice!!! ❤
November 11, 2015 at 6:58 am
Yes! ❤
December 29, 2015 at 8:53 am
Totally agree. It’s important to just enjoy the moment. We can become to critical of ourselves and our work. Great shot by the way.
December 29, 2015 at 9:11 am
Critical of myself for sure. And more than just photography. It’s nice to expand my wings and fly! Thank you. 🙂
December 30, 2015 at 7:16 am
I used to be critical of myself, work, photos. Now I have decided to just relax and enjoy. Happy New Year
December 30, 2015 at 8:01 am
You too Luis. Happy New Year!