Tag Archives: reflection

Since I started writing for DSLRBlog.com (all of a few days ago), it got me thinking just how long it’s been since I’ve really been actively into photography, and looking through some of my old archives. It really got me thinking about how every photo is its own moment, and you can’t really go back and capture that same moment ever again. It also hit me that the first pile of photos I took really piss me off when I look at them now.

Thousand Islands at Sunset.

Take the photo above for example. It’s one of the very first photos I took with my current camera (a Nikon d70s), taken from the top of a sightseeing tower over-looking the Thousand Islands at sunset while trying not to fall the 300 and some feet and break my neck. It was a fun shot to get, if only for the experience.

I think back to that moment now and realize just how much better a photo I could have taken if I knew then what I know now, and it aggravates me just a little. Still though, it makes for a great reminder about learning from your work.

That photo is essentially a reminder to myself to always take something away from the experience of taking a photo, whether good or bad. I’ve taken horrible photos at times that have taught me an insane amount to improve on for the next time, and I’ve taken great photos that have given me experience in other ways. This shot is far from my best work, but it is probably my biggest inspiration out of my personal archive.

Anyone else have a photo you’ve taken or an experience you’ve had (good or bad) that serves as inspiration for you personally? What about other people’s work? Am I alone in pulling inspiration from a photo that is nowhere near as good it could have been?